Madison Sedmak turns opportunities into outcomes

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Junior digital marketing student Madison Sedmak is a trendsetter in her internships and in how she embraces professional development opportunities at Western Michigan University. Hailing from Macomb, Michigan, Sedmak is applying her learning from the Haworth College of Business to her budding career.

Over the summer, Sedmak worked as a social media intern for Galilee Baptist Church.

“My responsibilities during this internship included developing and implementing a marketing strategy to guide digital and event communications while managing content across multiple social media sites and the church website. I photographed and filmed events, including livestreaming, producing visuals for social media, flyers and campaigns. I also created a social media kit, which is a lasting resource for the church with guidelines, standards and best practices for ongoing use.”

Currently, Sedmak is working as a digital marketing intern at Can-Do Kalamazoo, a small business hub designed to assist entrepreneurs. Here, Sedmak is responsible for email marketing, website optimization, social media management, data analysis and content strategy. 

“What originally drew me to my internship at Can-Do Kalamazoo was that I would get the opportunity to work directly with a marketing specialist and be able to enhance my own skills in the digital marketing world. Something that immediately caught my attention was how they work with several businesses at a time to help them grow. I loved the concept of seeing how both the entrepreneurial and marketing aspects of a business tie together no matter what the business focus may be.”

To prepare her for future professional endeavors, Sedmak is taking advantage of WMU Haworth’s student success resources. “The Zhang Career Center has been a crucial aspect in making my college experience as valuable as possible,” she says. “By giving me resume guidance, interview tips and even helping me navigate the business externship program, the career center has allowed me to have hands-on experience outside the classroom. I’ve learned how to talk to employers, present myself and know when a job is the right fit for me.”

With a few years of academic experience at WMU under her belt, Sedmak shares some advice for incoming business students.

“Use all your resources and make the most out of them. WMU Haworth provides endless opportunities for students to grow and learn, both on and off campus. If a student organization interests you, check it out! Don't be afraid to try new things because you only get to do college once, and you never know where something could lead you.”

Learn more about digital marketing at WMU.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.