5 Questions with Alum Tommaso Dizon '24 & '25

By Siobhan Treacy

ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 7, 2025) — The path from a Massry School of Business classroom to working on the marketing team at a global brand is a complex one. For Tommaso Dizon, his two degrees from Massry accelerated that journey. 

Dizon earned his bachelor's in business administration and communication in 2024 and completed his MBA in 2025. Now, as a marketing coordinator at the renowned chocolatier Godiva, he uses his Massry-taught skillset daily. In his position, Dizon works on the creative process behind Godiva marketing, guiding new products from idea to shelves worldwide. His story demonstrates how academic theory has a direct impact on the real-world work experience.

How did your time at Massry prepare you for your career as marketing coordinator at Godiva? 

My time at UAlbany and Massry truly shaped the way I approach my career at Godiva. Double majoring in communication and business administration with concentrations in marketing and entrepreneurship, later earning my MBA, gave me a well rounded, interdisciplinary perspective that I've found to be invaluable. This is especially important for working in a global company, where I collaborate daily with colleagues across countries, time zones and business functions. Massry prepared me to see challenges from multiple angles and to appreciate the value of diverse perspectives. 

Public speaking is another vital skill I developed at Massry. From class presentations to pitch competitions, there were countless opportunities to build confidence in front of an audience. Some of our Godiva meetings can have more than a hundred attendees. When it is my time to speak, I feel prepared and composed. 

Finally, practicing collaboration through group projects taught me how to communicate clearly and engage with different working styles. In many ways, my work at Godiva often feels like an ongoing group project. We're constantly collaborating and adapting hand in hand to cross the finish line of any given project. 

Were there any specific classes, projects or professors that were particularly formative or influential for you?

There are two classes that come to mind as being formative and influential to me. The first, from my undergraduate studies, is Social Entrepreneurship with Heidi Knoblauch. Heidi, in addition to being an amazing person and encouraging professor, is an entrepreneur herself and continually taught the course drawing insights from her own experiences. Throughout the duration of the semester, we built our own businesses, learned to pitch in front of panels of judges and were introduced to local entrepreneurs both in the classroom and outside at community-driven events. This class allowed me to build confidence presenting and connected my course work to personal passions, which made the whole course incredibly rewarding. 

The next, from the graduate program, is Creativity and Entrepreneurship with Dr. Bill Wales and Kate Baker from the Albany Small Business Development Center. Bill and Kate are a dream team, and both have an incredible depth of knowledge of business and entrepreneurship. This course placed students into the role of real-world consultants to working entrepreneurs throughout the Capital Region. Each student worked with a local business owner over the course of 10 weeks, leading up to a pitch for a character-based loan of up to $35,000. I had the opportunity to take this course twice and work with multiple entrepreneurs from all different industries and backgrounds. The experience left me with a well-rounded understanding of small businesses and the skill to engage with clients in a professional and meaningful way. 

What was your career path from graduation to landing a role at Godiva?

From graduating to landing my role at Godiva there were many steps along the way before I signed my offer letter. Massry and the UA Alumni Association gave me several opportunities to network and build relationships with established professionals in the business world. Making these connections was instrumental to learning how to best stand out from others in today's extremely competitive job market. Networking events allowed me to connect with outstanding alumni like Richelle Konian, CEO of Careers On The Move (COTM). I had the pleasure of interning with COTM and learned so much under Richelle's mentorship and guidance. 

The hiring process in marketing, specifically, is also not as cyclical as in other fields. Utilizing resources like Career Services within Massry set me up for success and prepared me to be strategic and diligent in my job search. Massry offers so many channels for self improvement and professional development, and I encourage any student to take advantage of these resources as much as they can.

Was the transition from student to marketing professional what you expected or did it surprise you?

The transition from student to marketing professional was an incredibly exciting time. One thing I expected, and was happy to find true, is that no two days in marketing are ever the same. Especially working in brand and innovation at Godiva, new ideas and projects cross my desk every day. It's fast-paced, creative and dynamic, and I still believe marketing is the most fun part of any business.

What surprised me most was realizing just how many cross-functional touchpoints the marketing department has across the organization. Colleagues from sales, finance, procurement, supply chain, research and development, packaging engineering and many more areas frequently reach out to marketing for key insights or direction. It really is the hub that connects every part of the business. 

I'm grateful that my education from Massry prepared me so well for this. The holistic curriculum encouraged me to understand all aspects of business, which has made collaboration across teams intuitive and fulfilling. 

What's the one piece of advice you'd give to current Massry students?

I know networking can feel daunting at times, but the advantages are truly endless. The UAlbany alumni network is full of professionals who are eager to share their time, experiences and real-world perspectives. As you go through your years at the Massry School of Business, take the time to build and update your LinkedIn profile. Connect with your peers, professors and alumni. Those relationships will become invaluable as you start your career. 

Some of the best advice I've ever received came from conversations with business school alumni, whether it's over a scheduled call or briefly chatting at the refreshment station at an alumni event. You never know where a simple conversation might lead. Put yourself out there and meet people. You won't regret it!