Taking the Lead

“People may be surprised to find out that I am an introvert,” says Kaela Bell. “Everyone assumes I am outgoing. But I work best in small groups, and take on leadership roles when the situation calls for it.”

Bell has found herself in some important leadership roles since coming to New York Institute of Technology in 2018, including that of a resident assistant on the New York City campus for the past two years. “Being an RA is a great learning experience,” she says. “It teaches you to meet deadlines, think critically, be creative, and learn how to operate quickly in all kinds of situations.”

Bell also put her leadership skills and her studies to use over the summer of 2019 when she interned at Mikkeller Brewing NYC at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y. Bell landed the enviable internship with the guidance of Provost Junius J. Gonzales, M.D., M.B.A., her professors, and administrators. Recognizing this terrific opportunity for practical experience, Bell advanced quickly during her short tenure with the company.

“At first, I was working on ad hoc research projects for business endeavors, just exploring how to improve the social media accounts,” she says. “Then I transitioned into social media marketing. My day-to-day consisted of tracking the performance of several social media accounts, including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, as well as creating copy for their weekly newsletter.”

Bell appreciated the casual, but fast-paced environment. “It’s much like any startup,” she says. “One thing I realized quickly, although the environment is casual, the work ethic shouldn’t be. I had the same responsibilities as any other workplace and still had to meet deadlines and be diligent.”

This was the kind of real-life experience Bell was hoping for when she chose New York Tech. “I wanted to practice real-world applications during my studies and learn the current technologies that are used in my field,” she says. “New York Tech has a reputation for being strong in those areas.”

While she has not decided exactly how she will use her degree after graduation, exploring her options has been part of the fun for Bell. “I have the opportunity to dabble in a bit of everything before I pursue what I am best at,” she says. “Marketing is about communicating with an audience. Institutions, organizations, corporations, and individuals are all able to tell their story, inform, and actively engage with the public through marketing. It’s an exciting field because it can take many forms.”