Business Matters

Ella Dianich ’24 is one of the founding members of the College of Business student social media team, joining as a social media specialist three years ago. By senior year, she was and then was promoted to a social media coordinator. Additionally, Dianich was an intern and contractor for SOREL during her time in college. With degrees in marketing (marketing management) and sustainability, she now works for Flower World as their agro tourism & marketing director in Kirkland, Washington.

College of Business: Can you please introduce yourself?

Ella Dianich: Hi, I’m Ella! I’m 23 years old and graduated in June 2024 from Oregon State University. After graduation, I spent a lot of time applying for jobs and networking, which led me to my current role as the agrotourism and marketing director at one of the largest retail nurseries on the West Coast.

COB: How did having work experience in college help you find success post-grad?

ED: Working throughout college played a huge role in shaping my career path. It taught me how to manage my time effectively while balancing school, studying and a busy work schedule. I worked two jobs — bartending and serving as a social media coordinator for the College of Business — which helped me gain real-world experience and build valuable skills that led me to my current role.

COB: Tell us about your time at Oregon State University.

ED: OSU was an incredible four years filled with personal growth, great friendships and new experiences. I loved living in the dorms, going to classes and working on campus. In my free time, I enjoyed using the pottery studio, weightlifting, horseback riding and spending weekends with friends.

COB: What were your favorite pastimes at OSU?

ED: One of the best parts of OSU was forming relationships with classmates and coworkers — connecting over shared experiences while also learning about our different backgrounds. One of my favorite memories was being in Reser Stadium when we beat the Ducks. The whole stadium (and town) went crazy because none of us thought we’d win. It was such a fun and exciting experience!

COB: Can you tell us about your work experience in college?

ED: My work experience in college was both creative and rewarding. Being part of a startup team in the College of Business was exciting, and I loved seeing our social media presence grow. It was a great opportunity to network with inspiring people and gain hands-on marketing experience.

COB: What was your favorite memory working with the College of Business and SOREL?

ED: One of my favorite memories with the College of Business was filming the ‘Taking the Wrong Turn into OSU’ TikTok with Brigitte after a long day. We had no script, just pure exhaustion and creativity, and it ended up being hilarious. To this day, we still laugh about how ridiculous we looked.

At SOREL, my favorite memory was right after I gave my company presentation. Public speaking makes me incredibly nervous, but my boss, Tori, was so supportive. Afterward, the entire team made me feel so encouraged. Tori told me they were so impressed with my work that they wanted to hire me on contract and fly me to New York City to film content for their Brooklyn Pop-Up. That experience pushed me outside my comfort zone and was a major confidence boost.

COB: What lessons did you learn from your college work experiences that have helped you post-grad?

ED: I learned the importance of stepping outside my comfort zone — whether it was meeting new people, networking or taking on new challenges. I also learned how to juggle a busy schedule while making time for relationships, which has been key in my post-grad career.

COB: What advice would you give current OSU students about work opportunities?

ED: Keep putting yourself out there! Apply for jobs, be open to new opportunities and network as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to use the connections you’ve built — people want to help! Advocate for yourself, embrace constructive criticism and don’t fear failure. Every experience, even the tough ones, will help you grow. You’ve got this!

Visit the viral TikTok content produced by Ella Dianich and the College of Business social media creative team.

Follow the OSU College of Business student-led social channels!

Be a part of the community by following us on:

Instagram: @osubusiness
TikTok: @osucollegeofbusiness

And check out these quite fancy analytics on our top TikTok posts from fall term. That’s right! An easy +10k and an amazing ++140k. Don’t miss out on all this fun!