by M. C. Jennings | Oct 31, 2024 | Academics, Careers In..., COBA Faculty, COBA Staff, College Decisions, Current Students, Faith Infusion, Marketing, Outcomes, Professional Development, Student Spotlights, Student Spotlights
Senior marketing major Carol Queiroz from Brazil recently completed a rewarding internship at Imaginuity, a marketing agency based in Dallas. Her experiences during this internship have not only enhanced her skill set but also prepared her for future career opportunities.
Carol’s internship at Imaginuity was part of a rotational program, allowing her to gain hands-on experience in various departments. Throughout her time there, she explored areas such as social media, user experience, website creation, and client partnership. This exposure to diverse aspects of marketing provided her with a well-rounded understanding of the industry.
One of Carol’s favorite aspects of the internship was building website pages. This opportunity allowed her to combine her creative skills in content creation with the technical skills required for website development. She relished the chance to see her ideas come to life in a digital format, reinforcing her passion for marketing.
Carol said that learning to be adaptable was one of the greatest lessons she gained from her internship. She learned that even in areas where she initially had little interest, there were valuable insights and skills to be gained. This lesson in flexibility is one she believes will serve her well in her future career.
Interning at Imaginuity has opened numerous doors for Carol. The diverse experiences she gained will enable her to apply for various job opportunities after graduation, equipped with a unique skill set that few candidates possess. While she has been encouraged to apply for a full-time position at Imaginuity, Carol has also been accepted into a master’s program in communication at ACU, which she is excited to pursue.
For students seeking internships, Carol offers some sage advice: “Go to the career fair! I got my job there. Also, talk to Jasmine as much as possible. She is a good resource to help with your resume and job search.” She also recommends building a network on campus and maintaining relationships with professors which can open unexpected opportunities in the future.
Carol credits her time at ACU as essential preparation for her internship and future endeavors. The Professional Development team, in particular, has been instrumental in her journey, providing support and resources throughout her college years.
Being a business major at ACU has not only equipped Carol with technical knowledge but also essential life skills. She values the lessons in negotiation, networking, and entrepreneurship that she has gained, stating, “This knowledge is something that no one can take away from me and something that I will carry with me for life. I am very grateful to have received all of this at COBA.”
As graduation approaches, Carol reflects on her three years at ACU with gratitude. Her advice to current students is to savor every moment of their journey. “The whole process you’re going through on campus is preparing you for life off campus,” she emphasizes.
With her newfound skills and experiences, Carol is well-prepared to take on the next chapter of her life, whether in a full-time role or as a graduate student. Imaginuity has played a pivotal role in shaping her future, and she looks forward to what lies ahead.
by M. C. Jennings | Oct 3, 2024 | Accounting, College Decisions, Current Students, Faculty Testimonials, Faith Infusion, MAcc, Outcomes, Placement stories, Student Spotlights, Student Spotlights, Uncategorized
Senior accounting major Katelynn Oksanen spent her summer break interning at EY’s Dallas office, where she gained invaluable insights into the world of auditing. Katelynn’s experience not only deepened her understanding of the audit process but also equipped her with skills that will serve her well in her future career.
At the outset of her internship, Katelynn participated in a comprehensive training program alongside other audit interns from the region. This training provided her with foundational knowledge and set the stage for her subsequent hands-on experience. One highlight of her internship was the Intern Innovation Experience, where she explored data visualization and analysis tools crucial to the accounting profession. This exposure to cutting-edge technologies broadened her perspective on the role of data in auditing.
Throughout her time at EY, Katelynn collaborated with various teams, assisting with multiple components of the audit process. This collaboration not only enhanced her technical skills but also allowed her to develop a deeper appreciation for teamwork. “I enjoyed working with the teams I was assigned to and getting to know the employees and other interns at the firm,” Katelynn reflected. “The hands-on experience I gained is something that’s hard to replicate in the classroom.”
Katelynn’s internship also reinforced her ability to communicate effectively within a team, a skill that is essential in any professional setting. She noted that this experience provided her with a clearer understanding of what auditing looks like in a large-scale business environment, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application.
Looking ahead, Katelynn is excited to share that her internship is leading to full-time employment with EY. This opportunity reflects her hard work and the connections she made during her internship.
For students seeking internships, Katelynn offers invaluable advice: “Put yourself out there! There are many companies eager to hire you and get to know you. In addition, don’t be afraid to reach out to ACU alumni. ACU has a strong alumni network that wants to help ACU students find jobs and internships.”
