SPS Stories
Alumni Spotlight
NYU SPS Support System is Critical to Career Growth
Fast Facts
- Attained an MS in Hospitality Industry Studies in 2016
- Turned a student internship into a full-time job upon graduation
- After working for the Government of Canada, is now a senior project leader at Unicorn Events
<p><span class="p-body">Zachary Tranter completed his MS in Hospitality Industry Studies at the Tisch Center in 2016. He now works as a senior project leader at Unicorn Events, the largest global pitch competition for exponential startups that have the potential to become Unicorns. We connected with him recently to discuss his journey as well as advice for students of today, and we learned that Tranter considers the connections he made at SPS as invaluable to his success.</span></p>
Years of Work Leads to a Perfect Opportunity
<p><span class="p-body">Tranter's entire career, pre-and post-NYU, has always been in the field of events. He was lucky enough to graduate with a job offer that was a direct step-up from an internship he held while a student at NYU.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">"After progressing up the ladder at that event agency, I then took a job leading an events team at the Government of Canada," he shared. "From there, I took a position to open up an office for Unicorn Events here in New York."</span></p>
Unparalleled Support at SPS
<p><span class="p-body">"The connections I made at NYU really helped me in my career. NYU gave me a really strong support system," he explained. "Whether that's from the faculty with whom I am still in contact or my former classmates who I talk to daily. Many of my classmates and I encounter several of the same issues in work and we are able to work out problems and find solutions together."</span></p>
The connections I made at NYU really helped me in my career. NYU gave me a really strong support system."
A Passion for Personalization
<p><span class="p-body">"Unicorn Events is known for our ability to infuse a client's brand into the events and activations that we produce," explained Tranter, when asked what motivates him. "I am most passionate about how we show value in the increased brand recognition and brand loyalty to our client post-event because of this."</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">"Taking events to a deeper level helps to justify the important role live events play in the business environment," he continued. "Further, it helps to solidify the economic impact of events management to the global economy, shifting our roles from "party planners" to indispensable assets."</span></p>
Explore Everything You Possibly Can
<p><span class="p-body">Tranter's advice to SPS students of today? Explore everything that you possibly can, while you can! "Whether that's internships, apprenticeships or shadowing, you never know what you might actually enjoy unless you have experienced it," he urged. "Connect with industry associations, such as MPI or HSMAI. There's one for almost every discipline or focus area and it is a great way to network with professionals in the industry and attend some stellar educational events."</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">An <a href="https://go.grad.sps.nyu.edu/hospitality?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=1732_Grad_Online_Hospitality&utm_content=Hotel_Management&utm_segment=1732_Grad_Online_Hospitality&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwoPOwBhAeEiwAJuXRhzYXRAhEZPDyCJXIbM_ASWyoH3qUI4LhX6yn169fYfGZTW6vS1rwWRoCzpEQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">MS in Global Hospitality Management</a> can open doors that you may have never imagined were possible. See where you can start the next chapter of your career with a degree from the <a href="https://www.sps.nyu.edu/homepage/academics/divisions-and-departments/jonathan-m--tisch-center-of-hospitality.html">Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality</a>.</span></p>
