Karissa Lynn Duda
Hospitality and Tourism Management Emphasis in Meetings and Events Graduating in May 2015 |
ABOUT ME
I’m a perfect combination of leadership and business. I’ve managed projects, events, and people. I have an eye for detail in events and I grasp concepts fast. I am eager to learn and love a fast paced work environment. I have put myself through school by working such jobs as a part-time innkeeper at the Hillcrest House Bed and Breakfast, brand event planning, and serving, all of which enhanced my formal education. My outgoing personality, my leadership experience, and my well-rounded business skills make me a strong candidate for job opportunities. I will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Hospitality at the San Diego State University.
I have the maturity, skills, and abilities to embark on a career in Sport Event Planning. When I was 13 years old, I took a trip with my best friend and her dirt bikes out to the desert. I came back with a passion for extreme motorsports. My family began to join in on the fun and adventure. We now have motorcycles and off-roading vehicles of our own. I also go to Supercross (a motorcross event) every single year. When I went to community college in Orange County, I took design and business classes with the idea of creating my own line of motocross gear for women. I took a fashion event planning class where I became the director of the 2011 Saddleback Fashion Show. This gave me a glimpse into the role of event planning. When I transferred to SDSU, I was not satisfied with the business marketing curriculum and saw more of an opportunity for myself to learn in the Hospitality major at state.
When I signed into the major as a meeting and event student, I became very excited. Students and faculty assist in every way they can to help each other succeed. There is a couch in the HTM office where students can bounce ideas off each other and see what others are involved in on campus. I felt more involved with the campus and what was happening in the field of work I wanted to go in to. I love the family-like atmosphere I feel when I am in class and in the HTM office. There is always inspiration and people to encourage you. I not only have learned the business way of thinking, but also how to be a leader and how to use leadership theories to enhance my way of thinking.
I do learn concepts fast, but my overall journey as a professional has not been easy. The reason for my title, Taking the Stairs, is the process of finding my passion and working hard toward the finish line at SDSU. I am a committed individual but still, my education has not been easy to finish, but I CAN do it and AM doing it. Even if it means taking the longer way to learn as much as possible and engage in pertinent activities. You cannot just sit back and wait for opportunities, you must take charge and go for it. You cannot take an elevator to get there, so take the stairs!
I’m a perfect combination of leadership and business. I’ve managed projects, events, and people. I have an eye for detail in events and I grasp concepts fast. I am eager to learn and love a fast paced work environment. I have put myself through school by working such jobs as a part-time innkeeper at the Hillcrest House Bed and Breakfast, brand event planning, and serving, all of which enhanced my formal education. My outgoing personality, my leadership experience, and my well-rounded business skills make me a strong candidate for job opportunities. I will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Hospitality at the San Diego State University.
I have the maturity, skills, and abilities to embark on a career in Sport Event Planning. When I was 13 years old, I took a trip with my best friend and her dirt bikes out to the desert. I came back with a passion for extreme motorsports. My family began to join in on the fun and adventure. We now have motorcycles and off-roading vehicles of our own. I also go to Supercross (a motorcross event) every single year. When I went to community college in Orange County, I took design and business classes with the idea of creating my own line of motocross gear for women. I took a fashion event planning class where I became the director of the 2011 Saddleback Fashion Show. This gave me a glimpse into the role of event planning. When I transferred to SDSU, I was not satisfied with the business marketing curriculum and saw more of an opportunity for myself to learn in the Hospitality major at state.
When I signed into the major as a meeting and event student, I became very excited. Students and faculty assist in every way they can to help each other succeed. There is a couch in the HTM office where students can bounce ideas off each other and see what others are involved in on campus. I felt more involved with the campus and what was happening in the field of work I wanted to go in to. I love the family-like atmosphere I feel when I am in class and in the HTM office. There is always inspiration and people to encourage you. I not only have learned the business way of thinking, but also how to be a leader and how to use leadership theories to enhance my way of thinking.
