Leyna’s New (York) state of mind

Leyna Venzke, class of 2028 (business), can’t help pushing the possibilities.

She already runs a small business and works on campus designing posters for University Housing events. And at the University of Oregon, she’s continuing to find new ways to explore her interests.

Scholarship support has helped make that possible. A past recipient of the Richard A. and Sammie Stevens Scholarship and current recipient of the Margaret A. Warren Scholarship, Leyna has been able to focus on making the most of her college experience.

Her business major and marketing concentration are opening doors to new career possibilities, while a recently added second major in German connects her studies to her family heritage.

“I’ve already had amazing opportunities with the business school,” she said. “My scholarship has allowed me to feel more secure in my place at Oregon and to pursue things I am passionate about.”

New York sparks new possibilities

Last spring, funding awards from UO Women in Business and the UO Career Center allowed Leyna to take a transformative trip to New York City.

In a single action-packed week, she met dozens of young professionals at companies ranging from Estée Lauder and Goldman Sachs to The New York Times and the NBA.

Energized by a first-hand look at the business world, she began to assess her ideal work environment. Leyna ruled out a future in accounting. Although she was excelling in her Oregon accounting classes, she realized that she wasn’t suited for a deskbound career.

Something clicked, however, when she met a gregarious sales manager from the software company Adobe, whose job centered on what she loved: meeting people and talking them through their problems. 

“I would way rather see myself doing a job like that,” she said. “I'm much more social.”

The momentum built as she toured the marketing departments of popular beauty brands Clinique and Glossier and was inspired by the creative work happening there. 

"That would be an incredible job because I am also a creative person,” she said. “I have a small business on the side—I sell watercolor cards—and I've always been into art."

The New York trip opened her eyes to career paths she hadn't considered and drew unexpected lines between her business classes, her creativity, and companies where she could picture her future. 

Leading the next chapter

Leyna returned to campus brimming with renewed enthusiasm for the many doors the UO opens. 

“I want to throw myself into everything I can and get the most out of this experience,” she said.

She continues to explore potential career paths through the Lundquist College of Business while building her leadership experience as co-president of the German Club and through her sorority, Pi Beta Phi.

Most recently, Leyna was accepted into the UOAdmin Internship Program, a paid, yearlong opportunity that gives 12 students hands-on experience across UO departments while building practical skills and exploring careers in higher education administration.

“The University of Oregon has made me feel very supported and engaged in my career development,” she said. “I am so grateful for resources like my scholarship that make those opportunities possible.”