We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ava Jones a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ava, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Fun question! I just wrapped up my master’s degree in digital marketing, diving into a sea of fresh ideas, technology and term papers! This milestone really helped to fire up my passion for learning and creating solutions to help organizations shine in a competitive digital world.
I find pleasure transforming challenges into opportunities, and seeing a vision come together from inception to a live event. Whether it’s establishing internship opportunities, hosting industry-specific career fairs, promoting STEM education fairs, or celebrating graduates in the community, I see creativity as a blend of both necessity and inspiration. Listening to the success stories of others and absorbing wisdom from thought leaders also inspires me. I try to blend their innovations and ideas with my own unique flair. Striking the right balance between creativity and the utilization of advanced technologies like AI and automation is crucial for maintaining your competitive edge and personalizing your message.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am excited to represent The Greater Philadelphia Alliance of Colleges and Universities, also known as Philly Colleges. PC was founded in 2004 to act as a central resource for local employers interested in adult education programs provided by colleges and universities in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Our main focus involves hosting no-cost education fairs, both in-person and virtually, for public and private sector employers. In addition, we support career fairs, externship and internship opportunities, networking events, professional development workshops, tuition benefits and DEI initiatives. Through the Philly Colleges network, you can easily connect with more than 20 local colleges and universities dedicated to adult learners. Over a hundred respected local employers have recognized the advantages of partnering with us to host successful events that provide educational opportunities for their employees.
As autumn approaches, employees may be considering furthering their education. This fall, we are introducing a fun “Cocoa & Cookies” theme. Philly Colleges will provide your teams with informative brochures, interactive college giveaways, and complimentary hot cocoa and cookies. We encourage the Greater Philadelphia business community to seize this opportunity to share information with their employees and support their professional development.
Philly Colleges is governed by a board consisting of Cynthia Carter J.D., Holly Todd MS., Michelle Chobar MS., and Ava Jones MSMK. For more details, you can visit phillycolleges.org or reach out to avajones@phillycolleges.org.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
My best advice for prospective students is to thoroughly research their desired degree, job prospects, expected salaries, and industry growth trends. Websites such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics offer valuable insights into this kind of data. A formal education has its merits, but there are tons of ways to continue learning. You can enroll in a free online certificate, binge educational videos on YouTube, or stay in the know with cool reads like Bold Journey. Stay mindful of your digital footprint and safeguard it, similar to how you protect your credit – your online presence acts as your virtual resume. Avoid sharing anything you wouldn’t want a potential employer to come across. Lastly, establish a goal for yourself, regardless of how distant it may seem. This will guide your decisions when considering early job opportunities and move you closer to achieving your dream job.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Universities and colleges have a vital role in supporting businesses, and Philly Colleges is engaging with the Greater Philadelphia business community to assist your workforce. Offerings include both campus and online programs, evening and weekend classes, from Associates through Doctoral degrees. Witnessing 15-20 colleges gathering with their colorful tablecloths is truly impressive! The goal is to elevate the experience by providing refreshments, exciting giveaways, and a wealth of free brochures and resources to help employees make informed decisions regarding their educational needs. This networking opportunity comes at no cost for employers to host, catering to businesses of all sizes with the option for virtual events and the freedom to select desired colleges, universities, or trade schools to attend. For detailed information on member schools and organizing an on-site or virtual event at your location, please visit phillycolleges.org or email avajones@phillycolleges.org.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://phillycolleges.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phillycolleges/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phillycolleges/about/?viewAsMember=true
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