Jamar Ffrench

Profile

Account Executive, NBCUniversal Media, New York, New York

After graduating, Jamar Ffrench found himself working full time at Luna Park in Coney Island. It wasn’t exactly the job he dreamed of (“I had my heart set on an associate’s position at a major bank,” he says). He found the silver lining, though, as he developed the soft skills necessary for success at any job: multitasking, problem-solving, and leadership.

After a year at the amusement park, Ffrench moved to Streetwise Partners, an organization that offers mentoring and job skills training for adults from under-resourced communities. There, he met a senior executive from Google who introduced him to his network, and pretty soon Ffrench became an account executive at NBCUniversal Media selling advertising space for Bravo, E!, Peacock, and NBC Sports.

Moving into an executive role by age 27 is something Ffrench is understandably proud of. He emphasizes that building strong relationships in college was essential to his future success. “Sabine Saint-Cyr at the Magner Career Center was first my English tutor in the SEEK [Search for Elevation, Education, and Knowledge] program,” he says. “She helped me with all of the things—résumé, cover letter, interview prep, and networking tips—I needed to succeed when I graduated.”

Ffrench became a financial coach himself this year, teaching young adults in about budgeting, savings strategies, and planning for the future. “I love helping my community and filling in the gaps when it comes to financial literacy,” he says.