Interview Conducted by Sophia Wu (Q18)

Ori Zohar

1) Tell us something interesting about yourself.

In the summer of 2010, I started an ice cream cart with good friend Ethan Frisch called Guerrilla Ice Cream. At Guerrilla Ice Cream, we offered bold, interesting ice cream flavors and a dedication to social justice. Each of our flavors was inspired by a political movement and cuisine from around the world, and we donated 100% of our profits to support marginalized populations locally and internationally.

By the end of the summer, we were nominated as one of five finalists in the dessert category for the prestigious 2010 Vendy Awards, partnered with Patrón Tequila to provide ice cream for Bobby Flay’s marquee Tacos & Tequila event at the 2010 New York Food & Wine Festival, and even taught Blake Lively how to make ice cream.

At the end of the summer, we put the business in hibernation, hoping to someday bring it back better and stronger than ever.

2) What have you been doing since your graduation from QUEST and University of Maryland?

I graduated from University of Maryland in 2007 and joined the advertising world in New York. I began by working at McCann Erickson on the Intel account, and then spent a couple of years working on US and Global business development at Universal McCann, a sister agency that focused on media.

While I was on the New Business team, I worked around the clock, but had the opportunity to travel around the world for work, get to know the company’s top executives, and be part of the amazing team that brought in over $3 billion in annual client billings.

Today, I am a Communications Strategist at Universal McCann, where my role is to identify targets, study consumer lifestyles and media habits and build communications platforms for clients such as MasterCard, ExxonMobil and Unilever.

Working in New York City has been both intense and rewarding – I’ve had the opportunity to play many roles over the past four years, and I’ve grown from each one.

3) Has being a part of QUEST helped your career? If yes, how?

You’ll forget some of the facts that you learn in school, but you never forget the skills. QUEST was the only part of my education that focused on skills like teamwork, communication skills, presentation skills and creative problem solving. My success at my job depends on these skills every day; QUEST gave me the head start that helped me distinguish myself among my co-workers from the beginning.

4) If you could turn back time and take one QUEST class over again, which one would it be and why?

Definitely 190. I was terrified to be among so many smart and talented people, and even more terrified of Dr. Bigio. My anxiety turned out to be completely misplaced when I realized that in addition to smart and talented, QUEST is also tight-knit and very supportive community. I ended up meeting some of the people that continue to be my closest friends and mentors to this day.

5) What is your favorite QUEST memory?

I remember all of the nights we spent in the QUEST Lab, knocking our heads against the wall trying to figure out the best solutions for our projects. The teachers could only show us the skills, tools and competencies we would need for our projects. In the Lab, we learned to put them to use. The projects were always difficult, but learning to create breakthrough solutions by coming together as a group was one of the most rewarding experiences I had at the University of Maryland.

6) What advice would you give current QUEST students?

The most remarkable people I meet are the ones that truly follow their interests and passions. My only advice would be to take the time in college to explore your interests, both academic and non-academic, and develop an expertise. This will not only help fulfill you on a personal level, but also help you stand out (especially to interviewers!) as someone who’s not afraid to follow their heart.