Stories of Leadership: Cheryl Yosowitz

Cheryl Yosowitz graduated from San Diego State University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in business marketing. 

She started her career in sales at Hale Bob Clothing and stayed in the fashion industry for 3 years. Eventually, her career came full circle when she wound back up in advertising.

"I worked for Liberty Advertising, a digital advertising publisher for sites including Evite.com, Match.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Backcountry.com, Sparknotes.com and more," Yosowitz said. "I am now working as an account executive selling digital advertising for OwnerIQ, a digital advertising network."

Yosowitz currently lives in Los Angeles and is an avid yogi, novice tennis player, amateur jewelry maker, foodie and constant student.

"I love to learn new things so you can find me taking a class on anything from photography to flower arranging," she said. "I love being outside, and most importantly, spending time with my friends and family — especially my two nephews." 

1. Tell us the highlights of your professional career.  What are your proudest achievements?

I started my career out in fashion working for different designers as their account executive and was privileged to travel all over the US, attending trade shows, meeting new people and learning a great deal about myself along the way. 

In 2010, I ventured back to my SDSU roots and landed in digital advertising. My proudest achievements would be pursuing a new career path after three-plus years of working in fashion, knowing that it would take time to ramp up.  In three years I was promoted three times into 3 different positions, became Interactive Advertising Bureau-certified; and finally, this last year, I landed the sales role that I have worked very hard to achieve.

2. What’s your favorite college memory?

There are so many, but I would have to say a great memory would be the summer of 2004 when I rented a house on the beach with six friends. We had very little money but so much fun just being beach bums.

3. Who was your favorite professor and/or what was your favorite class?

Professor Victoria Muschek was a wonderful mentor. She provided me with many applicable skills as she was able to draw from her years of professional marketing experience.

4. If you were to give current SDSU students some advice, what would you say?

Find the classes that interest you and choose your major accordingly. During class, participate, engage and enjoy it — there will always be something fun to do after so live in the present.  Do your “job” and let loose after it has been accomplished.

Make your bed every morning.  Someone taught me this early on. It will start your day off right and it always feels good to come home to a made bed. The way you dress can influence how you feel.  Remember this on test day.  Get up and get ready before you go to the test.  If you look good and feel good, odds are you can perform better.  

5. What are you currently reading? What’s your favorite book?

Currently I am reading "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed and I recently picked up "Shantaram" by Gregory David Roberts. My favorite book of all time is "Bridges of Madison County" by Robert James Waller (I read it when I was very young and continue to revisit it). 

6. What quality do you value most in friends and colleagues?

Kindness, reliability, humor and positivity.

7. What is your passion?

My passion is to explore. Explore within myself, explore the industry I work in, explore the people I encounter and explore the world. I find the more I am open to embracing exploration in all forms the more enlightened I become. I also love to eat.

8. What is your motto?

Be the type of person you want to meet.

9. If you won the lottery, what would you do with your winnings?

Pay off any debt from myself and my family, travel the world, sprinkle my closet with happiness, find a cause that I want to work with and help and then wait. Wait and figure out the most compelling way that I could spend my life and the money, incorporate my friends into it and then go for it.