BGSU business student secures job at Nestlé before starting her senior year

Julianne Wallenhorst credits on-campus involvement for bolstering her career success

By Laren Kowalczyk ‘07

Julianne Wallenhorst may have enrolled at Bowling Green State University as undecided, but her initial uncertainty was brief as she took full advantage of the University’s resources to define her future, including securing a full-time job at Nestlé before her senior year.

In just three and a half years, she joined numerous student organizations, took on leadership roles, and secured internships at three Fortune 500 companies, demonstrating the value of on-campus engagement.

“I’ve been set up for so much success through my involvement at BGSU,” Wallenhorst said. “There’s such a strong pipeline between getting involved and seeing those experiences translate into success.”

Following graduation in the spring, Wallenhorst will join Nestlé in Solon, Ohio, near Cleveland, the world’s largest food and beverage company, for a three-year marketing development program where she’ll learn multiple facets of the industry.

She is among the hundreds of Schmidthorst College of Business students who secure full-time jobs while still in college, exemplifying numerous rankings that place BGSU College of Business programs among the top in Ohio and the U.S.

“I wasn’t surprised when Julianne told me of her job offer from Nestlé,” said Dr. Jeff Meyer, an associate marketing professor in the BGSU College of Business. “Julianne is one of the most studious and detail-oriented students I’ve had. I worked closely with Julianne and another student on a marketing research independent study for a local business owner. I was blown away by their organization and attention to detail in that project. I’m confident Julianne will accomplish great things and represent BGSU well after graduation.”

As a freshman, Wallenhorst, a recipient of the BGSU Thompson Working Families Scholarship, spent her first semester meeting with advisors to explore career options.

With their help, she decided to major in business administration, specializing in marketing and business intelligence and analytics, combining her passion for numbers and communication.  

“Business is a very generic field, so you have to find ways to stand out,” Wallenhorst said.

Almost immediately, Wallenhorst joined Women in Business Leadership and became a Schmidthorst College of Business student ambassador, expanding her professional network and strengthening her leadership skills.

Wallenhorst also joined the Thompson Student Leadership team and began working in marketing and sales for the BGSU Office of Conference and Event Services.

“Through my involvement, I’ve made so many connections and have met so many incredible people,” said Wallenhorst, who now serves on the executive board for the student ambassador program. “The College of Business professors have also played a significant role in my success.

“They genuinely care about you and are invested in our success. They’re always asking how they can help support me in my career goals.”

In addition to enhancing her knowledge and skills through involvement in student organizations—an essential part of the top-ranked BGSU student experience—Wallenhorst was determined to add professional marketing experience to her resume.

In one year, Wallenhorst interned at Swagelok, a global industrial fluid systems company near Cleveland, Ohio; completed a fully remote internship at Steris, one of the world’s largest medical device companies, and gained brand marketing experience at The J.M. Smucker Company in Orville, Ohio, during an internship this past summer.

“All of my internships have been amazing and have really helped me grow and develop my marketing and analytics skills,” Wallenhorst said. “I started in manufacturing, went into healthcare and finally landed in food and beverage, which is where I discovered I want to be in my career.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to get involved at BGSU. It has been the foundation for so much of my success and a defining part of my college experience.”