My step project was an internship with the Cincinnati Reds baseball team as a part of their Sales Development Program. The program consisted of learning the foundational skills of sales for a professional sports organization. The day-to-day responsibilities included making outbound calls to fans as well as answering the inbound calls of fans that may have questions or be interested in purchasing tickets.

By working in sales, I had to become more confident in my abilities. Sales can be intimidating at first, especially since they can sometimes be unpredictable. However, through my project, I was able to better understand myself and my capabilities. I learned that my confidence and passion for sports is what will lead me to be successful. Even through the unpredictability of sales, the one factor that can remain constant is myself and my attitude.

My program with the Cincinnati Reds taught me that sales is about relationship building. Throughout my time in the program, I was able to speak to fans daily and share my excitement for the team with them. Even though revenue is a very important aspect of sales, I learned that a large part of my role as a Ticket Sales Consultant is to help fans find the best ticketing option for them. This relationship building comes through listening and knowing the product, but also being my true authentic self when engaging with the fans.

I found that when I was my true authentic self and tapped into my confidence, I was able to have the most success. One interaction I had with a fan was when they had called the inbound line with questions regarding their season ticket plan with the Reds. I helped them with a positive attitude and shared my contact information at the end of the call. I then was able to continue to build the relationship with them and be a resource throughout the season. Anytime they had an issue or question they felt comfortable enough to call and ask me directly. However, this relationship building of trust between myself and the fan, did not only come through talking about tickets. I was able to get to learn more about them as well as them learn about me. For example, they shared that they often come to games with the grandchildren, so we often talked about family.

To confidently help fans and build worthwhile relationships such as the one I just mentioned, I first had to better understand myself. I had to reflect on what makes me my true authentic self. When I approach others as my true authentic self, am I then able to be more confident and showcase my enthusiasm.

I will be able to carry the skills that I learned from my time with the Reds with me for the rest of my career. Not only did the program provide me with the knowledge and understanding to be successful in the sports industry, but it also helped me to grow as a person overall. I now understand that being my true authentic self is not only the key to success in sales, but the key to succeed in life.

For my STEP signature project, I did an internship with Arthur J. Gallagher Global Insurance Brokerage this summer. As a part of my internship, I got to learn more about the insurance industry, sales, and risk management consulting. I also got to network with seasoned professionals, go to Chicago for a week for an internship orientation and immerse myself in the industry. 

I think that my understanding of what I’m looking for in a job post-graduation is something that has significantly changed after completing my project. Previous to this internship, the insurance industry isn’t one that I heavily considered, neither was risk management or sales. Through this internship I was able to learn a lot more about the industry and I realized that it was a career path that I would be interested in pursuing post graduation even though I never would have before. Not only that, but through this internship I had a lot of exposure to all the industry practice groups and one that stood out to me was the non-profit space. This made me realize I had a lot more of a passion for working within a nonprofit than I’d realized I had.

In addition to learning more about what industries would interest me after graduation, I also learned a lot about what type of work environment and culture I want to be a part of, and I realized it was a big change from what I initially had thought. Everyone I know speaks highly of the consulting lifestyle and the big money that comes with it, but I realized that I want a different type of work life balance in my career. While I found consulting to be interesting, it definitely changed my view on whether or not I thought it could be something I wanted to do long term. 

One of the key aspects that led to what I mentioned above was the week-long intern orientation I attended at Gallagher’s headquarters in Chicago. During this week, I was able to attend breakout groups to learn more about the insurance industry as a whole, meet with professionals in the industry, and connect with nearly 500 other interns. Being able to immerse myself into this week-long conference was an amazing way for me to really learn more about what life after graduation in this career field would look like. The keynote speakers were all very open and candid about their successes, their failures, and what they want their future to look like.

In addition to the week-long orientation, the networking, job shadowing, and sales challenge I did as part of my internship was huge in learning more about what I want life to look like after I graduate and for learning about what I like and I don’t like. I was able to sit alongside so many people in the office and sit in on meetings and get a glimpse into what my day to day would look like post-graduation. 

