Music and live performance are deep sources for personal growth, and Potsdam senior Jaidan Kertenis '26 has used these creative wellsprings to deliberately push the boundaries of her comfort zone.
As accomplished on the athletic field as she is in the practice room or classroom, Kertenis—who is majoring in business administration with a music business minor—appears regularly on the president’s and dean’s lists. She leads the Potsdam women’s soccer team, drawing on a competitive spirit honed early by being elbow-to-elbow with three older brothers and refined in public school competitions, which culminated in her winning a national wrestling title in 2012.
Despite the butterflies and inhibitions all of us feel from time to time, Kertenis has made a difference by showing up, more resilient each time she meets a challenge head on.
“When I first started taking music business courses at The Crane School of Music, I was intimidated at first—especially being surrounded by so many talented musicians in my classes,” Kertenis recalled. “I discovered the practice rooms my sophomore year and began going there in my free time, and I would play piano and sing for hours.”
In the following three years, Kertenis grew musically and personally, collaborating with other musicians and taking knowledge and inspiration from diverse creative approaches.
“I wasn’t always comfortable singing or performing in front of others, and it took a lot of practice and learning to embrace being uncomfortable,” she said. “That experience translated into stronger public speaking skills and overall confidence, especially in leadership and academic settings.”
Kertenis tapped the spirit of resilience again when a knee injury knocked her out of soccer competition for an entire season. Instead of giving up, she showed up for games with her voice rather than her push kick.
“Singing the national anthem at home games became a way for me to still feel connected and a way to contribute,” she said.
Kertenis credits a strong family network for initially supporting and inspiring her journey through music and athletics. That sense of family translated again at Potsdam, where the women’s soccer team became a second home. Surrounded by teammates with similar goals, values and commitments, Kertenis found and helped build a community whose strength she felt both on the field and off.
“The culture and atmosphere of the team were a major factor in my decision to attend, and it quickly became a built-in support system,” she reflected. “Both on my team and in the classroom, I was part of an environment where people genuinely want to see each other succeed.”
Music business mentorship
Kertenis’ interest in music business was kindled by a family friend in the industry who introduced her to Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes and other figures, allowing her to glimpse the music world behind the scenes.
“Those moments showed me the energy, coordination and creativity that go into the industry,” she said.
Dr. Timothy Yip’s music business courses and mentorship helped spur Kertenis’ growth at Potsdam. Her classmates’ infectious excitement about careers in the music industry lent flavor to foundational principals of copyright, music publishing and licensing, record label structures and contracts, and artistic management. Dr. Yip’s course in entrepreneurship and professional development for musicians gave her ways to navigate the practical side of the art and ways to identify and pursue opportunities.
“Dr. Yip has been really knowledgeable and supportive,” she said, “and a huge help when it comes to guiding me in choosing the right classes for my business minor.”
Kertenis also grew academically through a team dynamics course under Dr. Edwin Portugal, whose engaging pedagogical structure centers around student participation and pushes them to challenge the boundaries of critical thinking and communication.
“One of the most impactful aspects of his classes is the emphasis on speaking and presenting,” Kertenis said. “The presentation competitions at the end of his courses significantly strengthened my confidence and ability to communicate ideas clearly.”
Those skills were on full display when Kertenis and her team presented at the International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in April 2026. Her team was a runner-up for their case study and Kertenis won the 90-second pitch competition. She presented as if she were an employee of TikTok, highlighting concerns like user addiction, mental health and misinformation spread, then shifting into her recommendations for a safer and improved platform.
The biggest challenge was wanting to present too much information and having to strip the content to its essentials—then, like a musician, working ruthlessly on refinement and timing. Once this homework was done, however, her message flowed effortlessly.
“I looked over at my team in the audience, and they were all smiling and giving me the thumbs up,” Kertenis said. “Knowing I made them proud made the work worth it.”
With an eye to a future where her passion can find the stage, Kertenis continues to write songs and perform piano and guitar at local restaurant venues, helping build her performance skills. She plans to move to New York City after graduation to work in live music venues and apply her skills.
“I’m drawn to behind-the-scenes work that helps bring events and visions to life,” she said. “—Whether that’s coordinating logistics, promoting shows, managing artists or enhancing the audience’s experience. And I’m excited by the fast-paced, always changing nature of the industry in a city like New York.”
Article by Bret Yager, Photos by Jason Hunter