Success story: Ryan Curran hired full-time by BBDO

Areas of Study , Marketing Success Stories | Jan 11, 2013 | Nicole Gesualdo

At Fordham, Ryan Curran (GSB ’12) wasn’t simply on the soccer team. He was the captain.

Now, as a graduate, Ryan isn’t simply in advertising. He’s at BBDO, one of the largest and most prestigious agencies in the world.

“BBDO is one of the largest global networks and the most awarded agency globally,” said Ryan, who graduated last month with a marketing major and economics minor. “I wanted to work for the best clients, such as P&G, AT&T, Lowe’s, Guinness and Mars.”

He will be. After completing a BBDO internship where he worked on the Gillette account, Ryan is now an assistant account executive assigned to big-box home-improvement retailer Lowe’s.

It was an advertising course with Professor Linda Luca that convinced Ryan that the agency route was the one for him. “I immediately knew this is the field I wanted to work in,” he recalled. “It’s an industry that mixes creativity and business — a perfect fit for my personality.”

The road from that class to BBDO led through the Fordham athletics department. As a junior, Ryan participated in a networking event for athletes called Rams Helping Rams. There, he met Paul Reilly, a Fordham alumnus and senior vice president at BBDO. After the event, Ryan launched a persistent follow-up campaign that culminated in his internship, which started in January 2012. Eleven months after becoming an intern, Ryan received a full-time offer.

Accepting the BBDO position meant not going home after Fordham — and for Ryan, who comes from Ireland, that was no small decision. But as graduation approached, the best path became clear.

“Being able to go back to Ireland at some stage with experience from some of the top companies in the world is a huge advantage and something I would regret if I didn’t take the opportunity,” he said.

We at the Gabelli School of Business congratulate Ryan on his graduation and wish him well in the career that lies ahead!