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 Valeria Saavedra, who shared why a summer internship added valuable experience to her college education.
Saavedra, a junior from Michigan City, Indiana, studying supply chain management and international business, spent her summer as a marketing analyst intern with balize in Barcelona, Spain.
While exploring Ivy’s international programs and meeting with Taylor Shire, the international programs coordinator, Saavedra found the CEA CAPA study abroad program, leading her to this internship. As an international business major planning to work abroad after graduation, she saw this as an excellent opportunity to diversify herself, make networking connections, and gain valuable experience.
“During the interview, I was impressed with the business’ atmosphere and felt it would be a great place to learn and grow,” said Saavedra. “I was the business’ first intern and was excited to bring my skills and knowledge to their team and hopefully open a door for balize to bring more interns in the future.”
As a marketing analyst intern, Saavedra translated corporate materials and presentations from English to Spanish, identified and recruited 40 potential guests for balize’s weekly podcast, and conducted an analysis of more than seven competitors to compare marketing and financial strategies. During her internship time in Spain, she was able to participate in many team-bonding exercises with her co-workers, giving her the chance to network and learn more about their experiences and life in Spain.
Being an intern in a foreign country led Saavedra to grow and develop personally and professionally in new areas. While taking BUS 3010: Introduction to International Business with Kurt Tjaden, former president of HNI International and senior vice president, the class was introduced to multiple guest speakers who touched on their experiences and advice after time spent working abroad in different fields of business. These speakers helped prepare Saavedra with insight into what it is like to adapt to new geographic and work cultures, allowing her to feel confident in what to expect and how to adapt to the Spanish culture.
“I found a lot of joy in sharing my experience with living and working in a different country and just as my peers gave me much insight into their lifestyles, I also had the opportunity to share American culture.”
To further prepare for her journey, Saavedra met weekly with Brady Talley, director of multicultural student success, to address any concerns she had about moving to a foreign country. “Having a mentor to go to is extremely valuable and important when preparing for a new and unique experience.”
Learning about the world through travel is something Saavedra values greatly. She found the global aspect of supply chain management to be interesting and diverse and international business opens the door for a lot of global opportunities in the industry. Saavedra encourages others to take advantage of every opportunity and embrace the experience. “Every opportunity is what you make of it!”
To connect with Valeria Saavedra or follow her collegiate and professional journey, visit her LinkedIn profile.
