This Worldly Student Transitioned from the Sciences to Marketing and Management
Daniel F. Atlan, a second-year Marketing and Management student, is no novice at this college education thing.
A walking embodiment of diversity, Daniel has lived in Brazil, France 鈥�- he鈥檚 French/Brazilian by birth — the United Kingdom and now, the United States. He speaks Portuguese, French and English fluently, studied Spanish for five years and German for a year.
Daniel entered Woodbury last January as a transfer student with four years of higher education already under his belt. Technically a sophomore, his college career began in the UK, where he attended a University Foundation Program in Sciences and then spent another two years working on his BSc in Medical Sciences. For a change of pace, he鈥檚 now pursuing his BBA in Marketing and just added Management as a double major.
While at first blush his trajectory may seem dizzying, Daniel is taking it completely in stride.
鈥淭o me, there was only a subtle transition from the sciences to marketing,鈥� he says. 鈥淎 researcher/scientist still has to strategize and sell their idea in order to request funding and build a reputation. Then and only then does the research truly start. That concept is surprisingly similar to what is found in a business environment, making marketing/management the perfect match for me.鈥�
The more Daniel progresses in marketing, the more relevant he says his training in the hard sciences has become. 鈥淢y background in the sciences is an essential asset to me,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t allows me to apply my learned analytical and research skills commercially, thus benefitting my marketing/management majors.鈥� While he reports that his career options remain open, Daniel is leaning toward starting his own venture.
He found his way to Woodbury through the same kind of deliberation and analysis that has marked his entire academic life, speaking with college counselors, taking a campus tour, poring over the university鈥檚 accreditations, and evaluating the university鈥檚 鈥渟maller, more focused classrooms.鈥�
鈥淐oming from a traditional European university, I wanted to combine tradition with a dynamic and conscientious American business education,鈥� he explains. 鈥淎t Woodbury, I could find both of those values.
鈥淭he experience in the U.K. was enriching, and there certainly is a higher focus on tradition and pomp,鈥� he says. 鈥淗ere in the U.S., however, there is an environment of innovation and dynamism that cannot be ignored. The American experience brings a greater level of energy to the table.鈥�
A product of the U.K.鈥檚 University Foundation Program 鈥� which tests and prepares international students for entry into the U.K. system — Daniel took that opportunity to internalize essential university best practices, including research methods and study skills. And being a polyglot didn鈥檛 hurt.
鈥淔luency in multiple languages has made me a more open-minded and conscientious human being,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t also has given me great facility communicating and dealing with different people and cultures.鈥�
Now, the culture of commerce awaits, which is where Daniel鈥檚 role as VP of Marketing in Woodbury鈥檚 CEO (Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization) Club comes into play. 鈥淲e鈥檙e focused on promoting entrepreneurship and networking for college students,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hese capabilities matter, not only to business majors but to any student who鈥檚 considering starting a business.鈥�
Whether or not there鈥檚 an actual science to entrepreneurship, you get the feeling that Daniel may have the formula.
Learn more about the Marketing program
Learn more about the Management program