This is one of a series of profiles of students of the Class of 2018.
Julia Tannenbaum paired art and business together throughout her time at Geneseo to help build economic development across Livingston and Wyoming counties.
At Geneseo, she declared a major in business administration with a minor in communication and art history.
“I paired a love of creativity, which is one of the most important skills, with a business outlook,” she said. “Business gives you a technical background, while art history looks at how creativity impacted different societies, and communications brought in how to create an effective team.”
Tannenbaum put those skills to work as one of the founding students of what evolved into Adopt-a-Business — a student intern program which provides local businesses with access to one-on-one support in social media and digital marketing. Students gain real-world experience in business consulting, and local businesses receive student support to enhance their online marketing presence and grow their business.
“It really lets students see other things that are out there,” she said, and helped her understand what it means to run a business.
Tannenbaum’s Adopt-a-Business client base includes David Mann Jewelers on Main Street in Geneseo, as well as Sundance Books, for which she helped run a very successful textbook buy-back program.
Tannenbaum is now the student coordinator for the program, overseeing six other student interns. Adopt-a-Business is housed under SUNY Geneseo’s Center for Inquiry, Discovery and Development (CIDD), in partnership with the Livingston County Downtown Partnership Program, and the Letchworth Gateway Villages Initiative (LGV).
Such experiences, Tannenbaum said, were transformational for her.
Tannenbaum cites Professor of Economics Chris Annala as well as Lecturer and Internship Director for the School of Business Robert Boyd, professor of accounting Harry Howe, and Department of Art History Chair and Professor of Art History Lynette Bosch for really opening a new way of thinking, and discovering a new envisioned future.
“Professors at Geneseo really care, and are easy to talk to,” said Tannenbaum. "They bring real-world issues and bring them into the classroom.” Combined with the resources and opportunities that Geneseo had to offer, Tannenbaum is leaving Geneseo with a changed worldview and career goals.
“By having the ability to be a cross-departmental student and developing ties with the community, I was able to see a different side of the ‘college experience,’” said Tannenbaum. “I expressed my passion for local business through Adopt-a-Business and created relationships that I know will last past my time here at Geneseo. I am able to see what everyday life of a sole proprietor entails. This has transformed the way that I look at businesses, as well as where my future career path may go.”
After graduation, Tannenbaum is exploring different opportunities in digital media and cultural consulting. She hopes to pair her love of innovative thinking with her analytical background.
“You have to find your spot and make your home,” said Tannenbaum. “Look at the offerings and the outcome after graduation, and most importantly can you see yourself growing and developing into the person you want to become?”
— By Kitrick McCoy '19