Chelsea York-Vargas
- VP, Group Strategy Director
- GSD&M
School Information
School: University of California, Los Angeles and USC
College Major: Other
Years at College Works: 2005 to 2006
Career Information
Working For: GSD&M
Title: VP, Group Strategy Director
Industry: AdvertisingWhat Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?
I am heading the Super Bowl campaign for my client, Hyundai for 2014. Being at the agency only about 7 months, this is a coveted role – and it’s awesome that they gave it to me.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting gave me the confidence to know I can succeed in anything.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
People hear internship and immediately think you were the guinea pig for an Exec. When I first got out of school it was the wow factor that College Works Painting got me in interviews. Namely, they could not believe that we were in charge of starting and running our own business at the age of 19 – and the $90K gross income for a summer painting business usually caught their attention as well.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
That my successes in life were not a fluke -they were part of who I am.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Whether you love it or hate it, in the end, the College Works Painting internship will change your life. You will never look at yourself the same because you’ll have proof that you accomplished something many people cannot.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Definitely Cancun. That, and the Santa Barbara trip for training.
Last words of wisdom?
Keep on truckin’ and always learn.