A Chat With a ‘Human Energizer Bunny’

David Rosenstein chose the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business for its connections and its energy: two things he knows plenty about.

“It’s a very happy place,” he says of Van Munching Hall.

Now a senior marketing and management dual degree undergrad, New York native Rosenstein considers that building to be his home base in College Park.

“Getting to walk up and down the business school hallways, and getting to say hi to upwards of a dozen people,” he says, reflecting, “I think there’s a real sense of community and a real sense of home.”

He calls himself a “Human Energizer Bunny” on his LinkedIn profile, and it’s easy to see why. Rosenstein has made a name for himself in and out of the business school, channeling his boundless energy into lots of different things. 

On March 14, 2020, Rosenstein was selected from a nationwide pool as the 2020 Student Marketer of the Year by the American Marketing Association. He was recognized for his leadership and service to Smith’s AMA chapter, where he served a stint as president and helped revitalize the group. The award also celebrates his academic achievements and his impact on the Smith community. 

He’s been involved in College Park Scholars and the QUEST Honors Program, where he was part of a team of STEM and business students that helped meal-delivery business HelloFresh save $2.7 million with more data-driven sales decisions. He also served as vice president of marketing for the Smith Undergraduate Student Association. 

He’s also a campus tour guide for the university, and oversees Smith Ambassadors, the organization representing the business school to prospective students and their families.

“I’m still giving tours; I still walk backwards,” he jokes.

He’s worked as a marketing and sales intern at Klutz, a creative toy division of Scholastic.

Now, as a former intern and future full-time employee of LinkedIn, Rosenstein has been sharing his networking tips by running workshops for student groups and emerging student leaders.

His first piece of advice? Know your worth.

“Students don’t often think that they have something of value, but [companies] wouldn’t have interns if they didn’t think that students were a valuable asset to the company,” he explains.

Rosenstein tells students to identify their key strengths, find companies and teams where these skills would be heavily valued, and demonstrate how a company would be foolish if they didn’t bring the student on board.

“You’re better than you believe,” he says. “You have more skills and abilities than you think.”

And, he adds, never underestimate the power of a cold message on LinkedIn to someone who could become a valuable connection. “If anyone ever wants to connect with me on LinkedIn, I’m always happy to do so. Just add a note!”

–By Emma Grazado, special writer for Maryland Smith.

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