SHL Alumni: Jessica Gant

School of Hospitality Leadership alumnus Jessica Gant (’18) checks in and gives us a career update. Her career trajectory shows that a hospitality degree can lead to so much more than a hospitality career.

“I graduated from East Carolina University in 2018 with a major in hospitality management and a minor in business administration. Throughout my time at ECU, I played on the club field hockey team and served as the Social Chair during my senior year.

After graduating, I made my way back up North and began my career search. I narrowed it down to two opportunities: an asset management job or a guest service job at the JW Marriott Essex House New York. Struggling to decide between the two opportunities, I reached out to Dr. O’Halloran, and he told me, “I think you know the answer.” A month later, I began my career at The Lightstone Group, a real estate investment company. I worked as an analyst in the asset management department, which had a portfolio of 23 Hotels throughout the U.S. Throughout my time at The Lightstone Group, I was able to apply the knowledge and experiences I gained as an SHL student. My experiences at The Lightstone Group included traveling throughout the U.S. for site visits, managing the finances of the hotel portfolio, and assessing markets of potential business opportunities.

After three years of working in the real estate investment industry, I ultimately changed my career path to a more finance-focused role and began working at BAE Systems. My education at ECU has provided me with the career opportunities I’ve pursued thus far. ECU not only gave me the knowledge I needed to be successful in my career but also introduced me to mentors and lifelong friends.”

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• School of Hospitality Leadership