We have so many stellar Options alumni, and in our new series, we wanted to shine a light on a few of our past clients who have gone on to do great things both near and far. This month, we chatted with Lauren about what she’s been up to since she graduated and her advice for current post-secondary students.
What’s your name?
Lauren Brewster
Where and what did you study?
I studied at Northeastern University from 2016-2021 in Boston, MA where I received a BSBA with a concentration in Marketing and was also a member of the Division I Field Hockey team. I followed up my undergraduate education by pursuing a Masters in Business Analytics in 2022 at Bentley University in Waltham, MA.
How did you choose this institution and program?
I chose Northeastern as an institution for its downtown Boston location and the opportunity to participate in the co-op program. I selected Marketing as my field of study to capitalize on the quality of Northeastern’s business education and real-world approach to classroom studies. During my time at Northeastern I had the opportunity to complete 3 6-month co-ops in marketing and gain hands-on experience in roles that interested me. Northeastern centres its academics around the co-op program, and everything taught in the classroom is tied back to the business world. This learning style helped me to not only gain a top-tier business education but also how apply it in the workplace. I completed my undergrad at Northeastern confident my next steps because I was able to test out a variety of marketing jobs through co-op and had gained the business acumen needed to succeed in my chosen field.
I chose Bentley for the ability to customize graduate studies to my industry of choice and for the graduate career services. I selected Business Analytics as my program of study because it complemented my undergraduate studies and the technical knowledge gained from the degree is what I needed to advance in my career. The Business Analytics program allowed me to pursue courses and projects specific to my field of interest. I was able to take marketing analytics courses as electives to gain industry-specific skills, such as survey design and customer data analysis, and each of the core courses had a personal project that allowed me to apply technical learnings to my chosen field of analytics. I also chose Bentley for its amazing career services, which helped me secure a summer internship that eventually led to my full-time job.
What would you tell current post-secondary students about finding a path?
I would say do not pass up opportunities to try something new. It took until my 3rd year of undergrad to realize that I wanted to pursue a career in math-based marketing and that a higher degree in analytics was the next step I wanted to take. I came to this realization after I took 2 analytics-based marketing classes that had previously intimidated me and I became obsessed with an area of marketing I hadn’t yet explored. Had I not taken a chance on a new area of marketing, I never would have unlocked my love for consumer analytics and wouldn’t be in the role I am in today.
What are you doing now?
I am currently working for G-P, a SaaS company in Denver, CO, as a Consumer Insights Analyst.
What at Options Solutions helped you the most?
The personalized approach Options Solutions takes with their students helped me the most. I have had the opportunity to be a 2-time Options client, and the effort Melinda spent helping me identify my unique interests and motivations, and her vested interest in my individual success were pivotal in helping me succeed. Melinda and the Options Solutions team understand that no two students are the same, and their dedication to me as an individual instilled the confidence I needed to make choices surrounding my education that were most beneficial to my educational aspirations and personality.
A fun fact about you?
I love to cook! I am constantly on the hunt for a new recipe and love to spend hours in my kitchen on Sundays making a mess and trying something new.
Where can our readers find you?
Instagram: @laurenabrewster
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lauren-brewster7
