Day in the Life of Newest S&Co Members, Mikaela Hong and Maddie Kim
We think our team members are the greatest, and we want you to get to know everyone as well as we do! Our “Day in the Life” series takes a look at the lives of some of our colleagues, from their kitchen hacks and quirky habits to their latest projects. This month, we invite you to learn all about the newest members of our team – Marketing/PR Coordinators, Mikaela Hong and Maddie Kim.
Mikaela Hong, recent graduate of Washington University in St. Louis who majored in Marketing and Psychology:
Q: Where are you from?
A:Â Pacific Palisades, CA
Q: Why did you choose to study Marketing and Psychology?
A: I originally applied to the Olin Business School at WashU because I didn’t know what I wanted to study and knew that business would be useful in any career. When I was taking various business classes, I was drawn to marketing because it involved both creativity, strategy, and analytics. After taking Abnormal Psychology during the spring semester of my freshman year, I fell in love with psychology and learning about mental illness, which is a topic I didn’t know a lot about before college.
Q: What were you involved in during college?Â
A: I’ve been singing ever since I was little, so I joined an a cappella group during the fall semester of my freshman year called the Greenleafs (don’t worry, that wasn’t a typo, we were actually named after a person). I was also in Alpha Epsilon Phi and Alpha Kappa Psi.
Q: What is your favorite memory from senior year?
A: It’s so hard to choose a favorite memory from senior year because it was my favorite year of college and I had so much fun. If I had to choose one, it would be when my roommates and I hosted a sibling mixer at our apartment with all our friends and their siblings on the night before graduation.
Q: Why did you decide to work at Stanton & Company?
A: I interned at Stanton & Company last summer (with Maddie!) and loved the team, the clients, and the overall company culture. I love that Stanton & Company is led by women and works with philosophy-based brands. Everyone on the team is always willing to answer any questions I have and always gives constructive feedback so I can be better at my job.
Q: What are you most excited about working at Stanton & Company?
A: I’m excited to learn as much as I can. Studying marketing and putting it into action in the real world are two very different things, so I’m eager to get some real-world experience. I’m also excited to be working with many of the same people I worked with last summer!
Q: What do you like to do when you have a day off or to yourself?
A: I love going on a hike in the morning and then spending the day with friends at the beach.
Q: Is there anything specific you want to do in LA?
A:Â Â I want to explore more restaurants and go to more concerts in LA.
Q: Fun fact?
A: My parents are officially empty nesters now that my brothers and I are out of the house, so they just rescued a 3-month old Chihuahua-Spaniel puppy named Leo to replace us all (I’m not mad at all because he’s so adorable). Check out the S&Co Instagram to see him crash our weekly status meeting.
Maddie Kim, recent graduate of Villanova University who majored in Communications and minored in Psychology:
Q: Where are you from?
A:Â Tiburon, CA
Q: Why did you choose to study Communications and Psychology?
A: I was put into the intro communication class my freshman year and I thought it was fascinating. I never thought of studying communication, but once I took that class I knew I had to learn more! The decision to minor in psychology stemmed from my AP Psychology course I took in high school. It was the hardest class I had ever taken in high school, but my teacher was amazing and I loved it. I knew I wanted to continue learning more about psychology, but due to some medical issues, I was, unfortunately, unable to complete enough credits to make it a major, so I made it my minor!
Q: What were you involved in during college?Â
A: I was in the PR committee (how fitting) for Villanova’s Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (HHAW). Now campuses nationwide participate in HHAW, but it actually originated at Villanova! During high school, I learned a lot about the homelessness epidemic and volunteered with people experiencing homelessness. In fact, during one very early pre-school volunteer shift at a local soup kitchen, I met a graduate of my high school who was dependent on these soup kitchens for all of his meals. I went to a well-regarded college preparatory school and you’d never think that someone who graduated from there would experience homelessness. That experience really struck me and I knew I wanted to continue working to combat homelessness in college.
Q: What is your favorite memory from senior year?
A: I have two! When the Eagles won the Superbowl and when Villanova won the NCAA Championship for the second time in two years! Both resulted in fun riots and the most amazing energy and comradery.
Q: Why did you decide to work at Stanton & Company?
A: I knew I needed a break from the East Coast and wanted to be closer to my family! I loved my internship last summer and jumped on the chance to work with these amazing ladies again.
Q: What are you most excited about working at Stanton & Company?
A: I’m excited to learn as much as possible!
Q: What do you like to do when you have a day off or to yourself?
A: I love to go to the beach! After going to school in Pennsylvania for four years, I’ve missed the beach dearly. I also like to explore all the amazing vegan food and go wherever my personal LA tour guide (Mikaela) brings me!
Q: Is there anything specific you want to do in LA?
A:Â Â I want to go hiking in Malibu and go to all the museums.
Q: Fun fact?
A: My first word was “agua.”