Steven Preval

Rutgers Business School – Newark

“First-generation student chasing opportunities my younger self never imagined.”

Fun fact about yourself: Last summer, I did my first and last hike at Yosemite with my intern cohort.

Hometown: West Orange, New Jersey

High School: West Orange High School

Major: Marketing

Favorite Business Course: AI in Marketing

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Vice President of Marketing, National Association of Black Accountants (NABA)
Marketing Director, Business Association of Supply Chain Expertise (BASE)
Marketing Committee Member, Marketing & Management Society and NABA
Social Media Ambassador, Rutgers Business School
Peer Mentor, Rutgers Peer Mentoring Program
Mentee, Rutgers UFirst First-Generation Mentoring Program
Braven Fellow (Leadership & Career Development Program)
ARF WIDE Scholar (1 of 48 selected nationally)
Dean’s List (4×)
Business in China Program
Rutgers Alternative Spring Break Volunteer Program – Tampa, FL
ARF WIDE Scholarship Recipient
Black Organization of Student Alumni Association Scholarship Recipient
Elise V. & James H. McGordy Scholarship Recipient (2×)
Judith Fay Ross Memorial Endowed Scholarship Recipient

Programs:

Google BOLD Immersion Program (50 / 2500 selected)
American Express Discovery Program (103 / 5300+ selected)
Prudential Base Camp & PruPods Programs
ARF WIDE Program (48 / 10,000+ selected)

Where have you interned during your college career?

Google: Associate Product Marketing Manager Intern, Bay Area, CA

Henkel: Marketing, Strategy & Innovation Intern, Bridgewater, NJ

WorldWise Tutoring: Social Media Marketing Manager Intern, Remote

Educate. Radiate. Elevate.: Content Marketing Intern, Remote

Bergen County Chamber of Commerce: Marketing Intern, Bergen County NJ

Where will you be working after graduation? Google: Associate Product Marketing Manager, New York City, New York, starting September 2026

Who is your favorite business professor? Hussan Peavey is my favorite business professor because he connected classroom concepts to real experiences from his career in supply chain management. He often shared real scenarios from his work, which made the lessons feel practical instead of theoretical. Outside the classroom, I enjoyed getting to know him personally and learning about his real estate investments and the businesses he runs while also being a professor. He took the time to mentor me and give advice about careers, investing, and long-term goals, and he has become someone I can look to for guidance beyond college.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I learned is that opportunities do not come from waiting, they come from initiative and consistent effort. During my sophomore year, I realized I was underusing the resources around me. I had access to professors, alumni, student organizations, and career programs, but I was hesitant to fully engage because I did not feel ready. At that point, I decided to be more proactive. I started attending networking events regularly, reaching out to alumni for coffee chats, applying to competitive programs, and stepping into leadership roles even when I felt underqualified.

Many of those early efforts did not lead to immediate success. I faced rejections and unanswered messages, but I stayed consistent and continued improving my approach. Over time, I began to notice small shifts. Some conversations led to follow-up calls. A few applications turned into interviews. I learned that growth often comes from stepping forward before you feel fully ready and trusting the process when outcomes are not immediate.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? I would have started networking earlier, especially during my freshman year. At the time, I was focused mainly on adjusting to college and doing well academically, but I did not fully take advantage of the opportunities around me. I hesitated to attend events, reach out to alumni, or apply to competitive programs because I felt inexperienced and unsure of myself.

Once I understood how important relationships are for internships and long-term career growth, I became much more intentional. I began scheduling coffee chats with professionals in roles I aspired to hold and asked specific questions about the steps they took to get there. Instead of viewing their success as distant, I broke it down into actionable steps I could follow. That shift in mindset helped me become more proactive and ultimately opened doors that I might have missed if I had stayed passive.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? One way my business school integrated AI into the curriculum was through a dedicated course, AI in Marketing. Each week focused on areas such as market research, branding, CRM, advertising, analytics, and customer retention. We used AI tools to conduct sentiment analysis on customer reviews, develop competitive positioning strategies, design personalized customer journeys, generate multi format content, and streamline analytical workflows. The course also emphasized ethical considerations and required a final group project where we integrated AI across multiple marketing domains into one comprehensive strategy.

One key insight I gained is that AI is most effective as an enhancement, not a replacement. It improves efficiency by accelerating research, idea generation, and data analysis, but strong outcomes still depend on human judgment and creativity. AI can surface insights and expand possibilities, yet marketers are responsible for interpreting the output, refining strategy, and ensuring authenticity. I learned that AI enables marketers to automate repetitive tasks so they can focus more on strategic thinking and creative decision making.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of my full-time position at Google. As a first-generation college student without industry connections, I had to learn how to network, interview, and compete on my own. That experience showed me that discipline and persistence can create opportunities that once seemed out of reach.

Which classmate do you most admire? I most admire Noel Lott because of the standard he sets through both performance and character. As a first-generation student, he has balanced demanding academics, leadership responsibilities as President of the National Association of Black Accountants, and early career preparation with remarkable discipline. He earned Big Four internship offers as a freshman not by chance, but through intentional preparation, networking, and consistent execution.

What stands out even more is how he carries his success. He helps others without expecting anything in return and constantly reinforces that big opportunities are within reach, not reserved for someone else. Watching him juggle so much at once while remaining focused and generous showed me that achieving at a high level is possible with discipline and belief. He has been a direct example that I could push further than I originally thought.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would most want to thank my mother for making my college journey possible through her sacrifice and resilience as a single parent. She worked tirelessly to provide stability and opportunity, often putting my future ahead of her own comfort. Because of her, pursuing higher education was never framed as optional but as an expectation and a privilege.

She consistently encouraged me to aim higher than I thought possible, especially during moments when I questioned whether I was capable of more competitive opportunities. When I doubted myself, she reminded me of the work it took to get here and why quitting was never an option. Her belief in me strengthened my own belief in myself. Much of my drive, discipline, and ambition are reflections of the example she set.

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

Lead marketing strategy for a global product used by millions of people
Mentor first-generation and underrepresented students pursuing careers in business

What made Steven such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

“Steven Preval’s tenure at Rutgers Business School is defined by a rare servant leader mentality with a commitment to “paying it forward” that has transformed the Class of 2026. While his relentless pursuit of professional excellence is evidenced by high-caliber internships and a role with Google upon graduation, it is his academic trajectory and campus impact that truly distinguish him. After securing prestigious honors like the ARF WIDE and BOSAA scholarships, Steven transitioned from a working student to a dedicated scholar, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA for three consecutive semesters. Beyond the classroom, he has been an architectural force in student life, serving in vital leadership roles for the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and the Business Association of Supply Chain Expertise (BASE). By balancing his own relentless pursuit of professional development and continuous improvement with a deep commitment to mentoring and peer success, Steven has not only accomplished great things in his four years at Rutgers Business School but has ensured that he isn’t standing there alone.”

Elizabeth Fieseler
Career Counseling Officer
Part-Time Lecturer
Rutgers Business School, Rutgers University-Newark

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