For the sales challenge, we got to select an industry and go through the steps of running a first meeting. This was also a really cool experience to go through as I was able to have hands-on experience as a producer. Throughout the sales challenge and the internship itself I had the opportunity to network and connect with people across the country in other positions and industries. I was able to learn a lot of valuable information from them and helpful insight. 

This transformation and knowledge gained is super important to me as a senior as it has provided me some valuable insight on what I want to do and not want to do post graduation. Throughout college I’ve never had a defined and clear path that I would like to go down for my career and I was feeling very confused about my future. This project has given me the opportunity to gain important clarity on my future in regards to my career.

This past summer, I did an internship at KPMG in their Chicago office. I was offered a position to work as Tax Intern in their Business Tax Services particularly in the Asset Management group. I am truly grateful for the opportunity, the learning experience working in such a great firm alongside amazing people.

During my internship at KPMG as a Tax Intern, my perspective on professional growth and the importance of a supportive work culture underwent a significant transformation. The company’s deep commitment to investing in its people became evident through the continuous learning opportunities and mentorship I received. I witnessed firsthand how leadership at KPMG is not just about guiding teams but about nurturing talent and encouraging every individual to reach their full potential. The professionals and my fellow interns exemplified a collaborative spirit, where sharing knowledge and supporting one another was integral to our success. This experience reshaped my understanding of leadership as a collective effort, rooted in empathy and mutual respect.

The culture at KPMG also highlighted the importance of community within the workplace. I was surrounded by a network of mentors, peers, and colleagues who were genuinely invested in my development. This support group fostered a sense of belonging and motivated me to contribute meaningfully to the team. It was through these interactions that I realized the power of a strong, inclusive work environment in driving both personal and professional growth.

Several key experiences during my internship at KPMG played a pivotal role in reshaping my understanding of professional growth and the importance of a supportive work environment. One standout experience was the opportunity to engage with KPMG’s training center, Lakehouse. This state-of-the-art facility serves as more than just a learning center; it’s a hub where KPMG professionals from across the country come together to immerse themselves in the company culture, network with peers, and develop both personal and professional skills. This investment in a dedicated space for continuous learning and community-building underscored to me how much KPMG values its people, not just as employees, but as individuals whose growth and well-being are integral to the firm’s success.

KPMG’s commitment to fostering a sense of belonging was also evident through their Business Resource Groups (BRGs). These groups, such as the APIDA group, advocate for diversity and inclusion within the firm, ensuring that every employee feels supported and valued. Being part of an organization that actively promotes such initiatives made me realize the importance of a workplace that not only delivers exceptional services but also genuinely cares about its employees’ well-being and sense of belonging. This focus on inclusivity and support created an environment where I felt encouraged to thrive, both personally and professionally.

The relationships I built with the professionals and fellow interns during my time at KPMG further contributed to my positive experience. The professionals I worked with were incredibly supportive, always willing to answer my questions, provide constructive feedback, and guide me in my development. Their mentorship was invaluable, helping me to grow in my role and gain confidence in my abilities. Additionally, the camaraderie among the interns was a highlight of my summer. We worked together as a team, offering help and support to one another, even when tasks weren’t directly related to our individual responsibilities. This collaborative atmosphere made the internship not only a learning experience but also an enjoyable and memorable one.

Overall, my internship at KPMG was a very pleasant experience that left a lasting impact on my view of what makes a workplace truly great. The combination of professional development opportunities, a strong support system, and a genuine commitment to employee well-being made this internship transformative for me.

This transformation is significant because it aligns closely with my academic and professional aspirations in the field of accounting. Understanding the importance of a supportive and inclusive work environment has deepened my appreciation for the kind of company culture I want to be part of as I advance in my career. It has reinforced my belief that professional success is not only about technical skills but also about being in an environment that fosters growth, collaboration, and a sense of belonging.

As I continue my studies and work toward my CPA, the lessons I learned at KPMG will guide me in seeking out and contributing to workplaces that prioritize both excellence and employee well-being. This experience has shaped my vision of the kind of professional I aspire to be—one who not only delivers high-quality work but also supports and uplifts those around me. This change will undoubtedly influence my career choices and how I approach my future roles in the accounting profession.

