This week, we have the pleasure of spotlighting Sally Steppling. Sally is a current graduate student getting her master’s in business analytics and is also the account manager of the PRISM account for PRISM. Sally was able to share with us how PRISM has influenced her career path and her continued success.

Who or what has been your biggest influence or inspiration in marketing as you’ve grown as a student?

My biggest influence in marketing has definitely been PRISM. It has provided me with a clear sense of direction during my time as an undergraduate at Virginia Tech. I switched my major to marketing from being undecided in business at the end of my sophomore year. At the beginning of my junior year, I applied to PRISM, and that's when I knew that marketing was the direction I wanted to pursue.

I had friends in PRISM at the time, who have since graduated, and they were a guiding force for me in understanding what it meant to be a Virginia Tech student and a Pamplin student. Through my time in PRISM, I’ve gained invaluable industry experience, which has been crucial in helping me define my path as a marketer while continuing my education here at Tech.

I still have a strong sense of what I want to do, which is to bridge the gap between creativity and analytics. This will allow me to expand in both areas while also honing my leadership and project management skills.

You have been the PRISM account manager for a while now. In what ways have you seen it grow and change since you’ve stepped up in that role?

I originally worked under the leadership of Katie Ramboyong as her account executive. It was great working with her, observing her leadership, and seeing how she guides her team. That experience inspired me to pursue the role of account manager, with the goal of fostering an environment of inclusion, particularly by engaging our alumni network.

We've grown significantly, not only in followers and engagement but also in a more holistic way. We share as many stories as possible from our PRISMites, highlighting a diverse range of individuals because our backgrounds are so varied. PRISM isn't just about marketing majors, and showcasing those diverse stories has been a key focus for me as account manager. It’s been important to capture as many different perspectives as possible for our organization.

PRISM wouldn't be celebrating 15 years of success without the influence of people from different majors, areas, and backgrounds. The story I aim to tell through PRISM’s account is one of uplifting its members because culture is everything. Without the people behind it, there would be no story to share.

PRISM recruitment is currently happening with applications opening up soon. What initially drew you to PRISM and what has been the most rewarding experience since you have joined?

PRISM truly embodies Virginia Tech's motto, 'Ut Prosim'—'That I May Serve.' I didn’t join PRISM just to not make friends and add a resume builder. I joined because it was the first student organization where I felt a genuine sense of camaraderie and service. Before I joined, I saw PRISM through friends involved at the time, including Jason Guarino, Dhara Patel, who have since graduated, and Katie Ramboyong, who is now a senior on our Executive Board. These three people were instrumental in my decision to join PRISM.

The most rewarding part of my experience has been trying to give back the same sense of community that they gave to me, which is why I am so passionate about our recruitment process. Recruitment is one of my favorite times of the year, especially with my role as the director of content for the recruitment process. Previously, I served as JP parent, overseeing the entire JP process and connecting with all the JPs to lead the project. This year, I’ll be stepping into a similar role.

What I love most about PRISM is that while it has helped build my resume, it also gives back in so many ways. This aligns with why I chose Virginia Tech—because of its focus on service. I want to continue giving back to the organization and helping build others up, just as PRISM has changed my life.

I know you just began your grad school program; how do you foresee your experience in PRISM helping you with the work you do in the MSBA-BA program?

In the grad school program, many participants come from technical backgrounds such as economics, finance, BIT, and computer science. People often join the program to develop their soft skills, particularly in communication and presenting. I come from the opposite background as a marketing manager, particularly through my work in PRISM, where I’ve honed my soft skills, communication, and project management abilities.

When I look at the MSBA-BA program, many see it as an opportunity to build their brand and soft skills while preparing for managerial roles. For me, it’s about adding technical skills that can be taught in this program. PRISM taught me how to lead, communicate, and tell a compelling story. The MSBA-BA program recruits diverse talent from various backgrounds, and I’ve been able to apply the skills I gained from PRISM to lead teams in communication and storytelling—skills that will be pivotal during our capstone project.

By June 2025, when we present our solution to companies, I’ll be drawing heavily from my experience with PRISM’s JP project, where we presented to a client after weeks of working on a cross-functional project with a team. That familiarity is something I’ll leverage for my capstone in the MSBA-BA program.

Do you have any words for younger marketing members potentially looking to join a marketing organization this year? Or any other words of wisdom?

Get connected, and don’t shy away from being the one to ask questions. If you have a question, someone else has likely already thought of it or tried to find the answer, or maybe they’re too afraid to ask. It’s much easier to be the second person to volunteer than the first.

So, be brave, be courageous, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Always ask for help because people won’t remember that you needed help, but they’ll remember that you were brave enough to ask for it. That’s what sticks with professors, advisors, and recruiters—being the person who is curious and eager to learn more.