This summer, students from the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics discovered new avenues for professional preparation and practical hands-on experience. Lerner College students pursued an array of internships, externships and other professional development opportunities. From MBA scholars to undergraduates entering their second year at UD, students across a spectrum of Lerner programs shared their experiences accomplishing an assortment of projects.
Our “My Summer Internship” series highlights these unique experiences, showcasing how students translated classroom knowledge into real-world success.
Emma Morandi, Class of 2027, public relations MBA student who graduated from UD this spring with a degree in hospitality and event management, spent her summer as an event & conference service intern at Goldman Sachs/Rapport.
Lerner: How did you find out about this internship? Why did you pursue it?
Morandi: I found the Goldman Sachs internship through LinkedIn while searching for opportunities in hospitality and events. I decided to pursue it because I wanted to challenge myself by applying for a highly competitive internship and gaining experience in a fast-paced corporate environment. I knew the opportunity would push me outside of my comfort zone and allow me to learn from experienced professionals while strengthening my event planning, hospitality and communication skills. I was especially interested in gaining exposure to large-scale corporate events and seeing how hospitality and guest experience are approached within a company like Goldman Sachs.
Lerner: What was the most exciting task or project that you completed?
Morandi: The most exciting project I worked on during my internship was supporting the SpaceX IPO launch activation for Goldman Sachs employees, followed by a private event for the SpaceX team. I helped with event operations, guest experience, registration, logistics and on-site execution for a large-scale activation with more than 1,000 attendees. What made the experience especially exciting was seeing how much coordination goes into executing a high-profile corporate event and then transitioning into a more private, tailored experience for the SpaceX team. It gave me the opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment, problem-solve in real time, and see how event strategy and hospitality come together to create different experiences for different audiences.
Lerner: What did you learn from the internship that you think you wouldn’t have learned elsewhere?
Morandi: Something I learned during my internship that I do not think I would have learned at another job was how events operate within such a large corporate environment. At Goldman Sachs, I was exposed to a much higher level of coordination, professionalism, confidentiality and attention to detail than I had experienced in previous event roles. I saw how many different teams can be involved in a single event and how important it is to communicate clearly while still moving quickly. I also learned how to adapt to extremely high expectations and a fast pace without letting the guest experience suffer. That experience gave me a much stronger understanding of what is required to execute corporate events at a very high level.
Lerner: What is an example of a time where you were able to apply what you’ve learned at Lerner to your role?
Morandi: One of the biggest ways I was able to apply what I learned at Lerner was through my experience in Vita Nova and my event planning courses. Vita Nova gave me hands-on experience with hospitality, guest service, attention to detail and working efficiently in a fast-paced environment. My event planning classes also taught me how to build timelines, coordinate logistics, communicate with different teams, anticipate challenges and always have a backup plan. During my internship at Goldman Sachs, I found myself using those skills constantly when supporting meetings, activations and large-scale events. I felt much more prepared going into the internship because I had already practiced many of the same skills in the classroom and through hands-on experiences at Lerner.
Lerner: Did you face any challenges during your internship? If so, what was the issue and how did you overcome it?
Morandi: One of the biggest challenges during my internship was adjusting to the long hours and high expectations of working in such a fast-paced environment. The standard of work was very high, and there were times when I had to stay focused and organized through long days while still making sure every detail was handled correctly. I overcame this by becoming more intentional with my time management, prioritizing tasks, asking questions when needed and staying calm when plans changed. Over time, I became more confident working under pressure and learned how important it is to maintain a high level of professionalism even during demanding situations.
Lerner: What are your career plans, and how do you think the internship will push you closer to your professional goals?
Morandi: My career goal is to continue working in event planning, especially in corporate events and experiential marketing. This internship pushed me closer to that goal by giving me hands-on experience with large-scale corporate events, executive meetings, guest experience, logistics and day-of execution. It also showed me what event planning looks like in a high-pressure professional environment and helped me become more confident working with different teams and managing many details at once. The experience confirmed that event planning is the career path I want to pursue and gave me skills that I know I will continue to use in future roles.