Business students gain experience via summer internships

This summer, dozens of students from the College of Business at Eastern gained professional experience through a myriad of internships. Each student exercised various professional skills they learned at Eastern and applied them on-site.

Junior finance major Ellis Thompson interned as an executive team leader in service and engagement at Target. Thompson explained that he gained valuable experience in leadership, operations management, and performance analysis within his role. 

“I have learned how to lead a large team, analyze key business metrics, and adapt strategies to improve results in real time,” said Thompson.  

A former member of Eastern’s men’s track and field team, Thompson brought an understanding of organizational collaboration and accountability to his internship. “Eastern has prepared me for this role by strengthening my communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills through both academics and athletics,” he said. 

Thompson continued: “My involvement on campus and in sports has taught me how to work effectively in a team environment, stay disciplined, and lead under pressure, skills that have directly translated to my internship experience.” 

Senior business administration major Danna Guerrero worked as a digital marketing intern with Italimport Inc., an Italian food distribution company. Guerrero explained that her role involved working with different departments in the company as well as taking on side projects wherever she was needed. 

“I worked alongside the marketing and development lead, as well as the accounting department, for all inquiries regarding company information,” said Guerrero.  

Having worked at Eastern’s Office of Career Services prior to the internship, Guerrero felt more prepared to handle her interview as well as key interactions within the organization. 

“Eastern helped me set a good foundation for this role (when) going through the interview process,” she said. “I had an advantage from working at the Office of Career Services, so I felt confident speaking with employers.” 

Senior business administration major Britany Antonio served in CVS Health’s corporate management internship program. According to her, the 10-week internship involved a lot of networking and culminated in a final presentation where each intern talked about their career journey and their ideas on how to innovate healthcare. 

“I was placed in utilization management working out of the Aetna headquarters in Hartford, which Eastern prepared me for by allowing me to step out of my comfort zone,” said Antonio. “I had opportunities to network with great leaders and other interns.”  

Antonio’s internship at CVS Health will lead her directly to employment after she graduates: “I'm grateful to say I will return to the company full time once I graduate in a three-year rotational program.”

Junior finance major Ben Stewart was an accounting intern at Porsche of Fairfield. He explained that the role has sharpened his attention to detail and helped him understand how financial operations support business decision-making. 

“I’ve had the opportunity to assist with key financial processes, particularly account reconciliations, which are crucial for maintaining accurate financial records,” he said. “Eastern has played a significant role in preparing me for this internship — the coursework in accounting and finance provided a strong foundation, and my professors emphasized both technical skills and critical thinking, which I apply every day in the workplace.” 

Senior business administration major Andrew Miclette completed an internship at ZAG Interactive, a web designer for banks and credit unions that specializes in making interfaces that disabled people can navigate more easily.  

Working at ZAG was a family affair for Miclette and afforded him the opportunity to apply the critical thinking skills he developed at Eastern to make the best of his available resources. 

“My dad had started the company, it got to a decent size, and (he then) retired,” said Miclette. “I did have to apply formally, but I thankfully got the job as it was something I’d wanted to do since I was younger. 

“Eastern prepared me for the role in a few ways; I was working with another intern, and we were sort of on our own, so I definitely used critical thinking to pull different resources together in order to complete projects.”

Senior business administration major Sydney Dietz interned as a floor supervisor at Longmeadow Country Club in Massachusetts. She credited business administration Professor Craig Erwin with supplying her with the necessary skills to take on this role — specifically, how to communicate and listen impactfully within the organization. 

“Professor Erwin focused heavily on teaching us about boosting morale as a whole, and I took it upon myself to have that be my main focus during this internship, and to be the facilitator for that between the staff and upper management,” she said. “Working in a restaurant can definitely take a toll on a person, and I think that having a listening ear to vent to has been really helpful for our staff.”