W&L Outcomes: Natalie Burden ’22 Burden is taking her talents to New York City to work in strategic planning at advertising agency BBDO.

W&L News Office
June 24, 2022

Hometown: Arlington, Massachusetts
Post-Grad Plans: Junior Planner (strategy) at BBDO on Mars account
Industry: Marketing and Advertising
Areas of Study: Economics, Romance Languages (Spanish)

“Give every opportunity your best shot, but if your heart isn’t in it, keep looking for something that makes you excited—you are still young and there’s always time to change plans. ”
~ Nat Burden ’22

Q: What will you be doing after graduation?

I will be working in New York City as a Strategic Planner at the advertising agency BBDO. The accounts I will be working on include Bacardi, Facebook, and ShopRunner.  

Q: How did your career plans evolve over the course of your time at W&L? 

My career plans evolved a lot over the course of my time at W&L. I could see myself in so many different industries and types of roles, so I wanted to give everything a shot. The CPD advisors were incredibly helpful during this time by connecting me to so many alums that helped me figure out what type of role would really make me happiest. 

Q: What did you study here and what are some skills or knowledge you will take from your academic experience into the professional world? 

I studied economics and Spanish at W&L, both of which have taught me how to assess human emotion and behavior through a unique lens, crucial skills in the advertising world. In Spanish classes, I read works by people who lived through genocides, dictatorships and revolutions, and learned to understand what sparks their passion and motivates their action. In economics classes, I’ve been taught to anticipate how people make decisions, economic or otherwise, based on their values and incentives. These skills will allow me to bring a new perspective to the table throughout my career.  

Q: Did you connect with alumni during your career development process? 

Speaking with W&L alumni in different industries and different roles turned out to be very important as I tried to figure out what I wanted to do. By talking to as many people as I could, I was able to finally narrow down my interests. Instead of throwing resumes at random applications to see what would stick, I committed to applying to the exact roles I thought would suit me best and inspire me the most. 

Q: What career-related advice would you give to next year’s graduating class? 

Give every opportunity your best shot, but if your heart isn’t in it, keep looking for something that makes you excited—you are still young and there’s always time to change plans. 

Read more about other W&L Outcomes here.

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