Internships are a key component of the exceptional student experience that the Harbert
College of Business promises its students and national survey data suggests that they
lead to more job offers and higher starting salaries for recent graduates.
“Internships are one of the best predictors of career success for our students. At
Harbert, we’ve watched students grow in their professional confidence, develop essential
skills, and build lasting connections, all through the power of real-world experience.”
Mandy Devereux, executive director of career and employer initiatives
This past summer, scores of Harbert students completed internships. Seven of them
share their internship experiences working for companies and organizations in the
airline, health care, retail, financial services and non-profit sectors. They also
provide advice to their classmates about how to secure and excel in an internship.
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Michael Bridges, finance senior
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Michael Bridges - Financial planning and analysis summer analyst, Delta Air Lines
in Atlanta, GA
About the internship
Michael Bridges analyzed capital expenditures—each more than $30,000—made by different
Delta divisions that are responsible for facilities, such as sky clubs or employee
breakrooms, and ground equipment, such as baggage loaders and trucks. He compared
the year-over-year spending and created a presentation for the VP of financial planning
on what benefits were derived from the spend, and how best to allocate that money
in the future.
From classroom to real world
Bridges said the Excel training and understanding of financial concepts he learned
in Harbert classes helped him feel “on par” with other team members. “I was able to
understand our earnings report and keep up in meetings, however the airline industry
is extremely niche, and nothing really can prepare you for that.”
Advancing my career goals
Although Bridges doesn’t plan to pursue a career in corporate finance, he said the
internship allowed him to learn how a fortune 100 company operates internally.
“[The internship] gave me a good perspective and trained me to think from an analytical
perspective on what operational reliability means. How to plan for a company as large
as Delta, especially with all the tariff noise and geopolitical headwinds in the first
part of this year, was an interesting and rewarding [experience].”
Bridges added that he learned the most from meetings where executives discussed important
topics such as cash requests from different divisions, earnings’ expectations and
investment strategies.
Advice for younger Harbert students
Bridges, who parlayed a chance encounter with a retired Delta employee into an interview
for his highly competitive internship, encourages students to network and offered
to connect any interested students with his contacts at Delta.
“Employers love college students who can connect the dots from coursework to real
word. Reach out to someone on LinkedIn in your desired career path—or even a career
you may think you aren’t interested in—once a week. Your connections will take you
far, and you will learn what a day to day at their career is like.”
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Kylah Hosman, accounting senior
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Kylah Hosman - Fiscal services intern, Boys & Girls Club of America in Atlanta, GA
About the internship
Kylah Hosman worked with the State Alliances team, which performs accounting duties
for 43 of the 47 Boys & Girls Clubs state alliances. She primarily entered transactions
and receipts to complete bank reconciliations, edited Form 990s, and worked on audit
requests. This is her second internship in the non-profit sector. Earlier she interned
with Our House, a faith-based ministry in Auburn, where she gained valuable administration
and community engagement experience.
From classroom to real world
“My professors at Auburn created a foundation for what it means to work in a professional
environment. Whether it was completing bank reconciliations in class, learning how
to dress properly in a professional setting, or asking productive questions, the Harbert
College of Business has set me up for success in the workplace.”
Advancing my career goals
Hosman plans to combine her passion for helping others with her accounting education.
“My internship with BGCA is actively teaching me how to pursue both these passions.
I'm discovering how my work has purpose and learning the technical skills needed to
advance a mission I'm passionate about, which is exactly what I plan to do in a future
career.”
What I’ve learned
Hosman’s internship was hybrid, working two days in the office and three days remotely.
“I really value my time in the office. I find so much joy being in the office, interacting
with people whom I can learn from.”
Advice for younger Harbert students
“Internships are the best way to discover what you do and don’t want in your future
career. Try as many different internships as possible, because you will always walk
away a better worker and will have learned more about your preferences for a career
once you graduate.”
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Lily Johnston, management senior
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Lily Johnston - Human resources intern, Encompass Health in Birmingham, AL
About the internship
Lily Johnston contributed to multiple HR-operations projects at Encompass Health,
which provides inpatient rehabilitation services at nearly 170 hospitals nationwide.
