During her senior year in college, Sarah Head’s marketing internship with a children and family services nonprofit helped her recognize two things. First, she wanted to build a career in the nonprofit sector. And, second, she says, “it helped me recognize some gaps in my marketing knowledge that I wanted to fill before diving into the industry.”

When she decided to continue her education, Vanderbilt emerged as Sarah’s top choice. “I was excited about Vanderbilt’s ranking among top business schools and the opportunity to join a still-new program,” she explains. “But the cultural fit I felt when visiting is how I knew this was the best school for me. Everyone at Owen really cares about you and wants you to succeed, and I wanted to be part of this supportive community.”

The program’s small size allowed Sarah to get closer to her classmates—which, she says, “has really contributed to the support around us and our growth as people and professionals.” She also appreciated the opportunity to interact with students in other programs and learn from people with different backgrounds.

Meanwhile, just as she took important lessons from her undergraduate internship, she learned new things about herself from her time at Vanderbilt. Her involvement with the Turner Family Center—which focuses on market-based approaches to support social enterprise and alleviate global poverty—reinforced Sarah’s commitment to the nonprofit world.

At the same time, her internship with a Nashville advertising agency convinced her she could gain valuable experience there that she can eventually apply to a nonprofit career. “I have discovered that an agency is actually the perfect place to begin my career,” she says. “It provides a great launching pad, where you can learn so much from the people around you and the fast-paced, diverse work that you do.”

Fun Fact: Sarah’s hobbies include photography and reading.

I was excited about Vanderbilt’s ranking among top business schools and the opportunity to join a still-new program. But the cultural fit I felt when visiting is how I knew this was the best school for me.