Over the 12-week internship, I was able to grow my professional network as well as create and strengthen relationships with my coworkers at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. The work I completed entailed ensuring the company’s account with the online retailer, Amazon, was efficient and effective so the company could own its place on the platform, ultimately driving sales. A few projects I worked on were completing analyses on the Amazon site from the company’s products, finding opportunities to improve the business such as bundling items that would increase revenue, and exploring the creative side of marketing and advertisement.

Many aspects of my internship led to a change in my understanding of myself, my assumptions of the world around me, and my overall view of life. There are many topics I could go on and on about, but for the sake of brevity, I will keep it to 2 main topics. The first change I saw was in my view on the assumption of staying at a job for the rest of my life and feeling that obligation to stay. I used to think that once you got a job out of college, you should stay there until retirement. After this experience, I was able to see how many other successful professionals had experience in different companies and different positions. It was that expansive experience that allowed them to flourish.

The second thing I learned was that you can make of the world what you want it to be. There were so many growth opportunities during the summer, whether it was from learning to navigate a professional space or navigating the everyday responsibilities from living on my own for the first time. I was able to see how hard I have to work to get to the place I eventually want to be. I also learned that if someone doesn’t want to ‘work hard’, you can do that as well. You are only going to be given what you put into something, kind of a ‘reap what you sow’ idea. Overall, however, I believe this internship experience has allowed me to grow and understand a little bit more about this world before us.

After the completion of my internship, I realized there were a few key pieces or aspects that prompted this change. I want to mention four specific experiences that stood out to me and ultimately added to my overall transformation. The first experience I will talk about is whenever I was able to participate in company events that were after work hours. These events included a volleyball tournament comprised of players from the marketing silo, a baseball game outing to see the Columbus Clippers, and a team picnic for the marketing interns. Each of these instances allowed me to get to know the other interns and the other marketing team members outside of their daily work tasks. It allowed me to see what they were really passionate about, and what they made of the world.

The second experience that had an impact on my transformation was the marketing all-hands meeting at the end of the internship at the Scotts Miracle-Gro company. This was such a cool experience to witness and be a part of. I thought this was interesting because it allowed me to learn more about what the team did over the past fiscal year. It allowed me to realize just how expansive the marketing hand’s reach is in the company, and what their goals were going forward. This meeting showed me the importance of reviewing where you are at, not only in a technical sense in the professional world, but in a more personal sense in my own life too.

The third instance that impacted me greatly were the one-on-one meetings I had with my manager on an almost daily basis, as well as meetings with other coworkers throughout the duration of my time at the Scotts Miracle-Gro company. These meetings allowed me to see the different parts of the whole, so to speak, working together to reach a unified goal. It was awesome to see, too, how everyone came from different backgrounds, and how they came to be in the position they are in now. This reemphasized my new stance on the assumption of staying in a role for most of your life because many people I met with did not take that route in their lives. This was very reassuring to me to see others who are succeeding in their careers having experience in different roles throughout their lifetime.

The fourth, and final, experience for this project that made a significant impact on me was building a relationship with the other Shopper marketing intern who I worked closely with during the summer. We were able to work on multiple projects together, bouncing ideas off of each other and gaining feedback in areas that could use improvement. This relationship allowed me to grow professionally because I never had that opportunity before. I also never really understood the importance of building those relationships until this point. Both myself and the other intern were able to accomplish some really great things like analyses for the company’s brands on the Amazon platform.

When I think about the overall impact this internship experience had on my personal transformation and the value it added to my life, I cannot imagine my life beforehand. Through this time, I felt like I was able to learn more about myself and how I like to plan my daily tasks in addition to how I work in a professional setting. I also learned the importance of relationships; not only to create them, but to maintain them. A few other things I learned from this time was how the corporate world runs, the importance of being actively engaged in any conversation or meeting, and what I personally want in life and how I want to make an impact in the lives of those around me.

