San Francisco: Grant Thornton, Blueprint Haus Agency, and Alumni Networking
"As a Person of Color, her commitment to DEI initiatives in the workplace and personal life inspired me to make the change that I want to see in these spaces," wrote Taylor Nguyen (BBA ’23).
Taylor Nguyen '23
Major: Marketing
Today the Ramblers were joined by Dean Behnam, Dean of the Quinlan School of Business! We had Grant Thornton, the seventh largest accounting network in the world, and The Blueprint Haus Agency, a digital marketing agency, on the schedule. Every company site visit we have visited so far is located in downtown San Francisco. How neat is that? At Grant Thornton (GT), we met up with fellow alumnus, Mike Berry ‘13. Mike is a senior manager at GT. He gave us a tour of the office, and we were welcomed by two interns, who were kind enough to share their journey to GT. Most people are willing to put in the time to share their experiences, so do not hesitate to reach out and ask questions!
We moved on to learn more about GT’s audit, tax, and advisory services in depth with three representatives from each team. Upon asking Mike how he could stay at GT for nine years, he responded, “If you’re bored with what you’re currently doing, speak up,”. At GT, employees are about to participate in a rotational program and have exposure to the three different teams. Transparency is a core value and employees are encouraged to speak up if they would like to try something different. Hence, there is room for growth within the firm.
At lunchtime, we were able to eat with Mike and enjoy the views of San Francisco’s surrounding body of water. I enjoyed lunch with Mike because it allowed us to learn more about his experience at Loyola one on one, and share how Loyola has tremendously grown since his last visit.
Then we had a two-hour long break before our meeting with the founder of The Blueprint Haus Agency, Genesis Emery, BA Advertising/Public Relations ‘11. Avery Tritz and I explored Nob Hill, a neighborhood in SF, and Chinatown. We picked up a mango smoothie and a green juice from the Juice Shop in Chinatown, and it was super fresh. Support the local! We sat at the park and reflected on our days in SF and time at Quinlan. Then, we headed back to the Stanford Court Hotel because it was time for dinner with Genesis.
Genesis is a powerhouse! She wears many hats and does not hesitate to put her mind to something she is interested in. Genesis serves on Loyola’s Black Alumni Association as the Interim VP of Communications, founder of The Blueprint Haus Agency, and Senior Manager of Marketing Communications & Talent Brand Engagement at Mach49. As a Person of Color, her commitment to DEI initiatives in the workplace and personal life inspired me to make the change that I want to see in these spaces. She joined us at the Alumni Relation Reception later that night.
The Alumni Relation Reception was a huge hit! Many alumni were willing to share their experiences at Loyola and where they are now. We were able to bond over good food and share laughs. As the night came to a close, I left with Loyola Alumni merchandise and the realization that I, too, will be a Loyola Alumnus in two months.