First Advisor

Melissa Appleyard

Date of Award

Spring 6-13-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Business: Advertising Management and University Honors

Department

Business

Language

English

Subjects

Capstone review, business capstone, reflection, skills development

DOI

10.15760/honors.1700

Abstract

In this thesis, I highlight my personal and professional growth as a college student. I use structured reflection and meta-analysis to uncover insights about how I learn and develop new skills. Over the past five years, I have built a toolbox of skills, including teamwork, public speaking, navigating uncertainty, strategic thinking, and leadership. I trace the development of each of these skills back to my coursework as a business student, my role in PSU's student-run advertising agency, and my professional experience. I show how these skills culminated in my business capstone project. My communication and leadership skills allowed me to serve my team by stepping into a role as a facilitator. However, the fear of overstepping my authority prevented me from proactively establishing a stronger team dynamic and pressing the client for greater clarity on deliverables. My public speaking skills helped my team communicate our strategic recommendations effectively and back them up with research. My experience navigating uncertainty and thinking strategically helped us uncover underlying business problems and make valuable suggestions. By systematically reflecting on my influences, I highlight pivotal moments of learning and transformation. I adopt a metacognitive approach revealing patterns in how I learn new skills. This process highlights how discomfort and uncertainty become catalysts for growth; I learn by oscillating between structured theory, safe experimentation, and high-stakes stress testing; I use mentoring as a tool to reinforce my own learning; and I am constantly looking for ways to bolster the skills I am weakest at. Ultimately, this thesis demonstrates my strengths and identifies areas where further growth is needed. This project has made me aware that I must learn to manage action bias and balance generalized development with specialization. Taking the opportunity to reflect on my academic journey has given me greater clarity on my professional ambitions. I have concluded that my skills and instincts align strongly with a future career in consulting.

By systematically reflecting on my influences, I highlight pivotal moments of learning and transformation. I adopt a metacognitive approach emphasizing how discomfort and uncertainty became catalysts for growth. Meta-analysis reveals that I learn by oscillating between structured theory, safe experimentation, and high-stakes stress testing. I use mentoring as a tool to reinforce my own learning, and I am constantly looking for ways to bolster the skills I am weakest at.

Ultimately, this paper demonstrates my strengths and identifies areas where further growth is needed. This project has made me aware that I must learn to manage action bias and balance generalized development with specialization. Taking the opportunity to reflect on my academic journey has given me greater clarity on my professional ambitions. I have concluded that my skills and instincts align strongly with a future career in consulting.

Rights

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Comments

An undergraduate honors thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in University Honors and Marketing & Advertising

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/43805

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