SC Trailblazer, tech and business maven: Gaby Fazio
A proud SC Lifer, Gaby Fazio made big strides from SC all the way to New York City to work at Yelp. For this week's alumni spotlight, read on about how this SC '10 alum is taking the Big Apple by storm.
Gaby Fazio has quite the impressive resume: having held many marketing and business positions while attending Northeastern University, she is now a Mid-Market Account Executive at Yelp in New York City, where she has been working since 2015 (the year she graduated from college!). Read on about Gaby and how she became the successful young professional she is now.
Tell us a bit about your experiences at SC. How do you think your activities and experiences at Sierra Canyon led to your current career at Yelp?
I am a proud Sierra Canyon lifer (attended SC for 14 years)! I am part of the second graduating class of the upper school, of which my parents were founding board members. Being a lifer and at the ground floor of the making of the Upper School taught me what it takes to be a leader and the importance of implementation. As someone who was heavily involved in team sports, student government, and community service, being able to step up in those arenas and be a leader or team captain gave me the confidence needed to set actions in motion without second guessing my skill set. Being able to make strategic decisions at such a young age and build up that confidence gave me an edge against the competition, as I continued to take leadership roles in the college classroom, my sorority, and internships. Sierra Canyon is a major contributing factor as to who I have become today and I will always cherish the experiences and excellent staff that molded me into a successful young professional.
What advice would you give to students looking to pursue Business and/or tech?
Knowledge is power. Alike many of you, I am addicted to my iPhone and social media, I'm constantly checking my feeds and passing along information to close friends and family. Being able to use that addiction to my advantage means constantly staying up to date on industry specific trends, reading books on successful CEO's I admire, and challenging ideas, as technology evolves every minute.
Knowledge is power. Alike many of you, I am addicted to my iPhone and social media, I'm constantly checking my feeds and passing along information to close friends and family. Being able to use that addiction to my advantage means constantly staying up to date on industry specific trends, reading books on successful CEO's I admire, and challenging ideas, as technology evolves every minute.
You studied abroad in Greece and London while you were a student. Would you suggest studying abroad to other students? If so, why?
Absolutely! I was admitted to Northeastern University in 2010 and before heading to campus in Boston, I joined 100 other freshman students in Thessaloniki, Greece for my first semester. As it was my first time away from home for an extended period of time, as well as a foreign country, those 4 months truly shaped my ability to be independent and self-sustaining. I learned how to adopt cultural norms, navigate in a foreign territory, and foster relationships with fellow students also out of their comfort zones from all countries and backgrounds. I encourage everyone to challenge themselves however you can and whenever you can, as that is when true greatness is achieved.
You have quite a prolific career trajectory, and at such a young age. What are some challenges you’ve faced in getting to where you want to be today, and how have you overcome them?
Although the road to complete independence isn't always fun it is indeed rewarding. Something that has been instilled in my brain at a very young age from my parents and grandparents is a healthy work ethic and respect for others. As I have constantly challenged myself in new environments and roles within various companies, something that remains the same is my tenacity and refusal to accept anything but the best.
When deciding what career path to explore post-graduation, it was clear to me that incorporating my love for technology coupled with my inner foodie would be a good idea pursue within a career, thus landing me a job at Yelp. No matter what situation I have been faced with, I've made sure to stand out from the herd, working a little harder than the person next to me, keeping a smile on my face no matter what, and making sensible moves along the way. You control your destiny, so make sure to never stop challenging yourself, aiming for the next level of success, and surround yourself with great people who encourage and believe in your vision.
Gaby is always willing to speak with fellow SC Trailblazers! Feel free to send her an email.
Lower School: 11052 Independence Avenue
Middle and Upper School: 20801 Rinaldi Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311 | 818.882.8121
Middle and Upper School: 20801 Rinaldi Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311 | 818.882.8121
Sierra Canyon School is a private, independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory school for students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12 located in Chatsworth, California. The highly cosmopolitan campus community is reflective of the Greater Los Angeles area and the world at large. Students are empowered to realize their greatest creative, ethical, intellectual and physical promise through small class sizes, a diverse student-teacher culture and a family-like environment.