Katelynn credits her time at ACU for preparing her for this pivotal internship. “Many of my courses and professors provided real-life scenarios and deeper knowledge that prepared me for the tasks involved in my internship. Additionally, many resources on campus helped me prepare the documents needed to secure a job, such as resume-building services through COBA’s professional development staff. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a business student at ACU has been the exceptional support from our professors. They genuinely care about their students and make an effort to get to know who is in their classroom. It’s evident that they want to see their students succeed!”
As Katelynn embarks on her professional journey, her experiences at EY and the foundation laid at ACU will undoubtedly propel her toward success in the accounting field. Her story is an inspiring reminder of the impact of internships and the importance of seizing opportunities in one’s academic and professional journey.
To learn more about the College of Business at ACU, click here.
To learn more about ACU’s Career fair, click here.
by M. C. Jennings | Sep 26, 2024 | Academics, College Decisions, Current Students, Marketing, Outcomes, Student Spotlights
Senior marketing major Noah While efficiently combined his academic knowledge with practical experience through an internship at Red Mansions Realty during his summer break. Throughout his tenure, Noah engaged in a diverse range of marketing activities, including the development of training materials for real estate agents. His contributions encompassed creating training materials for agents on procedures for tenant move-in forms, operating 360 cameras for property reviews, and utilizing marketing tools such as Canva to enhance their market presence.
Additionally, Noah undertook various office tasks that contributed to quality control and operational efficiency. He worked with the handyman to manage minor projects, such as smoke detector installations and worked to strengthen investor relations within the property management and commercial real estate sectors. His responsibilities included maintaining up-to-date investor documentation and loan details, thereby supporting both internal and external stakeholder communication.
Noah noted that the aspect he enjoyed most about his internship was the positive and communicative environment fostered by his colleagues. He commented, “There wasn’t a day that I felt uncomfortable and they really made the workplace fun and easy.” Through this experience, Noah learned that effective communication is essential for the smooth operation of a business and that mastering the art of clear and efficient communication with vendors, investors, and employees significantly enhances organizational flow and success.
The internship provided Noah with great insights into the real estate and property management fields, areas he has been interested in since high school. This experience not only deepened his understanding of the industry but also expanded his professional network in New Braunfels, enhancing his future job prospects.
Noah offers valuable advice to prospective interns to get an early start in their internship search as they can be challenging to obtain. “Once you do get an internship, dive straight in and be the best example of ACU you can possibly be with your work ethic and values that you have learned thus far.”
Noah said that his time at ACU has equipped him in several significant ways. Firstly, it has fostered more independence and confidence in his decision-making. Additionally, the networking opportunities and connections he’s made have been invaluable. Personally, he said “My faith has grown since being at ACU, which has reshaped my perspective on the business world. This most definitely is going to prepare me for life after graduation because keeping God first is what really matters.”
As he reflected on his favorite aspect of being a business major at ACU, Noah said that it’s been getting to know the professors at ACU saying, “You can see God shine through these professors daily while teaching and that is something I will cherish and look up to forever. Hearing that your professors are in the same Bible classes at church or serving as elders is really cool and admirable.”
To learn more about the College of Business Administration, click here.
To learn more about COBA’s upcoming Career Fair, click here.
by M. C. Jennings | Dec 21, 2023 | Academics, COBA Faculty, Current Students, Marketing, Student Spotlights, Uncategorized
written by special contributor, Lance Fleming
The pandemic of 2020 wreaked havoc on the global economy, shut down businesses and schools, drove employees to home offices, separated friends and family, and took most people away from their routines.
But in ways no one considered before COVID, it brought families closer together, allowed everyone to slow down and take care of themselves and each other, and gave everyone time to reflect and think. It’s also when Natalie Lewis decided on a career path.
During those days spent sitting in her parents’ home in The Woodlands, she turned to YouTube videos to pass the time. She focused on fashion and lifestyle YouTubers, which led her to follow those influencers on Instagram. That’s when she put the pieces together.
“I noticed those individuals had made a career out of creating content for their audience and brands that they love,” said Lewis, a senior marketing major from The Woodlands. “I knew that would be something I would love to do, so I decided to give it a shot.”
Lewis began her own Instagram page (@natalieelewiss), which not only chronicles her life, but also allows her to pass along lifestyle and fashion advice. She engages with other influencers through YouTube and Instagram, which she says is her favorite platform. That’s why she started on Instagram but will expand to YouTube after she graduates in May.
Her parents, Colter (‘95) and Elizabeth (‘96), have supported her post-college career decision, especially after she’s seen so much success – almost 15,000 followers – early in the process. Her mother helps Lewis create content, and her father helps her think through all the logistics of payment and pitching herself to different brands.
