By the time Mitchell Rusitzky graduated college—early—he had already worked at two creative studios, launched national campaigns, helped develop a Disney+ series, and won an Emmy. He was 21. And he’d never applied to a job.

Instead, he followed the instincts Bay helped him sharpen: stay curious, say yes, make something cool, and trust that opportunity will follow when you’re doing what lights you up.

“It never occurred to me not to go after interesting things,” he says. “That was just how Bay worked. That became my baseline.”

Before Bay, Mitchell was the quiet kid. “Every report card said it—Mitchell needs to speak up more in class.” But at Bay, Socratic discussions and teacher encouragement helped him find his voice. He joined Bay’s Ambassador Team, helped lead teacher interviews, and co-directed a short film during an immersive program in the woods.

Those formative experiences gave him the confidence to build a college path that felt entirely his own. Through Northeastern’s co-op program, Mitchell landed a role at a creative agency. When his boss left for a new studio, she brought him along.

Now, at Baobab Studios, Mitchell collaborates with the creators of Moana and Madagascar, helping shape animated content for major platforms. One of his colleagues even helped develop Pixar in a Box—a storytelling tool Mitchell used back in high school. “The things that shaped my childhood are now part of my everyday life,” he says.

At Bay, learning was immersive, project-based, and built on trust. “You didn’t just memorize facts—you learned how to work through challenges, ask questions, and explain your thinking,” he says. That mindset stuck. Whether he’s shaping a pitch, giving script notes, or leading a Gen Z focus group on 24 hours’ notice, Mitchell brings the same habits of thought he developed in high school.

“College was great,” he says. “But Bay is what prepared me for life—for the kind of work, relationships, and creative energy I want to keep chasing.”