On the career path less traveled

Careers that typically come to mind for business graduates include banking, consulting, or finance. But there is no shortage of alumni who use their degree to pursue the career path less traveled. 

“I decided to pursue business administration because truthfully, I was not sure what I wanted to do post-grad,” said Ellie Hallen, ’18, “and I felt as though a business degree would be helpful no matter where I landed.”

Without a defined career trajectory, Hallen assumed she would pursue a role in the corporate world like many of her classmates but found herself feeling lackluster with that option. She continuously searched for internships on Handshake (formerly SpiderConnect) in hopes of something sparking an interest. 

“I applied for various internships and secretly hoped I wouldn’t get accepted,” she said. Then she came upon a posting for an internship with For Love of Love, a boutique wedding and design studio. “It was the first internship I applied to that I was genuinely excited and hopeful about.”

She started later that year and after graduation joined the team full-time as an associate planner. Over time, she gained more experience and assumed her current position as director of events.

Based in Richmond, For Love of Love provides full-service event planning and creative direction for weddings and special events, in both domestic and destination locations.

As the director of events, Hallen interacts with clients and vendors to manage each detail of the event. “Almost every aspect of business is transferable to the wedding industry,” she said. “It’s similar to a project manager at a Fortune 500 company except with added emotions and personal touches involved.”

From managing budgets and handling challenging logistics to navigating relationships with vendors in different time zones, Hallen says an effort to differentiate For Love of Love apart in the crowded market they place significant value on the sophisticated, timeless designs they bring to clients.

Hallen reflected on the most memorable wedding she planned. “It would have to be a wedding we did in Aspen, Colo. The wedding took place at Aspen Mountain Club and guests could only access the ceremony and reception site via gondola. It started to lightly snow before the ceremony–it was absolutely magical!" Previous weddings have taken her to Newport, R.I., Kiawah, S.C., and Tuscany, with more destinations on the itinerary for this year and next.

“I feel extremely grateful not only for the academics I learned at the Robins School but also the soft skills—like networking and public speaking,” Hallen said. “I interact with clients and vendors all day, so those skills play a large part in cultivating the confidence I now have in those interactions.”

Hallen brings that confidence to her work each day and feels like she struck gold with her chosen career after never considering the wedding industry before applying as an intern years ago. 

“Don’t be afraid to do something outside of the box,” she said. “Keep an open mind and listen to your gut on what interests you.”