“My parents have watched my gradual build-up from simply getting free products to getting paid
campaigns, and they were able to understand it better,” Lewis said. “They saw the hard work I put in behind the scenes of growing my platform and gained more respect for what I wanted to do. When I told them I wanted to pursue this career, they already understood it and saw that influencing is a fast-growing industry.”
The influencer industry is relatively new, and she said the most important piece is finding a niche, a target audience, a social media platform that resonates with the audience, and constantly revamping the platforms for consistency. Lewis began slowly, posting outfit photos on Instagram because she wanted to step into the world of fashion content.
That made it easier to get brand collaborations from companies, who would look at her feed and see that her content aligned with their brand.
“Once I branded my Instagram, I started reaching out to small clothing brands and got rejected by some and accepted by others,” Lewis said. “Once companies had seen my work with other brands, they became more interested in working with me because of my credibility. And that has led me to work with bigger brands.”
Lewis didn’t have a marketing plan when she started, just a passion for fashion and taking pictures. She began posting for fun because she was curious where the posts might lead. When Lewis found her passion, she researched how to grow her account and work with different brands. She didn’t write a marketing plan until her junior year at ACU.
Lewis said no follower count or income level is required to be considered an influencer. Consistency in posting and connecting with the community, Lewis said, are most important in building a career as an influencer.
“It’s a mindset,” Lewis said. “If you want to be an influencer, you have to post like one, which is awkward at first. But you get used to it. I got my first brand deal with 3,000 followers and have seen many other creators work with brands with only 1,000 followers. You can be an influencer with only 1,000 followers and earning no money, just as long as you’re actively pursuing influencing. In my first year of content creation, I only received free products and earned no money. Consistency, engagement rate, community, and trustworthiness are how I would measure whether someone is an influencer.”
Her education in COBA, she said, has helped her learn how to market herself, implement those plans, and measure the growth of her brand.
“I’ve had a tremendous opportunity to build relationships with so many professors who have helped me
with this venture, specifically Dr. Jennifer Golden,” Lewis said. “She has helped me with my professional goals within the influencing industry. COBA has taught me how to market myself on social media. The biggest lessons I’ve learned are about personal branding, which is a crucial topic in the influencing industry because it sets one apart from millions of other influencers. The models and plans I’ve been taught in COBA have influenced my decision-making, steering me where I want to take my social media.”
After she graduates from ACU, Lewis said she looks forward to expanding her niche into more lifestyle-based content (bridal, newly married, interior design, daily routine, family, etc.). She also said she wants to focus more on growing and creating the content she truly loves while continuing to create fashion content.
“I’m going to get a job after graduation while pursuing influencing on the side,” Lewis said. “However, I’m going to work hard to grow my platforms so that one day I’ll be able to quit my job and focus on influencing full-time. Creating content for my audience and working with brands I love is my biggest passion, so the end goal is to go into influencing full-time one day.”
by M. C. Jennings | Oct 19, 2023 | Academics, Careers In..., COBA Faculty, COBA Staff, College Decisions, Computer Science, Current Students, Faith Infusion, School of Information Technology and Computing, Student Spotlights
written by special contributor Lance Fleming
Fabrice Mpozenzi spent his summer internship working for JP Morgan Chase in Wilmington, Delaware, where he had the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of working on the front end and back end of web applications and other projects meant to further his understanding of the business.
The junior computer science major from Rwanda also worked on a business with a team of interns, which was eventually presented to senior executives for implementation. Mpozenzi’s internship fueled his desire to work as a software engineer after he graduates from ACU.
We recently caught up with Mpozenzi to get his insights on his summer internship and how ACU prepared him to work with JP Morgan Chase.
Q: What did you do in your internship?
Mpozenzi: “I had a chance to work on several different projects. I worked on a web application’s front and back end and presented it to a team of engineers, including my manager. I also had an opportunity to collaborate with other interns to work on a business plan project that we presented to senior executives.”
Q: What was your favorite part of the internship?
Mpozenzi: “What I loved most about my internship was the opportunity to shadow other teams to see the projects they were working on and learn from them. I also loved networking with different people at the company.”
Q: What are the most significant lessons you learned in your internship?
Mpozenzi: “The internship taught me two things: learning is a journey that never ends because there’s always going to be something new to learn, and one must stay hungry and motivated to learn new skills. I also learned that asking questions, especially in the workplace, is an art that unlocks knowledge and fosters a deeper understanding.”
Q: How do you see this experience aiding you in the future?
