Jade Barnblatt (MBA ’24)
Concentrations: Strategic Management and Analytics
Internship: Thought Leadership Marketing Intern, Autodesk, San Francisco/London
How did you approach the internship search process, and what strategies did you find effective?
I networked through my personal and Tulane networks via LinkedIn to find people in roles, industries and locations that interested me. After searching for months, I received an internship offer through a connection in my personal LinkedIn network.
Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your internship that had a significant impact on your professional growth?
I was fortunate to travel and work in the London office of Autodesk, allowing me to expand my professional network on a global scale and practice adapting to different work environments. A highlight was meeting a team member and industry expert in-person after a month of virtual meetings and contact.
How did your internship align with your career goals and aspirations? Did it confirm or reshape your career path in any way?
My internship aligns with my career aspirations in multiple ways, including my desire to have flexibility and support in working abroad, and also to have access to colleagues at all vertical levels within the firm. Despite being an intern, I had access to C-suite executives and successfully landed 1:1 meetings with nearly all of them due to my proactive approach. Autodesk empowered me to feel like no goal is out of reach and that I am a valued member of the firm.
Were there any challenges or obstacles you faced during your internship, and how did you overcome them?
A challenge I faced initially was the lack of guidance on my project. However, I was intentional with asking for help and clarification when necessary, and a team member recognized my eagerness to dive right in and proceeded to support me throughout my internship.
Did you have a mentor or supervisor who played a crucial role in your internship experience? How did they support your development?
Yes, my colleague Savannah House was crucial to my support system in my internship experience, checking in with me almost daily and providing detailed feedback on my work. Her responsiveness and accessibility eased my nerves and reassured me the work I was doing was adding value.
In what ways did your internship allow you to apply the theoretical concepts you learned in your MBA program to real-world situations?
My MBA courses did not directly impact my approach to my internship because I focus on executive engagement, which is a topic we do not learn about in class. However, the soft skills and professionalism learned from my MBA courses have been crucial factors in helping me connect with those in positions of seniority and gain access to opportunities that I would otherwise not have the tools to achieve.
Did your internship provide exposure to a particular industry or functional area that you had not previously considered? How did this influence your career decisions?
Yes, my internship team and focus on thought leadership and executive engagement were two areas of marketing that I was unaware existed until the opportunity arose. Now that I am in this role, I hope to continue pursuing a career in this area because I enjoy applying foundational strategic approaches to marketing efforts as they lead to a lasting impact on a company-wide scale.
Did your internship experience involve any international or cross-cultural elements? How did you navigate and leverage these aspects to enhance your learning?
Yes, my team is global, consisting of members in the US, UK and Europe. Additionally, I had the opportunity to network with colleagues globally, including Asia. Each conversation and interaction elevated my excitement about working for this firm and in thought leadership marketing because it opened my eyes to the cultural nuances that impact marketing effectiveness on an executive level.
Looking back, what advice would you give to current or future MBA students about maximizing the value of their internships?
Be proactive and network as much as possible. Each connection is a possible open door and support system in the future. Additionally, if there is something specific that you want to achieve through your internship, which for me was living and working in London, then ask! Your managers want you to have a positive experience and support you as much as they can. The worst they can say is no.
How did your internship contribute to building your professional network? Did it lead to any valuable connections or mentorship opportunities?
My professional network has grown immensely through conversations with colleagues throughout the firm and following up with them via LinkedIn and email. I have gained several valuable connections with people who I admire. There are definitely possibilities for future mentorship, and I am excited to see what is to come!
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