Sometimes a single social media post can open a door. For transfer junior Lyla Cabrera ’28 (marketing), that door was TITANIAM.

Last spring, Cabrera, who arrived from Fullerton College, learned about TITANIAM, the student professional development arm of the Department of Marketing at Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics, through a social media post promoting the Masterclass in Beauty and Influencer Marketing. She attended the event, became more involved with the program, and today serves as one of TITANIAM’s student leaders overseeing social media.

It is a full-circle moment: The same social media platform that introduced Cabrera to TITANIAM is now one she helps manage to introduce other students to the opportunities available to them.

Social Media Management is the Pathway for Cabrera’s Future

“TITANIAM came onto my radar because of a social media post,” says Cabrera. “Now I help tell that story and make sure other students know these opportunities are here for them. That feels incredibly full circle.”

For Marketing Lecturer Jake Beniflah, director of TITANIAM, Cabrera’s journey demonstrates exactly what the program was designed to accomplish.

“Lyla’s story represents TITANIAM at its best,” says Beniflah. “She saw a post, showed up to an event, became engaged, and then stepped into a leadership role where she is now helping create opportunities for the students coming behind her. That is the ecosystem we are trying to build.”

He adds, “Social media is often where the student journey begins. In Lyla’s case, it didn’t just create awareness – it created engagement, participation and ultimately leadership.”

For Cabrera, the experience has also changed how she thinks about social media. “Now when we create a post, I think about the student on the other side of the screen. To them, it might just be another post, or it might be the one that gets them through the door they never knew was open. That’s exactly how it started for me,” she says.

After graduation, Cabrera plans to pursue her master’s degree while building a career in experiential marketing and live events, with the goal of working for a company committed to making a difference in the community. She also hopes to be active in the nonprofit sector. “My ultimate goal is to build a career that excites me, challenges me and allows me to go home every day knowing I’ve made a difference,” she says.

For More on TITANIAM and Marketing

TITANIAM connects students with alumni, faculty and the business community. Through Career Advancement Network events, industry Masterclasses, career summits, consulting projects, scholarships, and other professional development initiatives, TITANIAM gives students opportunities to build their networks, strengthen their professional skills, engage directly with industry leaders, and begin preparing for their careers before graduation.

For more on marketing education at Cal State Fullerton, read more of our articles on marketing.