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Sarah Luo

Sarah Luo

BS in Advertising & BA in Economics, Syracuse University

Experience: Working as the president of Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) is one of the most significant extracurricular experiences in my college life. CSSA is a non-profit student organization, so members all work there voluntarily. In the beginning, I thought leadership was task-based, such as organizing big events and distributing tasks. However, a funeral changed my thoughts. On October 2015, when everyone was busy with mid-term exams, I received a phone call from the Consulate General of China in New York that two Chinese students at Syracuse University passed away in a car accident. Although CSSA didn’t have any responsibilities in dealing with this tragedy, I advocated members in CSSA to help friends and families in need. “We are all international students who came to a foreign country for better education and a more beautiful life. When emergency happens, we should be together and support each other.” CSSA soon became a bridge between the parents of two students who passed away, the Consulate General of China, local students, and The Center of International Students at SU. I hosted the first funeral in my life, and it was also the first time that hundreds of students squeezed their time from exams to help CSSA. Being the president of CSSA taught me that leadership is more about sharing stories and building relationships. Just like my major, advertising, leadership is an art of persuasion and a design of human communication.

Areas of Interest: Music, Dance, Photography, Video/digital media, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing

Ideal Job in 10 Years: My short-term career goal is to become an outstanding brand strategist in a world-leading advertising agency. In the long term, I’m looking for the right people to start a new journey together and establish our own business in the creative industry.

What led you to enroll in the MSLCE program at Northwestern? The M.S. in Leadership for Creative Enterprises will not only expand what I’ve already learned in media, marketing, and other creative industries, but also teach me how to achieve my career goal through real-world practice. I’m eager to learn the language of business and develop my own leadership style. I’m looking forward to making friends with outstanding professors and students in this program!

Favorite (song/movie/show/festival/exhibition … )? My favorite song is “Dream It Possible”. I also like other classical music because I’m a violin player.

What are you most looking forwards to about the MSLCE program? Creativity and leadership are two very abstract concepts. I’m curious how MSLCE will combine leadership with creative industries and teach us to really apply those ideas into the real-world practice. I’m very interested in the courses Entrepreneurship in the Creative Industries, Marketing Strategies in Creative Industries, and weekly professional development.

What is your favorite Chicago landmark/attraction, or what are you most excited to visit? Oh I love this question. Chicago is the very first city I visited when I came to the U.S. in 2013. I would love to ride around Lake Michigan again, visit museums, and VR experiencing sites.

If you could have lunch with one person (living or dead), who would it be? I want to have a lunch with the person or people who made this questionnaire. All the questions are funny and thought-provoking. And it is something possible.

If you had to describe yourself in three words, they would be… Optimist; Explorer; Perfectionist

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? New Zealand

If someone made a movie about your life, what would it be called and who would play you? I may call the movie “Golden Bamboo” and Natalie Portman will play the role.

What thought or message would you put in a fortune cookie? You can either travel or read, but either your body or soul must be on the way.

How do you plan on spending/did you spend your summer before starting MSLCE? I planned to read 10 books and travel to 8 cities by myself this summer. Reading will inspire me and help me better prepare for the intensive study in the first semester. Writing and photography during the travel are two best ways to clear my thoughts and clean my soul.

Where is your dream internship for next summer? Saatchi & Saatchi

What award would you most like to win? Awards from National Geographic!

If you could donate one million dollars, which cause/organization would you choose to support? Many children who were born in very poor areas of China don’t have an egg for breakfast, not to mention the education. I will support those children for better education and provide them with more opportunities to make a difference.

What is your favorite plant? Bamboo (I will say why in class)

Where are you from? Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China

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