I do learn concepts fast, but my overall journey as a professional has not been easy. The reason for my title, Taking the Stairs, is the process of finding my passion and working hard toward the finish line at SDSU. I am a committed individual but still, my education has not been easy to finish, but I CAN do it and AM doing it. Even if it means taking the longer way to learn as much as possible and engage in pertinent activities. You cannot just sit back and wait for opportunities, you must take charge and go for it. You cannot take an elevator to get there, so take the stairs!
MY LEADERSHIP JOURNEY
My leadership journey has been an uphill trek. Everything that I have encountered has been a step added to my platform of stairs within my college journey at San Diego State University. School has not always come easy to me, but everything I do is done with dedication and commitment to both me and my future. I have not always been a leader. In fact, I use to be the shy girl with ideas and afraid to speak up. I was involved in sports, activities, and loved to be around people all the time. I knew I wanted to continue to stay involved in activities, but coming to SDSU knowing only a couple people was a bit scary. I was a transfer student and wanted to figure out my role for the future. My first memory as an Aztec was becoming a Delta Gamma Sorority member. I learned to juggle meetings, school, work, and being social. Fast forwarding through my college journey, it is safe to say that I have been equipped with the necessary skills and information to succeed as a professional.
My first upper division course in the HTM program was HTM 301 with Mark Testa. He is a very inspiring and motivating professor that really values his students and learning success. He has been a mentor to me and I am very thankful for his knowledge and dedication to the hospitality program. In HTM 301 we took a Meyers-Brigg Type Indicator and analyzed our print score. My score ended up being identical to Mark’s. I scored a major score of 7 and minor of 3. Most of the information I read on my print score seemed to be spot on. I use to be nervous to speak on stage or in front of an entire class, but have become very comfortable doing presentations. Also, when I am provided with a plan, I am able to get the job done. The last main issue that really stood out to me was that I become impatient quickly and move on fast if I am not interested. I have responded to my motivator and trait behavior by getting out of my comfort zone and doing activities that I am not use to. The HTM program has really aided me in becoming involved and getting over my nervous habits. I now have no trouble getting in front of the class and speaking, as well as I am able to create my own plan of action to get the job done well. My best self attributes include being upbeat, hardworking, sociable, spontaneous, multitasking, active, and creative. I have used all these qualities to become a positive and hardworking leader.
All of my leadership and hospitality courses have provided me with information on being a successful and proactive leader and an overall positive person in most situations. I have challenged myself to shadow management, lead a team of individuals, and work on many presentations. I have defined leadership by engaging in both the front of house management and back of house management. I believe that having a philosophy of making your employees happy first will carry over to making the customers happy. I have done presentations on top companies such as Costco, Marriot, InInOut, and Disneyland. I learned that providing top quality service and creating an experience is one of the main priorities in becoming a leading company today. Without quality employee training and commitment from owners and management, it is not possible to be a successful top brand or company. I’ve learned that having the trust of your followers is the ultimate goal in succeeding as a leader. I wish to have an open door policy someday and I hope to have open lines of communication and team building with all my employees. I wish for a positive and fun work environment. I understand that tribulations are all part of the journey of being a leader, but being stern and resolving issues by providing an alternative or understanding the root cause of the issue will help in the resolve of the problem. Mark Testa has also provided great advice for relationships of every kind. Once you can find the root cause of the issue and solve the “5 Whys” to get to the main issue then you will be on your way to finding a solution.
Working and expanding my skills by interning while in school has been fulfilling. I have also learned to keep in contact with coworkers, employers, and customers. Relationships and connections are key to success. You never know who you will be working with or who you will be working for. Having quality interactions has aided me in becoming one step closer to my dream job of working with sport events. Working in the restaurant business has helped me to value happy customers and positive coworkers. I am attentive to customers’ needs and try to resolve issues fast. I have led a street team with my internship as a PINK campus rep and have started all our social media sites, worked closely with PINK Fashion Valley Management, engaged in promotions, and planned events on campus, in stores and on social media to brand activate. I spent a semester stepping out of my comfort zone to work at a bed and breakfast. I learned new skills including on-duty management and trip planning. I am now accustomed to leading with a positive and efficient plan. I’ve kept in contact with my employers over the past few years and it has led me to believe in the saying, “It is not what you know, it is who you know”. All my jobs I’ve attained were because of who I know.
