Connection is the key to success for Tori Prestianni

By Megan Bradshaw on December 16, 2019

Towson University senior Tori Prestianni knew what she wanted as a high school senior: a university in Maryland with an excellent business program and the opportunity to live on campus.

As she has done many times since then, she went out and got it.

“I thought there were a lot of growth opportunities in business. I wanted to work with people and to be in a corporate setting,” she says. “I felt like business was where I could do different things—human resources, accounting, legal, marketing. I knew I wanted to be in the College of Business and Economics.”

The Mt. Airy, Maryland, native also knew she wanted to intern. Prestianni completed her first—of four—the summer after her freshman year.

“My advice would definitely be to start early. My first internship was in digital marketing,” she remembers. “I learned a lot in that industry, and I kept going with it. Networking with the people you work with is crucial. I've gotten jobs from people from old internships and people who knew other people, and I learned soft skills by talking to coworkers at lunch or getting to know them outside of work projects.”

Prestianni honed her networking skills on campus as well, participating in the University Residence Government before founding CBE’s Women in Business club as a junior. 

“I loved those government groups so much; I became president of the URG,” Prestianni says. “Once I understood how to run a club, I was like, ‘I want to create my own thing. I want to leave a legacy here and do something for other people, not just myself.’ 

“I realized there were few women in my business classes, and that we had a disconnect between everyone. I wanted to create something where women and men feel comfortable coming together, networking and growing.” 

The group holds networking events with local professionals who share their career stories and answer questions. It also participates in philanthropy, like cleaning up campus, walking for charitable causes and mentoring local high school students. 

It’s hard to believe, but Prestianni admits she struggled to find her place at TU in the beginning. 

She credits participating in clubs and serving as a Carroll Hall resident assistant for teaching her leadership, responsibility and work ethic as well as giving her the opportunity to make friends and connections around campus. 

She is also a proud member of the Honors College community.

“I got in when I applied to Towson, and I was super excited. I lived in Douglas, and it’s a close-knit community,” Prestianni says. “Every Honors class I've had, I've known at least one person because of that community. 

“The professors have been really great throughout the Honors College. My favorite thing is it's a lot of discussion-based classes. With CBE, you might be doing a lot of computer or analytical work in a class, so it’s a nice balance between the two styles.”

Prestianni is currently balancing her last term and a part-time job at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Maryland. Once she graduates, she will work there fulltime.

Having narrowed her focus to business administration with a concentration in marketing, Prestianni set out to find a job a few months ago.

“I messaged someone who worked in Turf Valley’s marketing department on LinkedIn to get some professional advice,” she says. “The woman said she loved my energy, that she was opening a position in her department and would I want to come in for an interview? 

“She hired me a couple of days later and never posted the social media marketing job on Turf Valley's website.” 

Prestianni has a lot to look forward to in 2020, but she also has some advice for future CBE students. 

“Get out of your comfort zone. There are so many unique people I met because I just talked to them or they reached out to me,” she stresses. “I wish that I had reached out more to other people because the person you're sitting next to in class—that's an actual human being. You’re only in there for an hour and 15 minutes, but you can learn about their life. You could become friends with them.”

MORE INFORMATION

Studying business administration at TU

Business administration is the ideal program for those interested in a career in business, whether it’s becoming an entrepreneur, marketing products, managing people and projects, or analyzing business practices and decisions.

 

• Learn more about the business administration major.
• Request information about Towson University.