LSU Alumni Return for “Why Marketing?” Career Panel
"Why Marketing?" panelists and moderator
back row (left to right): Christopher Metz, Andrew Baer, Paula Keller French and Victor
Lashley
front row (left to right): Lauren Taylor, Celeste Landry Baer, Judith Anne Garretson
Folse and Laura Gould
BATON ROUGE – On Oct. 18, seven successful LSU alumni returned to campus for a career panel sponsored by the LSU Department of Marketing.
“Why Marketing?” panelists included:
Andrew Baer '11, associate, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP (New Orleans)
Celeste Landry Baer '09, auction program manager Emeril Lagasse Foundation and
chef, Bayou Baby Bites and Food Love (New Orleans)
Paula Keller French '09, director of sales and marketing, Search Influence (New Orleans)
Laura Gould '05, client development manager, Zehnder Communications (Nashville, Tenn.)
Victor Lashley '12, VP global trade finance, JP Morgan (New York)
Christopher Metz '09, client manager, The Nielsen Company (Dallas)
Lauren Taylor '09, '12, director of marketing and competition, Southeastern Conference
(Birmingham, Ala.)
Professor Judith Anne Garretson Folse conceived the event and moderated the 90-minute discussion. This is the first time that the Department of Marketing, part of the E. J. Ourso College of Business, held a large-scale speaker panel for all business students. Taking center stage in the Business Education Complex Rotunda, the event drew more than 300 students. Topics included networking, strategies for success, professional fit, finding the right position, personal branding and graduate school.
Following the formal program, students enjoyed in-depth conversations with individual panelists.
“My goal was to use our accomplished alumni to better prepare students for marketing
careers,” said Folse. “Through their candid stories and practical advice, the panelists
inspired the next generation of marketing professionals. Panelists’ advice stemmed
from their years of experience in full-service marketing agencies, social media agencies,
sports marketing, culinary marketing and the financial industry. The E. J. Ourso College
is fortunate to have graduates who are willing to share their time and experience
with students.”
“It is always a pleasure to visit my alma mater and to share experiences with students
whose shoes I sat in," said Taylor. "To see so many students interested in the topic
proves why marketing is such an important area of study that touches so many different
career opportunities. Thanks to Dr. Folse and the E. J. Ourso College of Business
for putting on such an incredible and rewarding panel.”
About the Department of Marketing
The Department of Marketing at LSU’s E. J. Ourso College of Business prepares its
students for careers in sales/management, advertising, buying, product development,
retailing and market research. For more information, visit lsu.edu/business/marketing or 225-578-8684.
Contact: Angela McBride
225-578-7833 (o)
amcbride@lsu.edu