In anticipation of 2026’s graduation ceremony, the Campus Times conducted an interview with upcoming Commencement speaker Jeannine Shao Collins ’86. Collins, who earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from URochester, currently works as the Chief Client Officer at Kargo: a multiplatform advertising and media company. She also founded Girl Starter, a reality TV show designed to help young women launch their own businesses. Commencement will take place May 15 at 8:45 a.m.
What was your favorite part at URochester?
Well, here’s what I’ll tell you, you know, I started out … trying to become a biomedical engineer and that was totally the wrong path for me. But the path to learning what I should do was very important and pivotal to my life. But at the time it was a little painful because I had to figure out what I wanted to do versus what I thought I should do based on other people’s opinions.
So that’s a big theme of what I’m going to be talking about during Commencement. And my favorite times [at URochester], I mean, I think the most important things were twofold. [Firstly], I made amazing friendships and friendships that are lifelong friends who I still talk to all the time — so that’s obviously really important. But secondly, what I did outside of the classroom with Jodi Asbury, [former URochester] Dean of Students, running student and parent orientation and interviewing students with admissions and all that type of work really prepared me for what I do professionally today. So I would say that’s pretty integral and was a lot of fun [as well].
If you were told what you would be doing now, would you have seen it coming?
No, no, I had no idea that what I do even existed, and nobody in my family did [either]. I mean, if you were to say … I was going to be in media, advertising, marketing, I [would have] had no idea. Zero.
But you’re happy with it?
Oh, I love it. I mean, I’ve had an incredible life, incredible career … [I’m] so happy with how my life has ended up … This is also a message that I’m talking about during Commencement — that I really feel like your journey and your life kind of find you, and people shouldn’t be so stressed out about figuring out their path.
It all kind of falls into place. I’m a true believer in that.
If you could go back and change something about your time at URochester, what would it be?
I would probably, looking back, I would tell myself that very thing. Like, “don’t worry so much about having a path, making a plan or whatnot.” Not to say that planning is bad. I don’t think planning is bad, but I would tell myself not to worry. It’s all going to work out.
Easier said than done.
Yeah, I know. But when you’re in it, even the things that you think are terrible end up being important lessons that make you pivot and … I do really believe that rejection is redirection.
Because I didn’t end up doing what I initially set out to do, I moved to New York. I … got into advertising, marketing and media and all those decisions led to other decisions that were important. But if I hadn’t gone through the disappointment of not doing what I initially set out to do, it wouldn’t have led me to where I am today.
What made you want to speak at Commencement?
Well, they asked me, which was great and it’s a huge honor and I feel very fortunate about that. I think what brought me back to the University after graduation was [that] I started a company called Girl Starter, which was a television show program and a digital platform to help female entrepreneurs.
I got involved with the AIN Center, which is the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and that brought me back to work with the University in that capacity because of my entrepreneurial endeavors. And one thing I’d say, [is] that if I [went] back and that center was available, I would definitely get involved with that because that was not a resource that was available in 1986.
What would you want students and families to know about you before you get on stage? That I’ve had an incredibly satisfying personal and professional life in part because of the growth that I had at Rochester. The education and the place was more than well worth it. … I feel like Rochester really set me on a path that I never could have anticipated. I feel [like] I’m not done yet.
