As they approached graduation, Madi and several of her UO classmates had an idea. Inspired by Professor Deb Morrison’s NYC Experience, a yearly pilgrimage for advertising students to visit agencies in New York City, the group decided to organize their own networking trip to San Francisco. Thanks to the contacts of UO professors as well as simple cold calls, they ended up being graciously hosted by several big ad agencies.
For Madi, the trip proved transformative: she secured an internship at R/GA San Francisco that she then successfully parlayed into a full-time job -- her proverbial “foot-in-the-door” of agency advertising.
Madi’s early career was marked by the challenges of finding financial stability in the Bay Area, even having to do some babysitting on the side. She also navigated a layoff and endured some less-than-ideal work environments. Seeking a better fit, she pivoted to freelance work, working with tech companies Lyft and Apple on short-term contracts. The move was a “leap of faith,” she says, but it ultimately paid off.
She was hired full-time at Apple as a brand project manager in 2020, supporting areas like Mac and Apple Vision Pro. Madi describes her time at Apple as inspiring, citing the opportunity to collaborate with some of the most talented and motivated professionals in the industry. Working at Apple is more than just a job, she says — it’s an opportunity to be part of a high-visibility, global brand that develops the products of the future.
- From Grants Pass, Oregon
- Lives in Oakland, California
- Major, Advertising
- Graduated in 2014
- First-Generation College Student
Q&A with Madi
“You can create a really great plan, but people will still tear it apart—not because it’s a bad plan, but because there are a thousand factors that you can’t possibly know. That’s why it’s a team effort, and everyone has to align on the plan.
So don’t be too precious about your work. Be ready to start over if needed. It’s not a reflection of your abilities; it’s just the nature of the creative process.”
“PathwayOregon is the only reason I went to college. Growing up, I didn’t think I could afford anything beyond community college. Paying university application fees didn’t even seem worth it because I didn’t think attending was financially possible.
PathwayOregon didn’t just make college financially possible—it changed everything. It was my golden ticket to everything that followed.”
"Use every single connection you possibly have. Especially in advertising, it’s all about getting your foot in the door. But that doesn’t mean you need to already have a lot of connections. You can start by introducing yourself to people and building them. That’s what I did, because my only link to the industry was through my professors.
And, secondly, stay humble. I’ve met interns or entry-level candidates who come in with an inflated sense of what they’re bringing to the table and I don’t think that serves them well. Show your enthusiasm, your willingness to learn, and your dedication. Those qualities will take you a long way."
More Pathway to Career Stories