‘Bachelor’ star shares unconventional post-Newhouse career path

'Bachelor' star discusses life since Newhouse

SU's Women in Communications hosted reality TV star Ashley Iaconetti on Tuesday.
Published: December 2, 2019
Ashley Iaconetti Haibon spoke to students about her career in communications after
Ashley Iaconetti speaks Tuesday at a Women in Communications-sponsored talk at the Joyce Hereganhan Auditorium.

Syracuse University students typically find a way to their professional lives soon after graduating. But for 2013 broadcast and digital journalism alum Ashley Iaconetti, life after SU happened to involve millions of people tuning into their TVs every week to see her next move.

Iaconetti returned Tuesday to the Newhouse School to speak to students about her unconventional post-graduation life having appeared on season 19 of ABC’s The Bachelor, two seasons of Bachelor in Paradise and The Bachelor Winter Games.

Iaconetti said her experience on The Bachelor led her to find love but also helped catapult her career in communications and entertainment. Since her time on reality television, Iaconetti has appeared on Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood. She also has a podcast with former Bachelor Ben Higgins, as well as the I Don’t Get It podcast with her sister and Bachelor producer.

“I got the love of my life from the show but also formed a pretty good career from it,” Iaconetti said.

Iaconetti said she has learned the importance of networking and encouraged students to ask for opportunities. Her husband and former Bachelorette contestant Jared Haibon added that versatility is becoming increasingly important in the communications field.

Morgan Trau, president of talk organizer Women in Communications, said hearing more about Iaconetti’s career path shows that there is no “right” way to pursue a career in communications and that the field presents opportunities for versatility.

“You can find success and you can find happiness in whatever you’re doing as long as you love what you’re doing and that’s exactly what she did,” Trau said. “I think telling that to an audience of mostly women is so impactful and so important.”