For many years, Lauren Jacobs was like many of us, saving her favorite pins and scrolling through Pinterest. But her love for marketing landed her a chance to look behind the curtain working for the social media giant. She works as an account manager, helping advertisers run campaigns and maximize their results. While in college, Lauren fell in love with the marketing industry, fascinated by marketing strategy and the components of psychology and influence that dictate how consumers make decisions.

But before all this began, Lauren attended The Franciscan School from fifth through eighth grade, graduating in 2014. She attributes the school to helping her develop confidence and make long-lasting memories. “I have wonderful memories from TFS, particularly from cheerleading,” says Lauren. “I joined the cheer team in 6th grade and it helped me to break out of my shy “new kid” shell, form friendships, and become more outgoing as a person.”

After graduating TFS, Lauren went on to attend Cardinal Gibbons High School and Xavier University, where she majored in Marketing with a minor in Political Economy. “My education and leadership experience from TFS and Gibbons definitely set me up for success in college,” Lauren shares. “Academically I was challenged in the best way, and it made my first few classes at the college level less intimidating. I graduated high school confident in my ability to succeed in college.”

While at Xavier, Lauren served as the youngest AMA (American Marketing Association) President in the history of the program. She was also a Smith and Williams Scholar, as well as  the VP of Scholarships and Awards in a co-ed business fraternity. 

In 2016, Lauren and her younger brother, Anthony (also a TFS grad), founded an initiative called Tickids. Their goal was to share the spirit, energy, and passion of live sporting events with underprivileged children that may have otherwise not had the opportunity to attend a game. They encourage companies and individuals to donate their unwanted tickets or corporate suites to games, so they can coordinate fun, memorable experiences for children. They have partnered with children's homes, sports teams, and other national corporate organizations to take large groups of underprivileged children to see the Carolina Hurricanes and Durham Bulls. 

Lauren shares that during her time at TFS, many teachers had an impact on her life. Ms. Bradshaw, Mr. Arnold, and Mrs. Moser stand out the most. “All of these teachers were great because they made learning fun, but they were also tough,” says Lauren. “They held all their classes to high academic standards and pushed us to work hard to earn our grades. They were all classes and teachers that formed my time management and organization skills that I have today.”

Lauren also fondly remembers being a member of the cheerleading team at TFS. Because of her love for the school and cheering, she came back her senior year at Gibbons to be an assistant coach. Lauren shares, “It was so great to be able to cheer on my friends on the basketball team, compete with my teammates, and meet new people. I also became more confident in my leadership skills.”

This confidence, which she began developing at TFS, compels her to leave similar advice for current students: “Be confident and don't be afraid of hard work. I also firmly believe in the quote,‘Fake it til’ you make it’. It helps give you confidence even when you are feeling unsure of yourself.” We are excited to see Lauren take the confidence and skills she gained to make an impact on the world!