For example, she helped migrate data from multiple software platforms to a new system,
reviewed hospital employee procedures and learned about employee hiring topics.
From classroom to real world
As part of her management major, Johnston earned Microsoft Excel expert certification,
which she has utilized extensively, along with classroom knowledge about HR practices
and laws. Harbert student organizations have also proven helpful.
“Being a part of the Society for Human Resource Management, Women in Business and
Sigma Iota Epsilon (the management honor society) gave me the professional skills
to network and communicate with co-workers, managers and executives.”
Advancing my career goals
“HR is a very people-oriented field, so gaining this work experience on the job does
advance my career goals. I’m learning from co-workers who work in the field every
day and they’ve provided me with excellent insight and knowledge. I’ve been able to
learn a technical side to HR that I hadn’t been exposed to before.”
What I’ve learned
The week Johnston spent shadowing employee relations co-workers was quite impactful.
“It furthered my interest in guiding others through their employment journey. While
I can handle doing the Excel work and being in front of a computer screen, I love
the personal interactions. I would love to interview people and tell them they’re
hired.”
Advice for younger Harbert students
Johnston encourages students to take advantage of Harbert resources, including the
program champions—seasoned industry professionals in each department who advise student organizations and coach Harbert students on getting internships,
among other duties. “Many universities do not have this resource. Program champions
are here to build your connections with industry and help you obtain internships and
full-time careers.”
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Reese Pezent, supply chain management senior
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Reese Pezent - Distribution intern, Ulta Beauty in Greer, SC
About the internship
Reese Pezent helped support Ulta Beauty’s operations by focusing on the picking process
for both retail replenishment and e-commerce orders.
“I worked closely with our team to monitor and improve the performance of our Locus
Robotics system—autonomous robots that assist in the efficient picking and movement
of product throughout the distribution center. By leveraging Ulta’s proprietary supply
chain software, I tracked productivity, identified bottlenecks, and helped implement
process improvements that enhance both speed and accuracy in order fulfillment.”
She also traveled to Ulta’s Chicago-area corporate headquarters, where she collaborated
with cross-functional teams and gained valuable insight into how technology, people,
and process come together to deliver an exceptional customer experience.
From classroom to real world
Pezent said she has applied skills from her management, distribution and transportation
courses, but has found building professional relationships with management and associates
to be invaluable.
“Being intentional about learning from the people around me has taken me farther than
any set of numbers ever could. Understanding the people behind the business has been
the key to unlocking even deeper learning and growth.”
What I’ve learned
“Being an analytical thinker is a strength, but being an empathetic boss gets you
a lot further.”
Advice for younger Harbert students
“Don’t be afraid to apply to Fortune 500 companies—but also remember, culture fit
matters just as much as the name on the door. Some of the smaller companies I interviewed
with stood out way more than the big names because they aligned better with my values.
And don’t hesitate to reach out to older students for interview tips because most
of us have been through more interviews than we’d like to admit, and we’ve picked
up a few tricks along the way.”
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Brendan Roberts, finance senior
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Brendan Roberts - Finance program intern, Pilot Company in Houston, TX
About the internship
Brendan Roberts supported the Pilot Company’s Commercial Credit team by analyzing
and reviewing credit limits, financial statements, and modeling Excel scorecards.
He also worked on improving internal processes related to the company’s scorecards.
From classroom to real world
Roberts said he has applied knowledge from financial modeling, financial markets,
advanced business finance, risk management and accounting courses. “The skills I learned
over the past three years from my Harbert education have helped me excel in my role.”
He’s also grateful for the mentorship and welcoming culture at Pilot. “Every supervisor
and analyst I encountered wanted to teach and help me progress professionally. This
experience has truly broadened my understanding of finance in the real world and how
important it is to work for a company with similar values to the Auburn Creed—'I believe
in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my
hands to work skillfully.’”
Advancing my career goals
The internship has given Roberts a jumpstart on his professional career.
