Year: Senior

Major: Marketing & Statistics Certificate

Hometown: Oak Lawn, IL

Bio: Hi, I'm Valerie Magana! I currently serve as the Director of Recruitment ALPFA. Outside of our org, I work as the Precollege Intern for the Wisconsin School of Business, and I participate in the Advertising Research Foundation's Workforce Initiative for Diversity and Excellence. This summer, I completed a Survey Research internship at a consumer insights and data company called Numerator. After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in the market research industry in Chicago. A fun fact about me is that I’m a big Chicago Cubs fan and an avid Gilmore Girls watcher.

I wanted to join ALPFA to feel a sense of community at UW–Madison and the business world. During my time here, I often felt like I did not belong in professional spaces. There have been few instances where I had the opportunity to hear from professional speakers who look like me at school events. As a first-generation student, it can be frustrating and discouraging to feel like other students are better prepared or more deserving of opportunities. I knew ALPFA would give me the skills to feel more comfortable and confident in professional settings, allowing me to advocate for myself and grow professionally.