Classes like Sports Events and Festivals have been a bridge and a highlight into what is to come in the real world. I have worked with a team to create and produce an event. Our project consisted of real life experience like hiring teams, creating and editing a budget, marketing, designing a specification sheet, creating an itinerary and set-up and take-down schedule, as well as speaking with different companies to see who we can hire for a real life situation like this. I also learned to design a press release and how to get permits for a large-scale event. Needless to say, it was a lot of work but a fun and helpful experience. In my first internship class, HTM 398, I became Delphi certified and I learned about hotel operations. In HTM 491, on Leadership and Development, I will take away my experience of starting a blog, and making this online portfolio. I am trying to become more technologically savvy so this is a great start. I also learned different theories on leadership and can take away these theories that Professor Sipe has taught on leadership to develop my own brand image.
I am where I am today because all of my passion for sport events and putting in my full potential. I am driven and plan on continuing to learn from other successful individuals. The hospitality department at SDSU has set me up for success and although the journey has not come easy, taking the stairs has been a positive experience.
My leadership journey has been an uphill trek. Everything that I have encountered has been a step added to my platform of stairs within my college journey at San Diego State University. School has not always come easy to me, but everything I do is done with dedication and commitment to both me and my future. I have not always been a leader. In fact, I use to be the shy girl with ideas and afraid to speak up. I was involved in sports, activities, and loved to be around people all the time. I knew I wanted to continue to stay involved in activities, but coming to SDSU knowing only a couple people was a bit scary. I was a transfer student and wanted to figure out my role for the future. My first memory as an Aztec was becoming a Delta Gamma Sorority member. I learned to juggle meetings, school, work, and being social. Fast forwarding through my college journey, it is safe to say that I have been equipped with the necessary skills and information to succeed as a professional.
My first upper division course in the HTM program was HTM 301 with Mark Testa. He is a very inspiring and motivating professor that really values his students and learning success. He has been a mentor to me and I am very thankful for his knowledge and dedication to the hospitality program. In HTM 301 we took a Meyers-Brigg Type Indicator and analyzed our print score. My score ended up being identical to Mark’s. I scored a major score of 7 and minor of 3. Most of the information I read on my print score seemed to be spot on. I use to be nervous to speak on stage or in front of an entire class, but have become very comfortable doing presentations. Also, when I am provided with a plan, I am able to get the job done. The last main issue that really stood out to me was that I become impatient quickly and move on fast if I am not interested. I have responded to my motivator and trait behavior by getting out of my comfort zone and doing activities that I am not use to. The HTM program has really aided me in becoming involved and getting over my nervous habits. I now have no trouble getting in front of the class and speaking, as well as I am able to create my own plan of action to get the job done well. My best self attributes include being upbeat, hardworking, sociable, spontaneous, multitasking, active, and creative. I have used all these qualities to become a positive and hardworking leader.
All of my leadership and hospitality courses have provided me with information on being a successful and proactive leader and an overall positive person in most situations. I have challenged myself to shadow management, lead a team of individuals, and work on many presentations. I have defined leadership by engaging in both the front of house management and back of house management. I believe that having a philosophy of making your employees happy first will carry over to making the customers happy. I have done presentations on top companies such as Costco, Marriot, InInOut, and Disneyland. I learned that providing top quality service and creating an experience is one of the main priorities in becoming a leading company today. Without quality employee training and commitment from owners and management, it is not possible to be a successful top brand or company. I’ve learned that having the trust of your followers is the ultimate goal in succeeding as a leader. I wish to have an open door policy someday and I hope to have open lines of communication and team building with all my employees. I wish for a positive and fun work environment. I understand that tribulations are all part of the journey of being a leader, but being stern and resolving issues by providing an alternative or understanding the root cause of the issue will help in the resolve of the problem. Mark Testa has also provided great advice for relationships of every kind. Once you can find the root cause of the issue and solve the “5 Whys” to get to the main issue then you will be on your way to finding a solution.
