Jenny Rodriguez

Marian University of Indianapolis, Byrum School of Business

“Curious, passionate, and always willing to learn and grow… while having fun!”

Fun fact about yourself: I love going to coffee shops and concerts!

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN

High School: Pike High School

Major: B.S. in Marketing, B.A. in Spanish

Specializations: Digital Marketing, Professional Selling

Favorite Business Course: Marketing Cases and Competitions

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College: At Marian University, I have served as the President of our American Marketing Association (AMA) student chapter; the Co-Founder and Vice President of Women in Business; a member of Sigma Delta Pi; the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society; and Alpha Mu Alpha, a national marketing honorary. I have also had the opportunity to participate in various marketing and sales competitions. Alongside a team, I have placed first in a National Team Selling Competition, second in the AMA’s Amazon Prime Student Case Competition, and third in AMA’s The Wall Street Journal Case Competition. I also had the opportunity to study abroad in Alicante, Spain during a summer.

Where have you interned during your college career?

• Green Loop Marketing, Indianapolis, Marketing Intern
• Impact Financial Group, Indianapolis, Marketing Intern
• PivotPoint Business Solutions, Indianapolis, Marketing Intern
• Association of Teachers in Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) Indiana Chapter, Indianapolis, Digital Content Intern
• Marian University’s Office of Marketing and Communications, Indianapolis, Digital Marketing Intern

Where will you be working after graduation? Solutions Architect at Stitch, a marketing technology consultancy in Indianapolis.

Who is your favorite business professor? Dr. Lori Rumreich is without a doubt, my favorite professor. Her passion for teaching and marketing expertise has been inspirational. Her encouragement and support have empowered me to step out of my comfort zone, allowing me to grow and develop confidence in my skills. From being part of competitions against flagship universities to research projects to mentorship, she has always been supportive. Dr. Rumreich’s guidance has pushed me toward academic and personal achievements I had not imagined.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Studying business has taught me the importance of adaptability and resilience when navigating our ever-changing world. Whether it’s technological advances, the next trend, or shifting consumer preferences, you have to have agility and adaptability to thrive. This goes beyond business because it applies to all aspects of life. We have to embrace change, learn from setbacks, and innovate continuously. Studying business has also shown me the significance of collaboration and communication to create long-term success and build sustainable relationships.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? I was surprised by how many doors a business degree opens for you. There is always an opportunity for me to learn, grow, and have fun! The more I learn, the more I realized how much I enjoy studying marketing. For me, the creative freedom was the most engaging. Majoring in marketing provided the perfect blend of my interests including strategy, creativity, and psychology. In marketing, you have to understand every aspect of business from creating financial forecasts, to analyzing campaign ROI, to creating and implementing marketing plans. What I love most is how marketers are immersed in all areas of business.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I would have focused on prioritizing networking and building relationships earlier on. While I focused on academics and gaining practical experience, I underestimated the importance of networking and connecting with peers, professors, and professionals in the field. Building a strong network is crucial for job opportunities, career advancements, and accessing valuable resources and insights.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? Being a co-founder and Vice President of Women in Business, a Marian University student organization, is an achievement I am incredibly proud of. Meeting other like-minded women has been inspirational and empowering. Through Women in Business, we had the opportunity to create a supportive community where students could network, mentor each other, and access resources to excel in their academic and professional pursuits. Being part of this organization has not only allowed me to contribute to a cause I’m passionate about, but it also has provided me with invaluable leadership experience, organizational skills, and a sense of fulfillment knowing that I’m making a positive difference.

Which classmate do you most admire? It is Linsey Rodas-Hernandez because she is driven, hard-working, and passionate about helping others. She began as a nursing student, but then switched to marketing when she realized it was a better fit. Although marketing was significantly different, I saw how eager she was to learn and be involved. Linsey approached me with the idea of co-founding Women in Business, and I’ve enjoyed seeing our organization grow. I’ve found her work ethic, determination, and enthusiasm to be quite motivating and admirable. I am now thankful to call her one of my best friends and look forward to continuing to work alongside her as we both begin our careers at Stitch.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would like to thank my mother, the most hard-working and selfless woman I know. My mother has sacrificed everything to provide my sister and I with the opportunities she was never given. I attribute my work ethic, perseverance, resilience, and other values to her as my role model. I am forever grateful for her love, dedication, and constant support.

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

1) Become a senior consultant.

2) Mentor others and give back, possibly even as a professor.

What made Jenny such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?  

“Jenny is a first-generation college student who has embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm. She is one of those rare students who thrive on tackling challenges and new experiences and uses her infectious enthusiasm to inspire others to jump on board and give their best. Whether it is a team project or an individual pursuit, Jenny is a model of hard work and leadership. I often wonder how she manages to accomplish all that she does. This year she is completing three year-long internships, while also serving as president of our American Marketing Association (AMA) student chapter and vice president of the Women in Business organization, which she co-founded. She loves to compete, especially when it’s against the top business programs in the world. In the fall, she placed first in two different national competitions, in sales and marketing. This spring, Jenny is leading a team of students who have qualified for the national finals in the AMA case competition, is competing in an AMA marketing design competition, and will travel to Florida International University, where she qualified to participate in the prestigious Global Bilingual Sales Competition.

It is rewarding to watch how Jenny inspires those around her to learn by getting involved, being engaged, and taking part in opportunities outside the classroom. She’s not just an inspiration to students, but also to faculty. She makes us better by challenging us to give our best, stay relevant, and laugh at ourselves when we admit that we do not know everything. Jenny also gives back to the school. She is often called upon to speak to potential donors, business partners, and other visitors and frequently acts as a peer coach to younger business students. She led a food drive to tackle food insecurity among our community, and through all she does, she models the Franciscan values and Catholic faith of our university. After considering several offers, she recently accepted a role at Stitch, and I can’t wait to see how Jenny makes an impact in the field of marketing as she begins her professional career in June.”

Dr. Lori Rumreich
Associate Professor of Marketing & Sales
Byrum School of Business, Marian University

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