Many college students graduate from the Costello College of Business at George Mason University with daring plans to begin their very own firms. Bethany Rivera and Alex Tugbang, each undergraduate marketing college students and classmates in Jiyeon Hong’s marketing course, had already launched their respective businesses, Rivera’s Photography and Photuggraphy, prior to enrolling.
“In my digital marketing course, I’m attempting my finest to preserve my supplies up to date and deal with abilities and classes of sensible worth, providing many alternatives for college students to apply what they be taught in school to real-world situations,” says Hong. “This is as a result of the digital world is consistently altering, and I consider the very best studying can come from hands-on expertise.” Focused on their profession ambitions and passions, Rivera and Tugbang knew what they needed to be taught extra about to grow to be much more profitable entrepreneurs.
Bethany RiveraHer household and buddies knew it was solely a matter of time till Bethany Rivera turned an avid photographer. “Ever since I used to be born, I used to be surrounded with cameras and footage,” she says. She fondly remembers her father giving her a Canon digicam when she was 12 years outdated, however it wasn’t till highschool that she realized she might make a dwelling with it. She had taken an image at a pep rally and despatched it to her English trainer, who additionally taught the yearbook class. They chosen the photograph to use on the quilt, and Rivera shortly turned concerned with engaged on the yearbook.
Since formally launching her enterprise in 2021, she has steadily grown her clientele from individuals she is aware of within the native Hispanic group. In addition, lots of her purchasers are of Indian background, connections stemming from befriending the proprietor of an Indian restaurant.
Alex TugbangAlex Tugbang’s ardour for pictures started extra just lately. Inspired by movies he watched on YouTube, he determined to deliver a digicam with him on a household trip to Hawaii in 2016. At first, he wasn’t proud of how his footage had been turning out, however he continued to observe and train himself till they obtained higher and higher.
“When I used to be in Hawaii, there was this loopy second when the concierge sat me down and requested me if I made cash off pictures, and he walked me by how to open a enterprise,” he says.
Shortly after the journey, he began doing photograph shoots for buddies performing actions like dance. As his content material was put on the market, dance studios started to contact him. As a graduate of Bishop Ireton High School, he turned buddies with the bishop who really helpful him to a number of different church buildings within the space for tasks. And so, his consumer community grew quickly, all while being a self-taught photographer and videographer.
Both Rivera and Tugbang discover their present coursework, particularly Jiyeon Hong’s course, immensely useful in rising professionally. “She doesn’t know this, however each time she’s instructing one thing I at all times make the modifications on my web site,” says Rivera. “Like when she was speaking about search engine optimisation and the way to optimize your search engine optimisation and every part, I used to be on my web site making these modifications in actual time.” One of the course’s tasks that Tugbang finds notably useful is analyzing an organization’s web site and social media presence to make suggestions. In truth, it’s one thing he finds himself doing usually for his enterprise. “For instance, this dental firm reached out to me, and I might see they didn’t actually have a web site and wanted this and that,” he says. With an analytical eye and a robust marketing skillset, he might help purchasers attain their targets. “I’m very pleased with my college students who’re pursuing their entrepreneurial spirits while managing their educational tasks,” says Hong. “I want all of them the very best for the continued progress of their businesses.”
Rivera is already doing professionally what she’s at all times needed to do. Now her targets are simply larger and extra formidable. In addition to pictures and marketing, she finds a lot to love about being an entrepreneur. “Before I began my enterprise, I used to be a homebody who didn’t go too far until it was with household or buddies,” she says. “Now that I’ve purchasers in numerous places, I get to see completely different places I wasn’t aware of, and I get to join with completely different individuals from completely different cultures.” The sky is the restrict for Tugbang’s enterprise as effectively. “I undoubtedly need to preserve specializing in my enterprise,” he says. “It permits me to grow myself and grow the group as effectively as a result of there’s different photographers I’m serving to, they usually assist me with my very own tasks as effectively.” With ever-expanding consumer networks and skillsets, Bethany Rivera and Alex Tugbang are excited to continue rising their businesses to new heights.
https://www.gmu.edu/news/2024-06/photography-entrepreneurs-continue-grow-businesses-while-studying-marketing