Working and expanding my skills by interning while in school has been fulfilling. I have also learned to keep in contact with coworkers, employers, and customers. Relationships and connections are key to success. You never know who you will be working with or who you will be working for. Having quality interactions has aided me in becoming one step closer to my dream job of working with sport events. Working in the restaurant business has helped me to value happy customers and positive coworkers. I am attentive to customers’ needs and try to resolve issues fast. I have led a street team with my internship as a PINK campus rep and have started all our social media sites, worked closely with PINK Fashion Valley Management, engaged in promotions, and planned events on campus, in stores and on social media to brand activate. I spent a semester stepping out of my comfort zone to work at a bed and breakfast. I learned new skills including on-duty management and trip planning. I am now accustomed to leading with a positive and efficient plan. I’ve kept in contact with my employers over the past few years and it has led me to believe in the saying, “It is not what you know, it is who you know”. All my jobs I’ve attained were because of who I know.
Classes like Sports Events and Festivals have been a bridge and a highlight into what is to come in the real world. I have worked with a team to create and produce an event. Our project consisted of real life experience like hiring teams, creating and editing a budget, marketing, designing a specification sheet, creating an itinerary and set-up and take-down schedule, as well as speaking with different companies to see who we can hire for a real life situation like this. I also learned to design a press release and how to get permits for a large-scale event. Needless to say, it was a lot of work but a fun and helpful experience. In my first internship class, HTM 398, I became Delphi certified and I learned about hotel operations. In HTM 491, on Leadership and Development, I will take away my experience of starting a blog, and making this online portfolio. I am trying to become more technologically savvy so this is a great start. I also learned different theories on leadership and can take away these theories that Professor Sipe has taught on leadership to develop my own brand image.
I am where I am today because all of my passion for sport events and putting in my full potential. I am driven and plan on continuing to learn from other successful individuals. The hospitality department at SDSU has set me up for success and although the journey has not come easy, taking the stairs has been a positive experience.
SUMMARY OF HIGHLIGHTS
My website is organized into separate categories to give you a taste of what my leadership philosophy is and how I got there. Throughout my site you will find my previous work experience along with what I have learned along the way. You will see different industry connections I have made along the way as well as how my experiences relate to a relationship-style of leading. I think you will get a sense of my passion for people and how much I value communication.
You will see my work experience as a very diverse spread and how I have used my jobs to get to the next step. Along with work experience, I will go over some more of my leadership coursework, my industry connections, my leadership in action, as well as my promising pitfalls. With my successes, come mistakes. I will give you a peek into my hardships and how I have overcome them. I have gotten through my college career by taking one step up the stairs at a time.
Throughout my website, I hope you see what I am passionate about, how I have gotten to where I am today, and what my plans for the future are. I hope you get a sense of my portfolio and my unique career choice of becoming a sport event planner. I even have a particular company picked out upon my graduation. I do understand that there are some pitfalls along the way, but I hope to land in a job position that helps me utilize the skills I have acquired through my life and time at SDSU. I am only months away from graduating and I am excited to see where I will end up.
My website is organized into separate categories to give you a taste of what my leadership philosophy is and how I got there. Throughout my site you will find my previous work experience along with what I have learned along the way. You will see different industry connections I have made along the way as well as how my experiences relate to a relationship-style of leading. I think you will get a sense of my passion for people and how much I value communication.
You will see my work experience as a very diverse spread and how I have used my jobs to get to the next step. Along with work experience, I will go over some more of my leadership coursework, my industry connections, my leadership in action, as well as my promising pitfalls. With my successes, come mistakes. I will give you a peek into my hardships and how I have overcome them. I have gotten through my college career by taking one step up the stairs at a time.
Throughout my website, I hope you see what I am passionate about, how I have gotten to where I am today, and what my plans for the future are. I hope you get a sense of my portfolio and my unique career choice of becoming a sport event planner. I even have a particular company picked out upon my graduation. I do understand that there are some pitfalls along the way, but I hope to land in a job position that helps me utilize the skills I have acquired through my life and time at SDSU. I am only months away from graduating and I am excited to see where I will end up.