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BRISTOL, R.I. – Katie Ilaria ’11 and Leah Saccoccio ’11 have both soared to success in their careers – Ilaria as Head of Industry at Google, and Saccoccio as Brand Director, Platforms for Michelob ULTRA at Anheuser-Busch. The two alumni, who also serve on the President’s Board of Advisors, returned to Roger Williams University to speak with undergraduate students in the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business, sharing invaluable insights into how their academic studies translated to professional practice.

For dozens of students in three marketing and advertising-focused classes, the discussions with Ilaria and Saccoccio provided a unique glimpse into their career trajectories and the real-world applications of their interdisciplinary education. Students eagerly participated, asking how campus involvement helped shape their careers and what advice they could offer for navigating the early years post-graduation. In response, the alumni shared personal anecdotes, valuable lessons, and emphasized the importance of creativity, adaptability, and fostering connections in navigating the ever-changing business landscape.

Ilaria, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communications, shared how her involvement on and off campus during her time at 91�������� laid the foundation for her career. “Being involved helped me build confidence, especially in public speaking and trusting my point of view,” she said. “My advice is to get involved and try new experiences so that you are articulate, clear, and well-spoken when you start your career.”

Saccoccio, who graduated with bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and Graphic Design Communications, shared her own experiences in a fast-paced marketing environment, where management of people and information are instrumental to success. As brand director, she oversees marketing communications across major platforms spanning numerous sports leagues, and recently won a 2024 Sports Emmy for her role as supervising producer on a groundbreaking documentary. The project, in collaboration with Williams Racing, featured F1 driver Logan Sargeant competing against digital avatars of seven World Champion legends, brought to life through augmented reality and artificial intelligence. 

“I’ve always been interested in trying to find innovative ways to show up in sports and through entertainment,” Saccoccio said. “Never in a million years would I think that as a former designer now in the brand world, that I would be producing a television show, but it’s really about finding ways to meet consumers where they are.”

Both Ilaria and Saccoccio emphasized the importance of networking and maintaining connections within the industry. Saccoccio spoke about the value of having peers in similar fields who can offer support and collaboration, even when their career paths may diverge. “It’s nice to have a friend in the industry that I can lean on,” she said. “And I think what’s amazing is that [Ilaria and I] both went to school here, we were different majors, but somehow we’re kind of doing similar things, so you can always lean on your peers.”

Ilaria echoed this sentiment, urging students to cultivate curiosity and to view networking as a two-way street. “My advice is to be curious and open in everything you approach, because it will help as you move further into your career,” she said. “When reaching out to alumni, think of it as a value exchange. You have a unique perspective as students and as part of a younger generation, and that insight is valuable.”