Good marketers are constantly scanning, listening, observing, and forecasting in their marketplace. They evaluate, research, and work to recognize opportunities for new innovative products and services. They look to create growth and incremental market share, and they work to satisfy the needs and wants of consumers. Once opportunities and new trends are recognized, these marketers work to start the process to fill unmet customer needs and wants. They begin to conduct their market research and possibly test their service and products.

Understanding the organization and its dynamics is critical for career success. You want to have a feel for and good understanding of how your organization works, and you also must have a firm grasp on processes, results, and outcomes if you want to progress within the system. When you understand the purpose of an organization, how it works as a system, and the roles of people in an organization, you make the most out of your own role, as well as prepare for other positions within the system.

This year, we shared so many incredible stories of students and alum from the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) who have overcome obstacles and triumphed over challenges to ultimately achieve their goals. These inspirational members of the UAGC community shook off their own self-doubts, fears and quieted the voices of critics to accomplish what they and others around them may not have believed possible. And for that, they were featured as our Student and Alum of the Month honorees throughout the year.

The most important piece of advice that Dr. Tahereh Daneshi gives her students is a simple phrase: Don’t be afraid of failing. 

It’s just five words, but behind those words is a lifetime of experience, knowledge, perspective, and wisdom from a University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) professor who has journeyed from academia to industry and back again. Four decades into her career, there are few experiences that Dr. Daneshi can’t relate to.