Communicating Success

For Joshua Spaugh, Class of 2019, success lay at his feet -- or rather, at the foot of the bluff. The Communication Studies grad recently made the leap from intern to Assistant Account Executive at Kinetic Worldwide in neighboring Silicon Beach in Playa Vista. In his new role, Joshua assists with the out-of-home media planning and buying for the agency’s Universal Pictures account, in addition to collaborating with a range of other clients and vendors on marketing strategy.

“A lot of who I am today is because of LMU,” Joshua, a Bay area native, said. “Through my coursework, research pursuits and involvement in student organizations, I learned the meaning of the word ‘rigor’ and how to embody it.”

Pairing his major track with a minor in Music, Joshua says that he applied to the Kinetic internship through Handshake, a job search tool offered through LMU Career and Professional Development (CPD). The portal aims to connect current students and alumni with amazing job opportunities posted by over 400,000 companies and non-profits.

“As a resource, CPD really helped lay the groundwork for my professional future,” he said. “In particular, the tips and guidance I received from Career Coach Marcy Newman enabled me to walk into interviews with confidence.”

Originally drawn to the bluff for its top-ranked LMU College of Communication and Fine Arts (CFA), Joshua says he was sold on the LMU experience after taking a campus tour and vibing with the can-do energy of students.

“Choosing to go LMU is probably one of the best choices I’ve made in my life,” he said. “I met a great group of lifelong friends, got to take part in undergraduate research, study abroad in Oxford, England…”

Outside of the classroom, Joshua was an active presence on the campus scene, thriving in a number of leaderships roles via his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, as a Resident Advisor, Orientation Leader, and the CFA Dean’s Student Council Advisory Board.

As for what advice Joshua has for future Lions?

“Go into every new pursuit with a positive attitude,” he said. “And get as involved as possible, as soon as possible. I didn’t start joining clubs and organizations until my second year, and it is probably my biggest regret.”