Creative Student Honored in NYC
“I also believe that advertising is an art and business that can lead others to action. Because of that, it can change the world for the better, and I want to be a part of that change.” - Mai Koythong, Texas Creative Sequence Student, (Mai is pictured fourth from left in the above photo)
Mai Koythong is a Texas Creative Sequence student in the Advertising department, as well as a Marketing major in the McCombs Business School. She will be graduating in May 2012 with her dual-degree. She was recently honored in New York at the American Advertising Federation’s 2012 Most Promising Minority Students Conference.
What is the name of the award that you won in NYC?
Most Promising Minority Student
The AAF event was also a conference, correct?
Yes. It was a three-day program. We were able to meet with recruiters, tour ad agencies, and network with other Most Promising students and alumni.
What did the event and award mean to you, and how will it aid in your studies?
This was a great experience, there’s no doubt in my mind about that. I met other Most Promising students who gave me their advice and told me about their experiences in the industry, I met and connected with recruiters and Most Promising alumni, and I became part of a network that serves to continually encourage and support diversity in the advertising industry.
I feel pretty honored to be a Most Promising student, and I thank all the agencies and companies that sponsor this annual event because this opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without them.
To me, this award can pave the path to working in agencies across the nation and even across the globe one day (wouldn’t that be cool?). It’s only the beginning, though, and I realize that. As a fellow Most Promising student said, this award puts our foot in the door, but it’s up to us to bring it all the way down.
How did you find out about this award?
My friend Pear Phongsawad, who was the TAG president at the time, suggested that I apply for the program because she believed I would be a promising candidate. Thanks, Pear!
As a student in the creative sequence, what's your advice to other students/future students about being in the sequence?
I hear it from all my portfolio professors, and it is a really good piece of advice: If you’re not willing to put your all into this field, don’t do it. You will be miserable otherwise. It’s a demanding industry, and you can find something more suited to you elsewhere. Besides that, I would say be nice because niceness goes a long way.
Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb and throw out crazy ideas. Your ideas inspire others to get out of their comfort zone too. And then we’re all learning and doing new things together and that’s great. Above all, don’t give up. The people who continue to push are the ones who pull through. You will, doubtless, fail, but you will also make great things. Never forget that.
How has being a dual-degree student influenced your time as an advertising student?
Being a marketing and advertising major was a conscious effort to have a well-rounded perspective of these industries. I figured if I ever became a creative director, I would be able to understand the business-y side of things, and that would certainly be helpful. What came with that decision was also a ton of experience with group projects, presentations, and strategic thinking.
From an advertising point of view, being a dual-major has helped me to work efficiently with groups and to provide a marketing perspective in the courses I have taken. A lot of the concepts overlap between the two majors, so I have certainly gotten a fuller understanding of both trades as well.
What's your favorite aspect of being a student at UT? What's your favorite aspect of being an advertising student?
This is mostly aimed at why I love being in Austin, but there is always something going on around here. You don’t have to look far for inspiration, whether that takes on the form of people, places, or things. I have made great friends and had great mentors at UT as well who have pushed and encouraged me to do my best.
What I love about being an advertising student is that the major allows me to stay in touch with and nurture my creative side while providing me with the business skills needed to succeed in any industry. I also believe that advertising is an art and business that can lead others to action. Because of that, it can change the world for the better, and I want to be a part of that change.
Do you have a website?
Sure do! You can visit my online portfolio here.