Sandy Sledge
Marian University of Indianapolis, Byrum School of Business
“Confidently curious. I enjoy learning and tapping into new interests.”
Fun fact about yourself: I enjoy “vaulting” Marian University forward, as a member of our National Sales Championship team and as a NAIA All-American Pole Vaulter in track and field.
Hometown: Belleville, Illinois
High School: Belleville East high school
Major: BS-Business Marketing
Minor: Sociology/ Concentration: Professional Sales
Favorite Business Course: Strategic Marketing
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College: My leadership on campus has been heavily focused in three areas: Marian Admissions, Byrum School of Business, and Marian Track and Field. At Marian Admission’s office, I serve as a Student Ambassador familiarizing prospective students with our campus, university resources and services, and student life. On campus, I serve as the American Marketing Association President and have participated in a variety of business competitions. Most notably, I was a member of Marian’s first team that won a national sales competition besting Baylor, Penn State, and the University of Richmond. As a student-athlete, I was elected as team captain for our track and field team, and was recognized as a NAIA All-American Pole-vaulter.
Where have you interned during your college career? Fastenal Company- Sales Team Member (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Where will you be working after graduation? Customer Success Analyst at Demand Jump as part of the Orr Fellowship program (Indianapolis, Indiana). The Orr fellowship is a selective two-year, post-graduation program that partners with Indianapolis’s top dynamic companies to jump start young business professional’s careers.
What company do you admire most? I admire Salesforce. Not being from Indianapolis, when I first saw our state’s largest building in the heart of downtown, I felt excited about the possibilities of being a business professional in this city. Salesforce is the leading CRM system in world because of the adaptability features to best fit each client’s needs. As a student, I have appreciated Salesforce’s free learning certifications to continue to grow as a young professional.
Who is your favorite professor? My favorite professor is Professor Lori Rumreich, who also serves as my marketing advisor. Being mentored by Professor Rumreich has taught me how to have confidence in my leadership and ideas. The leadership and responsibility Professor Rumreich takes on for the Byrum School of Business inspires me as a young marketing professional. The inviting atmosphere and energy Professor Rumreich provides in her classroom builds connections to the coursework and has left lasting impressions on my college experience.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? My advice would be to always have an interest in business. In every industry, there is a business-related element and having foundational knowledge about business will always help you stand out. Business is not simplified down to entrepreneurship, accounting, or office jobs, there are many facets of business students can find interest in.
What has surprised you most about majoring in business? I was surprised by how fun business can be. At the Byrum School of Business, professors introduce the exciting, competitive side of business early and I love the freedom of creating my own strategies to address solutions. Having the opportunity to compete in national business competitions brought out the joy of competition, which I thought only existed in sports. The constant technological change of business keeps me interested in how companies will continue to innovate to remain competitive within their respective markets.
Which- academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of my student consulting experience (A-team course) with the Indiana Prison Writers Workshop program (IPWW). The IPWW is a two-year-old non-profit program to improve the lives of those incarcerated through creative writing and expression. With no business plan or marketing strategy, IPWW initially did not have high success with grant funding, which left the program with inadequate financial resources to serve more prisons. Our team created a comprehensive business plan analyzing IPWW current position, future goals, and cultivated a social media identity and brand. As a result, our work led to IPWW being chosen as the recipient of a $50,000 dollar grant toward their program’s vision and expansion of their goals. Working with the IPWW team, showed the genuine drive each person had which made me connect closely to this project. Seeing IPWW receive the funds to continue reaching new people and impacting lives gave this project a deeper meaning to me then I ever experienced. This was the first time I saw my business skills work in the real world to make an impact.
Which classmate do you most admire? I admire my classmate Peyton Turner. The moment we worked on a team assignment together, we clicked with such ease. She is a bright and authentic. My favorite part of Peyton that I admire most is her selflessness to assist anyone. Peyton is always available and encourages fellow business students around her in any capacity. Peyton’s humble demeanor is an honorable trait that I seek to mirror when working with others. She is a living example of Marian University’s Franciscan values.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would like to thank my older sister Ashley for my success. Following my sister’s footsteps and entering business has brought me insight into how I can best prepare myself while also finding a greater appreciation for the leader my sister is. Success is a team sport and I can confidently say that my sister’s wisdom has helped me move past an older sibling’s shadow and into my own career pathway.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
– Global consulting
– Return to Marian University serving as a Professor in Marketing.
What are your hobbies?
– Coaching gymnastics and track & field
– Shopping
– Trying new restaurants
What made Sandy such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2021?
“Sandy Sledge is a true servant leader within the university and the community. She demonstrates her leadership in the classroom, as president of the collegiate chapter of a national organization, and on the athletic field where she is a four-year track and field national qualifier. In recognition of her exceptional talents, she was named a 2022 Orr Fellow, a two-year paid post graduate experience awarded to top students who display entrepreneurial spirit, strong leadership, and high achievement. I have had the pleasure of having Sandy in my classroom, most notably in my advanced professional selling course where she showed her leadership skills in a national team selling competition, placing first in the country. Sandy is a thoughtful student who always strives to be at her best and to bring out the best in others. Her many accolades are a testament to her contributions while at Marian University. She is an invaluable member of the Class of 2022.”
Lori Rumreich
Assistant Professor of Marketing and Sales
Byrum School of Business, Marian University
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