Will Brewster stepped into an intimidating world when he graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2020 –  completing his bachelor’s degree in hospitality management in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was well-prepared, however, thanks to his hard work and the opportunities and lessons offered by USC’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management. While still a student, he gained hands-on experience at Augusta National and Walt Disney World. He took time to share how his experience at USC impacted his life and career, which is off to a fantastic start three years after graduation. 

Please share a summary of your career path.

Graduating during a global pandemic definitely made pursuing a career in hospitality interesting. Since graduating, I have moved five times chasing many seasonal opportunities within the private club industry. These seasonal opportunities gave me the chance to coordinate events for several clubs, including Augusta National, and because of this, I was able to build my resume quickly and land my dream job as a full-time event coordinator at Walt Disney World.

What do you like most about your current role?

I love that the events I spend all of my time planning are events that I, along with all of my friends and family, are able to enjoy as well. It gives me a great sense of pride to be able to walk around one of our many EPCOT festivals and point out all the things I have spent months working on. 

Was there a particular person at USC who has been influential in your career?

Jessica Chavis. She is a huge advocate for the private club industry, which immediately caught my interest freshman year, and this led to me taking internships in the industry. This is where I found my love of planning events. If it was not for Jessica taking the time to get to know me and push me to shoot for the stars, I wouldn't be where I am today. 

Can you share a favorite experience from your career journey?

During my last semester of college, I participated in the Disney College Program as a Special Event Guide. This role was basically the bottom of the totem pole in the events world at Disney, but I was so excited to at least get exposure to the events Disney executes. Now I am an event coordinator on that same team, and get to plan these amazing events alongside the leadership I worked under three years ago. 

How has your experience at USC impacted your career success?

The hospitality management program at USC does such a fantastic job of making you a very well-rounded individual upon graduation. I was able to gain exposure to the many different segments of the hospitality industry during my time at USC, and I truly feel that I would have been prepared for any hospitality field I would have pursued.

    

Was there a particular class or topic that is instrumental in your job today?

Club management. This class was really the foundation of where my hospitality journey began. I learned so much in this class that has helped me throughout my career journey.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in hospitality management?

Always say yes when possible. If you are asked to work on a holiday or offered overtime to see something new, do it. These are the moments that really help you stand out and will also end up being some of the most memorable moments in your career. 

Read more about USC's internationally acclaimed hospitality and tourism management program.