Pictured here are some of the Scotts Miracle-Gro interns at the beginning of the summer. I am pictured in the first row, furthest to the right.
Continue reading The Scotts Miracle-Gro Summer Internship Experience →

Over the past summer, I completed a ten-week internship at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center as a Buckeye Diversity Summer Intern. This experience provided me with an in-depth look at the inner workings of a hospital and the opportunity to explore various healthcare roles. It allowed me to gain valuable insights into the medical field and helped me further assess my aspiration to become a physician.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve aspired to become a physician. However, at the core of this desire is my passion for helping others, and I recognize that there are many ways to make a meaningful impact in healthcare beyond being a doctor. During my internship, I had the chance to shadow a wide range of clinical healthcare professionals, including nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, nurse practitioners, case managers, psychologists, and pharmacists, among others.

This diverse shadowing experience provided me with a comprehensive understanding of each role and its specific scope of practice. It was incredibly valuable in helping me recognize why these professions aren’t the right fit for me and solidified my commitment to pursuing a career as a physician. Additionally, it deepened my appreciation for the collaborative nature of interdisciplinary care and the essential contributions of each discipline.

I also had the chance to interact with individuals in non-clinical roles, which was an eye-opening experience, as I had never considered these positions before. Learning about the extensive behind-the-scenes efforts required to keep a hospital running was both surprising and fascinating, especially seeing how detail-oriented and multifaceted these operations are.

Furthermore, I enjoyed speaking with clinical staff members who also held leadership or operational roles within the medical center. Witnessing this kind of duality was intriguing, as I hadn’t realized it was possible to blend clinical expertise with operational leadership. This insight was exciting because it showed me the potential to balance both clinical practice and operational involvement in my future career.

This experience has reaffirmed my commitment to becoming a physician, and I am determined not to let any obstacles deter me from this path. I’ve come to realize that my personality and strengths are best suited for the role of a physician, where I can take on leadership and decision-making responsibilities. This self-awareness, cultivated throughout my college journey, has solidified my determination to pursue a career in medicine.

This is a picture of me with my three mentors: —Laura Stillion, Amanda Lucas, and Olivia Vance.

For eleven weeks, I worked as a buying intern in Los Angeles, California, for The TJX Companies in their Pet Department. I participated in vendor appointments, business analysis, and extracting key information from the data systems. Additionally, I analyzed a leading pet vendor and their performance within the company stores for my independent project.

Throughout this time, I developed as a working professional within the buying career. I began my internship with limited knowledge about the buying process and career responsibilities. I learned about the data systems utilized, different approaches to the buying process, and the importance of buyer/vendor relationships. This experience shifted and expanded my understanding of what it means to be a buyer. Prior to this internship, I had a high-level view of the role, with the idea that buying was simply purchasing products from vendors. However, I quickly discovered that the role of a buyer is much more complex and strategic.

As I participated in training and meetings, I gained insight into the many aspects of buying and its connection to other sections of the company. I visited many of our stores, competition stores, home office, and distribution centers. In my day-to-day tasks, I learned how to utilize pivot tables and databases to extract the information specific to the task I was working on. Through participation in vendor meetings, I learned the importance of maintaining positive, strong relationships with vendors. Communication between buyer and vendor is key and can be a delicate process to preserve the relationship through negotiation. 

During my STEP Signature Project, the immersive experience of working closely with an experienced buyer at TJX was pivotal in shaping my professional growth. I was assigned to a buyer who has been with The TJX Companies for sixteen years. Through my time with her, she shared much of her industry knowledge and career advice that significantly influenced my understanding of the buying career path. Shadowing her allowed me to experience all stages of the buying process, from planning for seasonal trends to negotiating with vendors, and closing the final order. This involvement in daily meetings and decision-making processes allowed me to learn each aspect of buying and become comfortable with the job requirements.

The variety of activities I participated in during this internship further expanded my knowledge. Attending vendor appointments, participating in in-store visits, and conducting competition shopping offered a complete view of the buying career path at TJX. These activities allowed me to see how various elements of the overall business connect and how decisions are made in response to trends and customer behavior.

The weekly training sessions and the opportunity to travel to the home office in Framingham, Massachusetts, were key opportunities to experience the work environment at TJX. The training activities provided valuable insights into different teams within the company, such as logistics and planning and allocation. The visit to the home office allowed me to interact with the East Coast team and collaborate with them in regard to specific vendors and products. The exposure to the home office allowed me to fully understand the TJX company culture and environment.

