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.
Savannah McLaughlin, Class of 2027, marketing and operations management double major, spent her summer as an area manager intern at Amazon.
Lerner: How did you find out about this internship? Why did you pursue it?
McLaughlin: I found out about it through LinkedIn. I got a message from a recruiter encouraging me to apply, so I looked into it and filled out an application. I pursued it because I felt like it aligned with my major of Operations Management.
Lerner: What was the most exciting task or project that you completed?
McLaughlin: The most exciting project I completed was my intern project of creating a virtual staffing board. My assignment was to observe the warehouse operations and identify a problem and implement a solution. I noticed an inefficiency issue, as there didn’t seem to be proper staffing, causing the warehouse to not reach its daily data goals. I came up with a solution to this by consolidating all the staffing variables into an AI-powered staffing board. This was exciting because I had free rein to choose what my project was going to focus on.
Lerner: What did you learn from the internship that you think you wouldn’t have learned elsewhere?
McLaughlin: I learned about the specific operations of a warehouse and how there are many moving parts that all work together. With Amazon specifically, I learned about how a management position in a warehouse isn’t only about reaching data goals and ensuring trucks are loaded on time, but it also involves navigating the associates’ personnel issues and helping to implement a positive work environment. This was a very valuable learning experience, as it showed me the importance of analyzing data to solve problems, as well as how to navigate being responsible for many people. Overall, it taught me how to be a well-rounded leader.
Lerner: What is an example of a time where you were able to apply what you’ve learned at Lerner to your role?
McLaughlin: A time when I was able to apply what I’ve learned at Lerner in my role is when I was tasked to analyze data, I referenced information I had learned in my Management Information Systems classes to help me dissect data and use Excel.
Lerner: Did you face any challenges during your internship? If so, what was the issue and how did you overcome it?
McLaughlin: A challenge I faced was coming up with an idea for my project. After a few weeks of shadowing my manager and observing the warehouse operations, I was stumped on what issue my project should tackle. So, rather than continuing to shadow my manager, I took a different approach of gathering associate feedback. They shared how they felt like they weren’t being properly staffed, and that is what inspired me to create a virtual staffing board.
Lerner: What are your career plans, and how do you think the internship will push you closer to your professional goals?
McLaughlin: My goal is to work in marketing and operations in a large company. This internship will push me closer to my career goals, as it gave me experience and connections within a large company, and taught me lessons that I will carry throughout my career.