Photo of Estrellita Uribe Zamora

Estrellita Uribe

Communications and Marketing Coordinator, Open Influence

What impact did your graduate experience have on your professional trajectory?

I could describe my current role as a continuation of my graduate experience. A lot of what I do now mimics the classes I took at Annenberg. My program’s capstone project was what initially landed me the role and defined my career goals.

What from your USC Annenberg education best equips you to face the challenges of your field today?

The ability to do well-thought-out research and to communicate with industry experts. There is something very valuable in participating in discussions with your cohort, as you will shape communication skills that will help you tackle challenges through your career.

What advice would you give for someone considering graduate studies at USC?

Research the programs in-depth, ask for course descriptions if needed. A graduate education is very specific to your goals, so you want to make sure there is a clear match between where you want to go and your program.

What is the one thing that a USC Annenberg student ought to take advantage of while enrolled?

The faculty. I might be biased, but there is no better faculty! They have so much experience in and outside the classroom, there will always be something about them to admire and learn about. I can confidently say that the faculty was the best resource for me during my research project, as well as to kick off my career during a pandemic.

Uribe’s notable projects:

  • Research for white papers for Open Influence, including one featuring interviews from Black creators in the influencer space
  • USC capstone focusing on Hispanic influencers, the main challenges they face, and action items on how to make diverse campaigns