Her Story
About Colleen
Colleen Nakhooda is a junior pursuing a degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, where she is set to graduate in 2028. She has been engaged in the field since her freshman year of college, gaining hands-on experience through her involvement in Citrus TV, the student-run news station, as well as Women in Communications and Greek Life. Colleen is currently completing an internship at New York One Spectrum News, rotating between the assignment desk, the producer pod, and field reporting assignments. She considers receiving this internship a notable professional achievement, as it has allowed her to apply her skills in a real-world newsroom environment. Colleen values honesty, empathy, accuracy, and teamwork in her work, and she emphasizes the importance of being adaptable in the fast-paced news industry while remaining authentic and collaborative.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Colleen
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received has been to just genuinely be your most authentic self, and to treat everyone with kindness, because the person that is supportive and kind to everyone else is always the one that will go the farthest, and being confident is always a good thing, but checking your ego, being humble, and being a good team player within whatever environment you're a part of is the most important and really is a testament to your character and your ability to succeed in any career space.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say don't give up, even when things feel really difficult, or when they feel a little overwhelming, and don't be afraid to put yourself out there and be confident in whatever position you might be going for, and don't be afraid to ask for help. You can always find people that you can gain support from, or gain advice from, or critique, and it's always helpful to bounce ideas off of one another. Don't try and do everything on your own.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say the biggest challenge is that you have to be able to work really hard all the time and expect to not have a specific 9-to-5 schedule. I think being in the news industry is being able to be flexible and be adaptable to crazy schedules, changes in the news, because the news never stops, and there's always stories to be told. So, I think that I have just had the opportunity to learn how to adapt to those obstacles, and I would also say that it's a very competitive environment. Everyone wants to get the best position and the best opportunity, but as long as you are your most authentic self, and you work with the people in your industry and form strong connections, I think that you're able to overcome them.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think the most important values to me are being honest, I think being empathetic is super important. That's something that I've always really prided myself on, because I really don't think that yes, you know, have to be unbiased and be objective in reporting, but I think having empathy, care, and passion for the people and the stories that you're reporting on makes you a better person, and also just a better journalist. And I would also say that you have to be a really good team player. And you just have to be able to be whatever is needed for you to the people that you're working with, and to the people that are supporting you. So, I would say being a team player, being honest, and as accurate as possible, and I think being empathetic would be the most important.
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