Karlie Ullman

“I found out about social media marketing and fell in love with it,” said Russell Sage College Business Administration graduate Karlie Ullman ‘22. “I love being creative and there’s no better feeling than helping small businesses grow their digital presence. I was lucky to get a job at an agency right out of school, and there I learned all about what it takes to run your own social media agency.” 

Karlie said three internships during her Sage education helped her build the skills she needed for her agency position — and helped her develop the confidence to establish her own social media marketing business after she moved to Miami.  

Now she creates online content for her own clients in fashion, food and beverage, and other industries. 

In spring 2023, Karlie said she realized how impactful her internships had been on her early career, and that she was in a position to share what she knows about blogging and copywriting, brand collaborations, SEO, video editing, and more with a current Sage student. 

“I reached out to Professor Eileen Brownell and asked if we could implement an internship together,” said Karlie, “and she loved the idea!” 

We caught up with Karlie to learn more about her transition from business student and intern to business owner and mentor.

What attracted you to Russell Sage College?

Sage stood out to me for various reasons, the main reason being the size. I always said, “I want the professors to know my name,” and at Sage, they certainly knew all of their students’ names. 

The second important reason I went to Sage was due to the living situation. I was able to live in University Heights [next to Sage’s Albany campus]. I had my own room, which is every college student’s dream! The suite held other classmates, so I wasn’t alone, but I was also able to have my own space. 

What appealed to you about a Business Administration major?

Business is just so broad, it can bring you into so many different career paths, ones you never even heard of. It is hard being 17-18 years old and deciding what you want to do with the rest of your life, but business just felt like I couldn’t go wrong. 

Would you describe the internships you held as a student, and how they prepared you for your career?

I took up three internships throughout my college career — two in my junior year and one in my senior year. The following two were the most helpful to me as an aspiring entrepreneur. 

At the Halal Shack, I ran two Instagram pages as well as their Facebook. The CEO of the company is a young and very successful business owner, so I certainly learned a lot. I was even able to speak with Chick-fil-A’s marketing team, where I learned all about their strategies and thought process behind their digital presence. 

At Focusmaster Fitness, I was more independent, which was a challenge but taught me the importance of time management and how to please a client. At that internship I focused on videos, photos, paid ads, and public relations. 

How did your experience as an intern influence the type of experience you wanted to provide to your intern?

My internships were mainly during COVID-19, so the majority of my work was remote. I loved that freedom and was glad to implement this internship even across the country. I think remote work allows for freedom and flexibility, and I know how appreciated that is as a college student. 

My intern was fantastic, and I feel confident saying that she learned a lot [about]:

• Email marketing 
• Content creation (ads, graphics, etc.) 
• Scheduling of posts and content 
• Blogging and copywriting 
• SEO 
• Video editing 
• Brand collaborations 
• Various marketing software

Do you have advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Experience over everything! If it gives you hands-on experience, do it and don’t look back.