EMILY KEENAN SUNSHINE CASTRO “We get to meet new people and small business owners and see what they do,” said Sunshine. “We’re always interacting with small business owners. You never know what someone knows and what they can teach you,” said Emily. KU SBDC Crossing paths in their MBA courses as well, Sunshine and Emily are thankful for their experiences in the program. Sunshine enjoyed Dr. Donna Steslow’s Leadership and Ethics course. “She doesn’t make you feel bad for talking about an idea.” She also liked BUS591, the program’s Applied Capstone course. “We get to work with real-life client’s and create a marketing campaign. It was a good environment for students to learn and work with each other.” “Dr. Steslow is my favorite,” said Emily. “The way she structures her class fosters open discussion, making it a great learning environment.” Emily also enjoyed Dr. Donna DeMarco’s courses for the Data Analytics certificate, where she was challenged with new course material. “Dr. DeMarco makes sure you’re not in a course alone when you are learning something new.” ADVICE TO STUDENTS “Don’t be scared to try new things! There’s nothing wrong with trying, and if you don’t try something, you will regret not doing it in the first place,” said Sunshine. “Never give up on being a student,” said Emily. “Anyone can pursue higher education, so don’t underestimate yourself. You belong here.” Emily joined the Golden Bear Family in 2017, earning her Psychology undergraduate degree in 2021. After spending some time in the workforce, she returned to KU in Fall 2024 for her MBA, with certificates in Leadership and Data Analytics. Originally from the Philippines, Sunshine came to KU for her MBA because of the College of Business’s AACSB accreditation, affordability, and to advance her career. This Spring, she will graduate with her MBA degree, with Leadership and Business Decision Making certificates. KU SBDC Meeting at the Kutztown University Small Business Development Center (KU SBDC), Emily and Sunshine are part of the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) team, where they help small business clients improve their website keywords and strategy. Emily is the Program Lead, managing the SEO team. “I’ve learned so much in my role and get to integrate the leadership skills I learn in the classroom into the office.” Sunshine helps clients interpret their website analytics and improve their digital strategy. “This was all new to me, but it’s exciting to apply what I’m learning directly into client work.” Through the KU SBDC, they have attended networking events, traveled for client site visits, and strengthened their digital marketing skills. 20 | INNOVISION MAGAZINE
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzcxOTE=