2024 Best & Brightest Business Major: Jane Wiesner, Loyola Marymount University

Jane Wiesner

Loyola Marymount University

“Dedicated and caring, a hardworking girl who is driven by always doing the right thing.”

Fun fact about yourself: A fun fact about myself is that I was adopted from Jiangxi Province, China at nine months old.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

High School: The Buckley School

Major: Entrepreneurship

Minor: Business Law

Favorite Business Course: Sports Law

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College: President of Business Law Society, Associated Students of LMU Chief Justice (Student Government), Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity Treasurer (2023), Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honors Member, LMU Pedro Arrupe Merit Scholarship

Where have you interned during your college career?

Wasserman Media Group

  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Intern, Team Sports – Football division (June 2023 – December 2023)
  • Intern, Team Sports – Baseball division (January 2024 – Present)

Andíne

  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Intern to Creative Director
  • May 2021 – July 2021

Where will you be working after graduation? I will be applying to law school, but I am still exploring options in the sports and entertainment industry.

Who is your favorite business professor? Sona Gala, J.D. I want to highlight Professor Gala’s impact on my time at LMU. Her patience, enthusiasm, and ability to connect with students makes her business law classes a standout experience. Her encouragement and genuine care for her students have made a significant difference in my experience at LMU. I am truly grateful for her guidance!

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? My advice to a student looking to major in business would be to find something you are passionate about and run with that. It can guide you in many ways, from helping you find a career you’ll enjoy, to deciding on what moves to make on your path, to balancing your work and life.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? I entered LMU’s business program expecting the focus to be predominantly on hard skills like financial analysis, strategic planning, and market research. However, the emphasis on soft skills—communication, teamwork, leadership, and emotional intelligence—came as a surprise. LMU provided many courses dedicated to leadership development, where I engaged in activities that challenged me to lead a team, negotiate, or resolve conflicts effectively. These courses taught me many soft skills that I was not expecting to focus on.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? Networking is not just about building a contact list; it’s about creating meaningful relationships that can provide support, advice, and opportunities throughout one’s career. Looking back, I would have taken greater advantage of the networking opportunities available. Starting networking early gives you more time to meet a wide range of people from different fields, industries, and levels of experience. These experiences can enrich your understanding of the professional world, offer varied perspectives, and open opportunities in areas you may not have previously considered.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? When I look back on my journey, I entered college as a shy individual before reaching a point where social interactions were met with confidence. Hence, the development of social skills stands out as a personal pivotal achievement. College presented a mosaic of networking events, clubs, and informal gatherings, each offering a chance to interact with a diverse group of people. For someone who entered college feeling shy and apprehensive about social situations, these opportunities initially seemed intimidating. Even though the act of stepping out of one’s comfort zone is inherently challenging, it is within this space that the most significant growth occurs. My evolution is not just about being able to speak in public or network effectively; it’s about the deeper realization of my potential to overcome personal limitations and engage with the world in a meaningful way. The pride in this development is well-founded, as it signifies not just a change in how I interact with others, but also a profound shift in self-perception and confidence that will continue to influence all areas of my life.

Which classmate do you most admire? I admire my friend, Mena Hy. Mena Hy’s story is a profound illustration of resilience and excellence, embodying the remarkable ability to overcome adversity and achieve greatness. Having faced considerable challenges over the past four years, Mena not only secured her place in graduate school, but also excelled academically, emerging at the top of her class. Her achievements extend into the professional realm, where she holds the significant role of head of store operations at Zara, showcasing her leadership skills and adeptness in a fast-paced business environment. I had the fortune of meeting Mena in a business law class in 2021, an encounter that offered me a front-row seat to her journey of perseverance, intellectual rigor, and professional success. Admiring Mena goes beyond her list of accomplishments; it’s a recognition of her unwavering spirit, her capacity to navigate and transcend obstacles, and her inspirational impact on those around her. Her story is a testament to the idea that with determination, ambition, and a positive mindset, overcoming life’s hurdles is not just a possibility but a gateway to achieving one’s highest potential.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? The person I would most want to thank for my success is my mom. Her influence has been the bedrock of my achievements, providing a foundation of support, wisdom, and love that has guided me through every challenge and triumph. Beyond academic or professional achievements, my mom has been instrumental in shaping my character and values. She taught me the importance of integrity, kindness, and empathy – lessons that have been invaluable in both my personal and professional life. Her example of living these values in her own life has been the best lesson in how to conduct myself in the world, influencing how I approach challenges, interact with others, and make decisions.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

  1. Become a sports agent
  2. Negotiate a landmark contract for a client

What made Jane such an invaluable member of the Class of 2024?

“Jane is an incredibly intelligent, thoughtful, and engaged student both in and outside the classroom at LMU. In her courses, she actively participates in discussions and asks thought provoking questions that require both her peers and professors to think and engage. She is also a natural born leader who effectively collaborates with her peers. Jane instinctively knows when to take leadership role and when to step back and support her peers when they choose to lead.  Jane and the groups she has worked in have led some of the most interesting class discussions in my courses.

In addition to her outstanding academic achievements, Jane has played a key role in fostering a vibrant student led business law community at LMU. Through her work on the Executive Board of the Business Law Society, Jane has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities and a genuine passion for promoting legal education and engagement. Her efforts in organizing various events, including guest speaker sessions, workshops on applying to law school, events to educate her peers about our Business Law Minor program, and promoting the organization through social media and other channels, have greatly enriched our campus community.  Her work has led to an increase in student engagement at our events and increased enrollment in the organization. Jane’s leadership and contributions have also led to a significant increase in the number of students now enrolled in our Business Law Minor program. I’m proud to have had the opportunity to not only teach Jane in my courses, but also work closely with her to better our business and legal community at LMU.”

Sona Gala
J.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Business Law
LMU College of Business Administration

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