Mpozenzi: “It’s given me a roadmap to an industry that I would like to contribute to in the future, and I made connections with people from diverse backgrounds that I believe are going to be helpful in my future endeavors.”
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
Mpozenzi: “I plan to work with a Fintech company as a software engineer.”
Q: Do you have any tips for future interns or students looking for internships?
Mpozenzi: “I would tell students looking for internships to stay proactive and seek support from the professional development team. Also, stay informed about your industry, and once you secure an internship, make the most of the experience by learning and networking.”
Q: How has your time at ACU prepared you for this internship, employment, or graduate school after graduation?
Mpozenzi: “The academic coursework at ACU has equipped me with a solid foundation of knowledge and problem-solving skills relevant to my field. ACU’s professional development services, including resume workshops and interview coaching, have also helped me refine my professional presentation. These resources have prepared me for this internship and laid the groundwork for my post-graduation plans.”
Q: What’s been your most memorable experience as a business or technology student at ACU?
Mpozenzi: “My favorite thing about being a technology student at ACU is the supportive faculty and the vibrant student community that has created an environment where I can collaborate and engage in meaningful discussions with peers. ACU’s commitment to fostering a strong community has enriched my academic experience.”
by M. C. Jennings | Oct 10, 2023 | Academics, Careers In..., COBA Faculty, College Decisions, Current Students, Marketing, Outcomes, Professional Development, Student Spotlights, Student Spotlights, Uncategorized
Written by special contributor, Lance Fleming
When most people go to Arkansas in the summer, it’s to take advantage of some of the great outdoor
activities offered by “The Natural State,” such as fishing, kayaking and canoeing, exploring lakes and rivers, hiking, mountain biking, and visiting national parks and nature centers for which the state is known.
But Bryanna Monteiro spent her summer as an intern for the state’s most visible business: Walmart. Instead of spending her days outside enjoying what Arkansas offers, she was working inside on networking and connectivity. Her work paid off, however, as the senior marketing major from Orlando, Florida, earned an offer and accepted a job with Walmart that will begin after she graduates from ACU.
We recently caught up with Monteiro to get a sense of her internship and how ACU prepared her for her work in the summer and beyond.
Q: What did you do in your internship?
Monteiro: “I was a merchandising intern in Department 72: Networking and Connectivity. I was given a project over the summer: content quality score acceleration within our department. At the end of the internship, I presented the project to leadership, where I talked about my strategy for what items to remove, move, and improve.”
Q: What was your favorite part of the internship?
Monteiro: “All the valuable experience it gave me because of all the incredible people I met, from other interns to people who work internally at Walmart and external people Walmart works with. I feel like I learned so much from getting to hear others’ experiences as well as the wisdom they were able to share with me.”
Q: What are the most significant lessons you learned in your internship?
Monteiro: “The importance of progress over perfection and focusing on opportunities and growth rather than just the challenges that may arise with things out of your control. There is always more to do, and moving forward even when things don’t go to plan is essential.”
Q: How do you see this experience aiding you in the future?
Monteiro: “This was truly the most incredible experience because I learned to be confident in my abilities and skills without being afraid to share my input. I met so many amazing people who supported me but also challenged and pushed me so that I would grow both personally and professionally.”
Q: Is this job leading to full-time employment with Walmart? If not, what are your plans after graduation?
Monteiro: “Yes, it is! I will be moving to Bentonville, Arkansas, post-graduation.”
Q: Do you have any tips for future interns or students looking for internships?
Monteiro: “Do an internship!! I cannot stress this enough. I don’t believe there is such a thing as looking back and regretting not having done more internships. Be yourself and know what you’re passionate about/what you are good at so you can find the right fit for you. Connect with your professors and anyone you meet; that will be important when looking for opportunities. Finally, ensure you intern at a company you see yourself working at or are open to because it could lead to future opportunities, and you won’t waste your time.”
Q: How has your time at ACU prepared you for this internship, employment, or graduate school after graduation?
Monteiro: “My time at ACU prepared me for this internship/future post-graduation job because I am an individual rather than just a number at this school. My professors have supported and encouraged me in every aspect: in class and when I was preparing to take on this internship. All my courses have equipped me with the skills necessary to succeed in my role. ACU provided me with all the additional resources I could use when preparing.”
Q: What’s been your most memorable experience as a business student at ACU?
Monteiro: “The application side of every class I have taken because it allowed me to take what I am learning and use it in scenarios I may encounter later. I love COBA’s community aspect in that all the professors want you to succeed and are the biggest support system in helping you achieve your goals.”
