Hi everyone! My name is Maddy Mike, and I am originally from Rochester, NY. I am a junior majoring in Marketing and also completing a Certificate in Digital Media through CGS. Outside of school, I am a Pathfinder (with Sam and Nick also going on Plus3 Ireland!!) and I am the Vice President of Phi Sigma Pi, a co-ed National Honor Fraternity (with JJ also going on Plus3 Ireland!!). I could not be more excited to be going on Plus3, as Ireland has always been somewhere I have wanted to travel to and explore.

Academically, I love all things that have to do with digital and social media marketing. Both through my major and certificate, I have had the opportunity to further my knowledge about the digital landscape and find my passion within the marketing industry. I came to Pitt wanting to major in marketing, and added my certificate my sophomore year. I enjoy the creative side of marketing: content creation, designing logos, writing copy, etc. Some of my favorite classes I have taken at Pitt include Consumer Behavior, Professional Uses of Social Media, Public Relations Management, and and Media Criticism.

Professionally, I hope to pursue a career in social media marketing or any sort of creative marketing position. Last summer, I interned with an advertising firm in Rochester called Born Collective. For Born I did a lot of introductory market research for their new clients, looked at overall industry trends, and a variety of other tasks. This summer, I have offers from a few different companies in Rochester, all involving working as a social media marketing intern. More on that once I accept one of them. 🙂

Personally, my interests change almost daily. Currently, I have been really into cooking and trying new recipes in my tiny South Oakland apartment. I made homemade bread for the first time a few days ago! I love trying out new restaurants and cuisines in Pittsburgh, usually accompanied by some friends. I highly recommend Noodle Head in Shadyside and brunch at City Works in Market Square. Other than that, I spend most of my time hanging out with friends and doing a variety of random things to keep ourselves entertained.

I chose to go on Plus3 Ireland for several reasons and could not be more excited. I was supposed to go on Plus3 Ecuador in 2020, but unfortunately had the trip cancelled due to COVID-19. Studying abroad has always been something I pictured myself doing in college, so I was thrilled to find out Ireland was open to upperclassmen. The tech industry and social media go hand-in-hand, so this program was a perfect fit for my interests. I look forward to getting a behind-the-scenes look at some top companies through the site visits we will be going on. Academically and professionally, I hope to learn valuable insight from the industry professionals we will be engaging with, better understand consulting, and learn how to work in international settings. Personally, I am excited for our various cultural excursions and to explore the city of Dublin. I hope to gain a stronger worldview and learn about the Irish culture!

I cannot wait to get started and see what Ireland has to offer!