These experiences contributed to a significant transformation in my professional outlook, specifically in regard to the buying career. The combination of direct mentorship, training activities, and exposure to various sections of the business expanded my understanding of the industry and my potential career path. The skills and industry insights gained through this project have been very insightful as I plan my next steps into the retail industry.

This change is significant to my life because the internship provided me with a complete understanding of the buying profession and the company culture at TJX. Working as an intern allowed me to develop important hard skills such as market analysis, vendor negotiation, and inventory management, while also refining my soft skills in communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. These skills are not only important for a career at TJX but are useful across various careers, making me more knowledgeable and competitive in the job market.

Finally, the opportunity to build connections with industry professionals and peers has proven invaluable. These relationships have provided me with insights and guidance that will be key as I navigate my career path. The connections I’ve established could lead to future collaboration, mentorship, and potential job offers. This experience has assisted with reaching my academic and professional goals, as it has provided new knowledge about my career aspirations and provided me with the skills necessary to potentially pursue a successful career in buying.

Here I am presenting my final analysis of a vendor to the California Buying Office. (Please note that company data has been removed from the image)

Kobie Parrish, lower middle, pictured with other interns at iTech AG.

By: Kobie Parrish
Dual Degree in Public Affairs and Strategic Communication
Minor in Science and Engineering in the Public Interest (SEPI)

During the summer semester of 2024, I participated in a marketing and communications internship at iTech AG, a tech consultancy firm in Arlington, Virginia. Throughout the internship, I focused on social media development, blog and copywriting and conducting competitor analyses to strengthen the iTech AG brand. 

This was my first dedicated marketing and communications internship, and I learned a lot about the processes used to brainstorm, execute and monitor marketing campaigns for a specific industry. I learned what it means to keep brand guidelines, mission statements and values in my work as I designed, wrote, and generated material for iTech AG. I worked alongside my team and was an active member of the process. I helped bring new ideas to the table, like a social media plan for their Instagram and found topics to write about for their website blog section. Working on these various deliverables made me feel more confident about my ability to work in public relations and communications, confirming my desire to pursue a career in this industry. 

Alongside strengthening my communication and PR skills, I learned what it meant to work in a company that is a government contractor as iTech AG provided technology services to federal agencies and departments. I worked alongside other employees and interns on very high-level technical projects. I learned what it means to be in tech consulting and what processes are used in client work to help service implementation. This included learning about a popular software service called ServiceNow, a leading service that supports clients with IT service management and various other IT aspects. I learned a great deal of technical information, including work process terms like agile, sprints, scrum teams and more, which are all used depending on the type of consulting. While I am a PR-orientated individual, I can work in the tech consultancy industry, know what kind of work is done and apply it to my PR work for a tech consultancy firm. 

When I was accepted as an intern at iTech AG, I was the company’s first marketing and communications intern. That allowed me to have a unique experience where I could also shape the role and work on various projects that interested me. One project I worked on included a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis. This project took me a week to work on and had me focus on the iTech AG brand and six of its other major competitors. I applied processes I had learned from my strategic communication courses at Ohio State to this project and found several interesting things in my research. Afterward, I was able to organize my research and spent roughly 40 minutes presenting it to the marketing team. Our marketing team was very impressed, and our marketing director even said that my research and presentation were more in-depth and extensive than what they had seen other PR firms do. This strengthened my confidence in my ability to work in this industry, confirming that this is the type of work that I want to do post-graduation. 

Alongside the SWOT analysis, a notable skill I acquired was the ability to translate high-level, complex technical information into social media copy that could be understood by both clients and the general public. The client teams at iTech AG wanted the marketing team to promote various aspects of the work done for clients. Those teams provided us with documents highlighting the high-level work done. As someone like me who has never worked in the tech consulting industry, I had to learn the specific terms and processes and how they could be communicated in an understandable way to general audiences. This was a notable experience because it gave me valuable knowledge of the tech consulting industry. It made me realize that, as PR individuals, we are essentially “translators” for different industries and audiences. 

