Background:
Leah Sternberger is the CRM Marketing Manager at Chegg, Inc., based in Santa Clara, California. A 2016 graduate of Ohio University, Leah earned a degree in Journalism with a focus on Strategic Communications with a minor in Marketing and a specialization in Psychology.
During her time at Ohio University, she was an active member of Ad Club and its NSAC Competition Team, contributed to Thumbprint Advertising, the university’s student-run agency and worked as a PR News Writer for Ohio University Chillicothe.
Prior to joining Chegg, Leah held multiple marketing roles at Giant Eagle, Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, including CRM Marketing Manager, Direct Mail Marketing Manager, Assistant Marketing Manager and Marketing Coordinator. Her extensive experience in marketing strategy and customer relationship management positions her as a dynamic leader in her field.
Key Takeaways:
- Career Path and Flexibility: It’s okay to not know exactly what you want to do after graduation. Leah’s journey included internships at a PR agency and IBM, a temp HR role at Giant Eagle and eventually a career in CRM. Being open to temporary or contract roles can lead to unexpected opportunities.
- CRM Explained: CRM (Customer Relationship Management) focuses on direct communication between companies and their customers. Leah builds digital lifecycle campaigns at Chegg using tools like email, SMS, push notifications and in-app messaging to guide and engage customers.
- Process and Skills for CRM:
- Identify the problem using data (e.g., customer retention issues).
- Develop a strategy, including channel selection and creative briefs.
- Collaborate with legal, marketing operations and creative teams.
- Launch the campaign, analyze results and optimize continuously.
CRM roles require a blend of strategy, analytics and creativity, making them dynamic and resilient during economic shifts.
- Advice for College Students:
- Stay active in student organizations; they can open doors for internships and jobs.
- Take courses in data or ethics to become a competitive candidate. Data-driven strategies are critical in marketing.
- Learn how to use AI ethically; it’s a great brainstorming tool but requires verification.
- Tips for Job Seekers:
- Temporary roles can be valuable starting points and allow you to explore new opportunities with low risk.
- Build a portfolio with passion projects – they don’t need to be paid or published.
- In interviews, bring a positive attitude, showcase curiosity, and tailor your questions to the interviewer. Entry-level hiring managers value communication skills and enthusiasm over perfect expertise.
Connect with Leah on LinkedIn here.
Henry Gorsuch is a Journalism Strategic Communications major with a minor in Marketing and can be found on LinkedIn here.