Internship Reflections: Translating Classroom Learning into Corporate Strategy

This summer, I had the opportunity to join the corporate strategy team at Owens Corning Headquarters in Toledo, Ohio, where I worked on a challenging project aimed at growing market share and revenue for a key product. I worked alongside talented colleagues, learned from subject-matter experts in the company and beyond, and ultimately presented my recommendation to senior leadership. 

As I reflect on this internship experience and the journey that led me there, I am deeply grateful for the preparation and opportunities that the Full-Time MBA program provided. 

In the first week of our time at Ohio State, we were pushed to define our personal brand and to bring our authentic selves to the recruiting environment. Just a couple weeks later, the Office of Career Management (OCM) hosted a mock career fair, where I connected with Owens Corning and put those personal brand lessons into practice. I was fortunate to secure a summer position at Owens Corning by early October. 

Entering the corporate environment for the first time in mid-May was both exciting and intimidating, but I quickly found that I could lean on the skills I developed in my first year: handling ambiguity and defining complex problems, asking insightful questions, thinking strategically, using marketing frameworks, and applying economic theory in a practical business space. Not only did these skills help me to perform effectively in my role and deliver a final presentation and actionable recommendation, but they also gave me the confidence and freedom to bring a positive and authentic attitude into the workplace each day, making meaningful connections and taking full advantage of my time in Toledo.  

As the summer comes to a close and we kick off the new academic year, I’m excited to continue building my toolkit at Ohio State and feel empowered to take on the complex and exciting business challenges ahead.