“I’m interested in corporate finance and energy markets, so working at the intersection
of both has been an ideal experience. It has given me exposure to the complexities
of credit risk in a high-stakes industry.”
Advice for younger Harbert students
Roberts encourages students to start building their connections early with faculty,
fellow students and company recruiters who visit Harbert College for lunch and learns,
career fairs or classroom speaking engagements.
“First impressions are everything, and going out of your way to remember names and
small details will be helpful in the long run. Internships are very impactful to your
career development and progression, so don’t wait until the last minute to apply for
one.”
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Olivia Stanley, information systems management senior
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Olivia Stanley - Audit and assurance intern, Deloitte in Nashville, TN
About the internship
Olivia Stanley helped evaluate accounting systems and controls to identify areas for
improvement and she utilized established methodologies to enhance clients' information
technology controls and technology risk management programs.
“I also collaborated with my team to perform internal control assessments, anticipate
and identify emerging risks, and provide clients with proactive solutions and risk
mitigation strategies.”
From classroom to real world
“The knowledge I’ve gained at Harbert directly translated to the work I’m doing at
my internship—from gaining hands-on experience with tools like Excel and developing
a solid understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals to strengthening collaboration
and time management through team projects.”
Advancing my career goals
“This internship advances my career goals in IT Audit & Assurance by giving me the
opportunity to work on impactful clients and industries, contribute to projects that
truly help organizations strengthen their systems, and engage with professionals whose
work inspires me to grow both technically and personally.”
What I’ve learned
Stanley is excited to continue learning and growing in a full-time career. “While
it’s easy to get caught up in just landing an internship or a job while in school,
I’ve realized that I want a career that challenges me and is fulfilling.”
Advice for younger Harbert students
“It’s never too early to start building relationships—connect with professors, attend
career fairs, and reach out to upperclassmen. Even if you’re not sure what kind of
internship you want yet, ask questions and stay curious. You never know where those
conversations and connections might lead later in your college journey.”
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Sara Thomas, marketing senior
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Sarah Thomas - Inside pediatric sales intern, Abbott Nutrition in Columbus, OH
About the internship
Sarah Thomas supported the Abbott Nutrition sales team by helping promote their pediatric
brands Pedialyte, PediaSure and Similac, and she collaborated with peers and mentors
across departments.
“This summer, I created a sales training workshop that will be implemented in September
for the district meeting. I also participated in professional development workshops
and lessons to strengthen my sales skills, communication and overall product knowledge.”
From classroom to real world
According to Thomas she is constantly applying what she learned in class, particularly
knowledge from Eddie Birchfield’s Sales Management course and Karen Hopkins’ Personal
Selling course.
“Both of these classes have greatly helped and equipped me with sales skills, personal
branding, and confidence. I make sales calls to pediatric offices and utilize the
sales skills I learned in these classes to stand out and close with confidence. My
Harbert professors…have given me a strong foundation on how to build relationships,
navigate objections, and communicate value clearly.”
Advancing my career goals
“I am pursuing a career in medical sales and this internship … has been a great opportunity.”
What I’ve learned
“I have learned to handle pressure and adapt quickly in stressful situations, I have
really enjoyed the challenge of sales, and I have realized that I thrive on setting
goals—turning a ‘no’ into a ‘yes.’"
Advice for younger Harbert students
“Apply, apply, apply! I applied all over the U.S. A summer is temporary, and I have
met some of the best people living in Ohio. My southern accent gets a reaction, but
it helps me stand out. I have been given the name ‘Southern Sarah’, which has helped people remember me, but more importantly, I have shown that I
am more than just a personality. I work hard and stay driven in my role. Authenticity
goes a long way in building relationships and making a lasting impression.”
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Learn more about...
Distinctly Harbert, the educational approach embraced by the Harbert College of Business
that helps students succeed.
How to hire Harbert students.
Degrees & Programs
Faculty & Staff
Career Development
Recruiters & Industry
Michael Bridges
Kylah Hosman
Lily Johnston
Reese Pezent
Brendan Roberts
Olivia Stanley
Sarah Thomas