Lastly, working with my team was a notable experience in that I now know what to look for when applying for jobs. Our team consisted of about five unique individuals, all focusing on various marketing and communication aspects that strengthened the iTech AG brand together. They supported me as an intern and treated me with respect while giving me comprehensive and engaging work. My manager would meet with me at the beginning of each week to discuss what projects I would be working on and meet periodically to review completed items. The marketing team overall gave me great constructive feedback that allowed me to learn and grow as an individual in the field. We also all got to know each other personally, sharing details of our lives outside of work that made us feel more like a team rather than drones going on about their work. They all supported me, and I was happy to be viewed as one of their team members. Together, this has given me something to look for when looking for jobs down the road, as I want to ensure that I find a team that supports me and is genuinely interested in me as an individual. 

This experience has been transformative for me as it was the first time my work as an intern was entirely focused on the communications field. Since enrolling as a student at Ohio State, I have been able to apply the knowledge and lessons learned in courses in the work that I was doing. It confirmed that the time I am spending in my courses is worthwhile and that it is preparing me for a successful career in communications and public relations work. It gave me something to look for after graduation, and I have found a work style that suits my interests. I was a part of a team that cared about and respected me as an individual. I now want to work for a place like iTech AG that is supportive and allows me to explore various innovative topics that can strengthen the brand I am working with. Professionally, I am now more equipped to work in this industry and bring my experiences to other roles that I will be in.

I have already accepted another marketing and communications internship at the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) for the fall and spring semesters. I am already applying the lessons I learned from this summer’s internship experience to the work I am doing now. As time goes on, I expect this summer’s experience to continue to impact my decisions positively and will continue to build on my knowledge in this industry overall. Completing this internship, thanks to the support of organizations like STEP, allowed me to pursue my interests and gain a remarkable, transformative experience that will support me for years to come. 

For my STEP Signature Project, I had an engineering internship with the Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Waters. I began my full-time internship position on May 20th and am continuing to work part time during the school year. My main responsibilities involve reviewing plans for water treatment plant system upgrades.

While completing my STEP Signature Project, I gained a much deeper understanding of how drinking water is treated and what it means to work for the government. Before this internship, my knowledge of drinking water plants and the distribution system was limited to what I had learned in class. During my internship, I had hands-on experience working with drinking water plant plans, water quality data, and went on numerous site visits. Through this experience I have a much deeper understanding of the various stages of the water treatment train.

My internship with the EPA also exposed me to the inner workings of a government agency. One of my main roles during my internship was to review plans for water treatment plant proposed upgrades with a focus on ensuring that the plans complied with state policies. This experience showed me the impact that working in the public sector has on communities and the importance of regulatory standards to protect public health and safety.

One of the most transformative experiences during my STEP Signature Project was attending site visits to multiple water treatment plants across Ohio. These tours provided me with a firsthand look at the different processes and equipment in operation which significantly deepened my understanding of drinking water treatment. I found that this experience was also valuable when it came to my work reviewing plans. I am now able to better visualize and understand the layouts of the engineering drawings.

These tours also highlighted the diversity among water treatment plants across different regions of Ohio. It was interesting to see the differences in methods and processes used based on the whether the primary water source for the plant was surface water or groundwater. It was also fascinating to see how each plant differed based on the unique needs of the community whether it was varying water quality, resource availability, or the population size. This experience not only deepened my technical knowledge from classes, but also further showed me how important engineering is in protecting public and ecological health.

Another important aspect of my internship was the relationships with my supervisor and the engineers on my team. Everyone in my division was super knowledgeable about the field and their willingness to mentor me bettered my understanding of water treatment. I also had the opportunity to sit in on meetings where the team was making alterations to state regulatory standards. Their attention to detail emphasized the importance of the government’s role in protecting public health and has interested me to pursue a future career in the public sector.

This transformation is significant because it has confirmed my decision to study environmental engineering. Seeing firsthand the impact that engineering can have on public health and safety has solidfied my commitment to pursuing a career in engineering. This experience has also helped to shape my career goals because it sparked an interest in working within the public sector after graduation. Not only have I gained a better understanding of the water treatment processes and the regulatory standards, but I strengthen my technical skills necessary for my future career.