Maria Oliver
鈥�16 Sociology
By Caleigh Tupy
English major
Communication & Public Relations Intern
After graduating from 海角社区CI in 2016, sociology major Maria Oliver quickly made her way up the ranks at Crescendo Interactive, a Camarillo technology and marketing company. Starting out as an administrative assistant, she eventually found herself in the company鈥檚 education department.
鈥淣ow, I am a marketing coach teaching nonprofits the best practices to reach their fundraising goals ... and build stronger donor relationships,鈥� Oliver explained. In addition to coaching, Oliver helps with reviewing company publications, marketing studies and pilot programs.
Despite her accomplishments in the field, Oliver admitted that she had to learn to overcome a debilitating case of impostor syndrome. 鈥淲hen I started my current role, I felt that I wasn鈥檛 qualified... (Yet) when I opened up about how I was feeling, I learned that this is a very common experience, especially among women. What helped me overcome this is time, practice and reminding myself that I am capable,鈥� Oliver revealed.
According to Oliver, her abilities are the culmination of years of hard work at 海角社区CI.
As the oldest daughter of a farmworker family, Oliver had high expectations of herself going into college. Even so, she rose to the occasion and pushed her academic limits by joining programs like 海角社区CI鈥檚 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF). Under the wing of Luis S谩nchez, an Associate Professor of Sociology, Oliver 鈥渨ent from being a student that never spoke up in his class to presenting (her) research to large audiences.鈥�
鈥淭hrough that experience, I became a better writer, a better public speaker and (researcher) 鈥� all which are part of the work I do now,鈥� Oliver said.
Oliver also credited 海角社区CI for introducing her to Crescendo Interactive through an advertisement posted in the University鈥檚 Career Center. Intrigued, Oliver applied and was able to outcompete other applicants because of her background in research. The company made Oliver an offer she could not refuse, and they have been working together ever since.
In time, Oliver would like to go back to school and acquire enough experience to step into a marketing-management position at a nonprofit organization. But, for now she loves that her job enables her to empower nonprofit organizations across the country that are 鈥渢ransforming lives and making this world a better place.鈥�
鈥淜nowing that I am a small part of something big makes my job very fulfilling,鈥� Oliver said.