USD Magazine Summer 2016

TORERO  NEWS

To watch these three proud mem- bers of the Class of 2016 talk about their futures, go to sandiego.edu/ videos/dreamjobs.

S t uden t s l and d r eam j ob s a s new l y mi n t ed g r adua t e s [ s u c c e s s ] WORKING TO BECOME

by Julene Snyder hen it comes to actual- ly achieving your heart’s desire, tenacity turns out to be a common theme. Jesse Nebres, a double accounting and finance major, was methodical in working on connections in order to gain a competitive edge. Mackenzie Dandoy, who walked the commencement stage to accept her dual BS/BA degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering, was certain that the happiest place on earth was the place for her. Jimmy Bried, who just earned his BBA in marketing, was just as clear about what he didn’t minted USD graduates took dif- ferent paths to reach their goal, each praises the university for helping them hone the tools they need to succeed. Be Prepared Nebres, a Los Angeles native, was drawn to become a Torero due to the School of Business’ excel- lent reputation. “Generous finan- cial aid helped too,” he admits. Working in conjunction with the Career Development Cen- ter, he had multiple internship offers from big accounting firms, including Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCooper, but he set his sites on Ernest & Young (EY) after an internship the W want as what he did want. While these three newly

summer between junior and senior year. “I made a lot of friends there, and received an offer to work on the audit side, but where I really wanted to be was trans- actional advisory services. I was told early on that this was a very competitive area.” So he got creative. “I found a USD alumnus, Andy Kaestle ’09 (BBA), on LinkedIn, who had

Speaking of which … “Yes, I met my fiancé at an engineer- ing class at Disney,” she admits. The couple will take up resi- dence in Orlando after their

Follow Your Dream Mackenzie Dandoy always loved math and science. “My mom thought I should be an engi- neer. I thought she was wrong.” As it turns out, Mom really did know best. “I had planned to major in business, but my first semester, I took an engi- neering class and completely fell in love.” Another love was all things Disney. “I love everything about them.” A YouTube video, “Indus- trial Engineering the Magic at Disney,” helped her hone in on her major. “It showed me a direct path to what I wanted to do, which was work at Disney.” So Dandoy set about making her dream come true. She audi- tioned for the Disney College program and earned a spot in the entertainment division, as a friend of Chip and Dale. She took the fall semester of junior year off from school to make it happen. Her decision was prac- tical; not only did she get paid a living wage, but was able to make crucial connections. Since then, she’s interned with three different depart- ments at the company, taking off an additional semester from USD. “I’m graduating a year late, but it’s well worth it. It’s really hard to get your foot in the door of Disney engineering. But once they know you, it’s all about relationships.”

June wedding, and Dandoy starts her new job in Disney’s Revenue Management Depart- ment on July 1. “I can’t wait,” she says. “I love the idea that they’re a company that actually creates happiness.” Do Your Work Jimmy Bried knows exactly when the wheels fell off the cart. As a first-year at the Uni- versity of Arizona, he dove headfirst into the party scene. By the time he emerged, it was to enter rehab, where he remained until the age of 21. Looking back from the per- spective of one who’s been clean and sober for four years, Bried is excited about the

worked in that area at EY. I called him up and he was super enthusiastic about coach- ing me through the process.” It worked. Nebres, armed with the inside scoop, wound up get- ting an offer for the incredibly competitive position. He starts his job in downtown Los Angeles this summer with a comfortable starting salary. “And it’s just a few blocks from the Staples Cen- ter,” he laughs. “I am definitely going to catch some games.”

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