Students at the Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business learn early in their college career the added value of having an internship before graduation.
Over the summer, Ivy students engaged in a wide range of internships to add real-world experience to their resumes before they graduate. Meet Jazmine Sullivan, who shared why a summer internship added value to her education.
Sullivan, a junior from Davenport, Iowa, studying marketing with a minor in advertising, spent her summer as a sales operation intern with HNI in Muscatine, Iowa, the second-largest office furniture manufacturer in the world.
From a young age, Sullivan always had a love for business, creating small businesses and taking an interest in stakeholder relations before she even knew the correct terms. She chose marketing because it was the perfect combination of her analytical and creative skills, with the addition of advertising to allow her to explore her creativity and dive deeper into the creative side of marketing.
In the core business classes, Sullivan learned applicable skills such as data analysis, stakeholder engagement and relations, business efficiency, and overall transferable conceptual and human skills. Additionally, Clay Thomas, an assistant teaching professor in management and entrepreneurship, provided her with mind-opening support and interactive learning in the management course he taught. Connecting with Ivy staff such as Bobbi Sullivan, interim director of business career services, and Sandra Jennings-Hammond, associate teaching professor in marketing, offered Sullivan additional support, helping her confidence and her professional marketing knowledge.
“Joining and holding a leadership role in the Marketing Club at Iowa State prepared me immensely through professional development and career exploration. I was able to strategically network during the career development activities and professional speakers hosted at every meeting,” she said.
“Talk to career coordinators, advisors, professors, even people who work in the company you are considering. Be confident in all that you are and all you offer to a company.”
— Jazmine Sullivan
As one of five interns on the sales operations team, Sullivan was tasked with a project focusing on the education market, ultimately providing tools for members to help sell HON furniture, understand where HON stands amongst competitors, and highlight key callouts that make HON advantaged or disadvantaged in the market. She completed a competitive analysis of the education sector within the furniture market that will be used for years to come. Sullivan used an objective and analytical view to assess the company and provide solutions based on data, field and market knowledge, and research obtained throughout the summer.
Her advice to other students is simple.
“The best thing you can do for yourself is get involved and build your network,” Sullivan said. “Find mentors, advocates, and resources at Iowa State University that can help complete your goals and push you to be better. Talk to career coordinators, advisors, professors, even people who work in the company you are considering. Be confident in all that you are and all you offer to a company.”
To connect with Jazmine Sullivan or follow her collegiate and professional journey, visit her LinkedIn profile.
