Jackie Levy’s path to leadership

JMS Alumnus Jackie Levy’s (‘01) journey began with a leap of faith, arriving at SDSU with an unclear idea of what he wanted to do.

“I came to San Diego State having never visited it before,” recalled Levy. It did not take long for him to find his “home” within the public relations program. Initially, he thought his love of sports would lead him into the sports media profession.

“I interned for the San Diego Chargers, which was a great experience,” Levy said. “But I learned that it is sometimes better not to mix your passion with your job.” From there, he pivoted and began focusing on other P.R. opportunities, initially working at Castle Communications. 

After moving back to Los Angeles, he started working for Westfield, which allowed him to not only apply many of the communications skills he had learned at SDSU but broaden his knowledge into business and operations. His hard work got noticed and he was quickly promoted, which eventually landed him a job with Caruso. It was their philosophy of not just making money but creating community that has kept him there for so many years.

Most recently, he has been excited to be working with Steadfast LA, a nonprofit foundation led by Rick J. Caruso and managed by Executive Director and SDSU alumna Najla Kayyem. Steadfast LA is helping to accelerate the reconstruction of residences and businesses in the LA area which have been impacted by the recent wildfires.

“It’s not only about rebuilding, it's about how we rebuild in a responsible way and what can be done to ensure this never happens again,” said Levy.

As the Chief Financial and Revenue Officer at Caruso, Levy will play a key role in Steadfast LA’s mission to help rebuild LA. The fires are something that hit him personally as his son goes to Palisades High School, which lost about 30% of its campus. “I never imagined my son would be back online for school again,” Levy shared.

When it comes to advice for JMS students, Levy urges students to find a career that they take pride in. 

“Find something that you’re passionate about and that you enjoy doing. There's no replacement for hard work, and the people that really thrive in my experience are the ones who work well with others and are willing to put in the hours,” said Levy.