Naomi Lilly is majoring in African American Studies with a double minor in Gender Studies and in Visual Media Studies. She studied abroad twice: for one semester with “Duke in New York - Arts & Media” and for one semester with “Duke in L.A.” She graduates in 2020.
On why she decided to do these programs...
“I knew I wanted my career to rest in the entertainment realm. However, I felt that Duke didn’t offer many opportunities on campus to explore this interest. As a result, I looked into outside sources that could fuel my curiosity. That’s how I stumbled upon the Duke in NY and Duke in LA programs. I knew I was ready for a break from the Duke atmosphere, so I decided to do both programs during my junior year.”
On how her skills/knowledge have changed thanks to the programs...
“My particular career interests in entertainment have become clearer. I now know that I want to focus on diversity and inclusion as a president or vice president of a corporate entertainment organization. I realized this after my internships during Duke in NY and Duke in LA; I didn’t see enough people who looked like me in those companies. I know a plethora of creators in marginalized communities, so the under-representation of marginalized individuals didn’t make sense to me. I want to do the work that employs people in communities that are often silenced and overlooked. I’ve also developed skills pertaining to marketing, social media, specific work training programs (unconscious bias and CrowdTangle), script coverage, and more. Both programs taught me how to hustle and build my network around role diversity and inclusion plays in entertainment.”
On how this program will play into the rest of her undergraduate experience...
“These programs gave me the opportunity to have a combined total of four internships in a six-month time period. In New York I did a marketing internship for Live Nation Entertainment and, a diversity and inclusion internship for Horizon Media. I also managed to do freelance videography for various media outlets like TV One, Radio One and iOne Digital. In LA, I worked in original programming for BET Viacom. As a result, I’ve gained a well-rounded understanding of film, television, and music. This understanding will aid me as I transition into a position solely focused on diversity and inclusion in entertainment. This summer, I’ll hone many of the skills I gained during these programs, as I intern at LinkedIn. I plan to build a new business initiative which was birthed from the work I did during the past two semesters. It’s a platform that combines my interest in diversity and inclusion with entertainment. My experiences with these two Duke In programs influenced my business idea because they highlighted the need to create more spaces for marginalized communities in entertainment. I saw a lack in this area during my internships.”
On how this program will affect her career interests or next steps after graduation...
“I’ve decided to initially enter the tech space with a focus on diversity and inclusion. After I gain more skills and create numerous concrete plans of action that produce measurable results, then I’d like to transition into the entertainment realm. Since both industries overlap, I’m really looking forward to what I’ll learn!”
On her greatest takeaway from this program...
“My greatest takeaway is the power of assertiveness in the industry. I am very clear about my passions at the door with each of my internships. As a result, I have gotten opportunities to walk through doors I never imagined I would enter. There is strength in knowing your interests and in being able to communicate those interests in a succinct manner. I was amazed to see my network grow once coworkers in each of my workplaces knew how dedicated I was to diversity, inclusion, and representation both on and off-screen.”
On advice she has for other students considering these programs...
“Stop questioning if the program is right for you and go ahead and do it. It is up to you to make the most out of both experiences. Both programs are in two of the biggest creative hubs for entertainment and will put a number of opportunities and contacts at your disposal. Through my own hustle, I had three internships during Duke in New York and I was speaking with contacts of interest each week. The assertive nature I brought to the table allowed me to speak with leaders at Twitter, Facebook, and at a host of other companies. I brought this nature to Los Angeles as well, where I developed my own business idea and gained the courage to embark on my idea. I was also able to explore what I wanted my identity to be outside of Duke. It’s easy to get so caught up in the bubble that you forget the world outside and the trajectory that comes after graduation. This program taught me that and then some. I highly recommend you take this leap to explore something new and transformative.”
Programs Featured:
Duke in New York- Arts & Media