Business students should discover entrepreneurial interests and talents that separate them from the crowd. That is the advice of an NDSU alumnus who is recognized as a global leader in social marketing communication. Dana Farbo, director of new media for Vanguard Direct, a marketing company based in New York, was welcomed to campus April 1-7 as the latest College of Business Executive-in-Residence.
Farbo, who graduated from NDSU in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in economics, has been an industry leader in online, mobile and social marketing space since he launched his first website in 1995. Farbo is a recognized pioneer in establishing new ways to reach audiences and customers. His latest efforts revolve around the development of education apps and platforms for iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows 7.
Farbo, who says he personally likes to stretch and grow while trying different things, advised students to find their niche. “I urge students to look at their careers and learn to set themselves up for long-term opportunities,” he said. “Look at how you can get differentiated. Find your own brand.”
Farbo, a native of Cando, N.D., met with students, faculty and business representatives during his visit. He spoke to several classes and presented an open forum, titled “The Power of Mobile and Tablet Apps.”
“Everyone has uniqueness,” Farbo said. “Students should ask how they can find a differentiated position, and they should focus on their passion.”
Prior to joining Vanguard Direct, Farbo ran the United States operation of Imano Inc. as a founding member and was chair of Cowboy International, a recognized digital agency in New York. Before that, he was vice president of client services for Nethod LLC, a Euro RSCG company, and also spent more than 15 years in sales and marketing for American Cyanamid Co.
Farbo also serves on the board of directors for MyGoodDeed, an organization with the goal of establishing 9/11 as an official national day of service and remembrance.
“The students at NDSU are incredible,” Farbo said of his campus visit. “All who I met have been very professional. They seem to want to grow in a positive direction.”
Tim Peterson, associate dean of the College of Business, said Farbo had important messages for students, and his visit provided a great learning opportunity. “The executive-in-residence provides a synergy between thinking (theory) and doing (application),” said Peterson. “The executive can assist students in seeing the importance of a specific theory they are learning by linking the theory directly to an application. In addition, the executive through discussing his or her experience assists the professor in emphasizing how a specific theory might apply. Over the week, we certainly saw both thinking and doing with Dana Farbo here as our executive-in-residence.”
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