ChemArt Blog

I love to work with interns.  They are young – a good thing; they are inquisitive – another good thing: they are anxious to please, eager to express a perspective, and always looking to network.  After all, after the educating is over, what’s next? 

I find that marketing is always looking for something new, something different, and some other way to look at ourselves in the marketplace.  The dynamics of marketing are sometimes a whirlwind.  And when you are limited by resources, you have to get creative.  An internship program gives you that little edge to be just that.  

One of the most rewarding undertakings has been our internship program.  Last year, we devised a plan to work more closely with the undergraduate school at Bryant University through the International Business Department.  Headed by Dr. Madan Annavarjula and supported by Gerry Cohen from the Chaffee Center for International Business, we developed a plan to support a group of students in the first International Business Practicum.  The practicum focused on the needs and challenges of 8 companies.  The students worked as teams to address the problems, research the issue, and propose a solution. 

The goal for our team was to research the Hispanic Market.  We already had done research internally, it was now time to get an external perspective, and what better way than to work with the IB students.  The team consisted of 3 senior members of the business class.   All were bright, articulate, well grounded.  For 8 weeks, the students dedicated 12 hours a week to the project.  Because of their cultural backgrounds and/or affinity for the Hispanic culture, the team was well suited to the task. 

As the project came to a close, I required the team present their findings to the Sales and Marketing team, as well as the Senior Management team at ChemArt.  While we could provide the scope of work, guide and challenge the students, I believe it is also my job to give them skills they can use in real life.  Once in the workplace, these young professionals will need to have communications skills, be able to make a presentation, expect to be challenged and defend their data.  How many students get the opportunity to speak to a room full of senior staff member, mangers, and the CEO of a company?  The students loved the idea and were well prepared for the challenge.  We presented the team with individual certificates of appreciation. 

And now for the rest of the story!   The 8 teams presented their projects outlining the scope of work and presenting their findings to a juried group of business leaders and academics.  The ChemArt team – Ruth Fuerte, Pedro Piquer, and Breanne Ricketts – won the competition.  We were surprised and delighted by the outcome.  The team was able to connect the dots, understand the heart of what was needed, and even came to the table with new and creative suggestions which we are currently reviewing.  The findings validated much of the internal work, and we are now working on the tactical approach to marketing to this diverse and growing market.  

The experience was so valuable for all parties; we plan on working on a new project in 2010 with a new group of IB students.