AMA Student Internship Panel

Student Internship Panel Recap: Real Talk from Real Interns

At USD’s Student Internship Panel, four talented students shared honest, energizing insights from their internship experiences, covering everything from getting your foot in the door of your dream company to forming meaningful connections in the workplace. 

Katie – Amazon DSP (Demand Side Platform) 

Katie dove into the world of digital advertising, creating and managing campaigns while learning the ropes of Amazon’s powerful demand-side platform. Her biggest takeaway? Don’t be afraid to speak up, even as an intern. She credits the Career Center and her marketing classes for preparing her to pull real-world examples during interviews, so don’t wave off your work in these courses. Her advice: Ask for coffee chats, shadow others, and look for growth opportunities wherever you can. 

Ava – OREP Insurance 

At OREP, Ava worked on email marketing campaigns for real estate professionals and learned that preparation is everything. “Research the industry before you walk in,” she shared. She emphasized the power of networking events to build confidence and comfort when speaking with professionals. Her advice? Find your niche, keep learning on your own time (even outside of the office), and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Kayleen – Alo Yoga Creative Marketing 

Kayleen brought energy and initiative to Alo’s creative team where she had the opportunities to work on set for digital content, scout shoot locations, and draft  influencer briefs. Her journey from retail associate to intern shows how initiative creates opportunity. “People are busy,” she said. “If you want to sit in on meetings, you have to ask.” She also drew confidence from USD’s Small Business Career Center, which taught her to think like an entrepreneur. 

Nyasia - USD Athletics Marketing

Nyasia plays an integral role in USD Athletics Marketing, where she combines creativity and leadership to elevate the department’s digital presence. She creates engaging content and eye-catching graphics using Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and other Adobe platforms, ensuring the athletic brand stands out across all media. Beyond her creative expertise, Nyasia takes charge behind the scenes during games, running operations from the press box with professionalism and precision. Her leadership shines through her proactive approach, where she goes above and beyond in her role to build genuine relationships and connections. Nyasia emphasizes the importance of networking, collaboration, and stepping outside one’s comfort zone to grow personally and professionally in the dynamic world of sports marketing.

Kaitlyn -  San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Marketing and Cinematography

Kaitlyn brings passion and authenticity to her work with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, where she films and edits captivating content featuring animals and conservation stories. Skilled in Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, and Slack, she handles everything from color grading and editing to copywriting and social media posting, ensuring the organization’s mission reaches diverse audiences. Kaitlyn believes in letting her true self shine by sharing her hobbies and personality to build authentic connections with colleagues. Through her experiences, including her Marketing 494 project where she partnered with a small business to apply real-world strategies, she’s learned to embrace every opportunity and infuse positivity into her work. Kaitlyn’s approach centers on creativity, collaboration, and bringing fresh ideas to every project while fostering connections that go beyond just “work.”