Syracuse Sun

Whitman School of Management has demonstrated its dedication to fostering entrepreneurship by collaborating with POV Brand Management, a student-run digital marketing agency. Executive Dean J. Michael Haynie expressed the school's commitment, stating, "Fostering emerging entrepreneurs and supporting their ideas are at the heart of the Whitman School. And, what better way to promote our commitment to entrepreneurship than to hire some of our own?" The partnership between Whitman and POV has been mutually beneficial, as noted by Haynie, who also serves as vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation for the University.

Phoebe Gullingsrud, the CEO of POV, founded the agency as a Whitman/Newhouse student and has led the team to success. Professor of Entrepreneurial Practice Ken Walsleben shared his involvement in supporting Gullingsrud's pitch to the Whitman School, highlighting her team's advantage as digital natives in the marketing space. The successful pitch led to POV being hired to manage social media for the Whitman School during the Spring 2024 semester.

Dawn McWilliams, the director of marketing and communications at the Whitman School, praised POV's contributions, stating, "It has been a benefit to our department and the Whitman School to have had the resources of POV available to us this semester." Whitney Krayer, the chief operations officer of POV, emphasized the transformative nature of the partnership with Whitman in achieving their business goals.

As the POV team prepares to graduate, Gullingsrud remains optimistic about the agency's future, expressing confidence in its ability to adapt and grow. Gullingsrud highlighted the value of their innovative digital approach in business growth and outlined their plans to evolve and provide unique solutions for clients, with a vision to expand POV into a full-time digital marketing service.

In conclusion, the collaboration between Whitman School and POV Brand Management exemplifies a successful synergy between academia and entrepreneurship, showcasing the potential for student-led initiatives to make a significant impact in the business world.