Intern Feature: Stephanie Menezes

I’m currently interning for adidas at their global headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, specifically working in the Concept to Consumer Marketing team for the Running Department. Concept to Consumer Marketing, also known as Go-to Market, is the liaison between Product Managers and the markets. For example, product managers create the product from consumer research to finalization. CtC takes the product, organizes the information and produces sell-in tools that markets then use to sell to retailers.

CtC is extremely cross-functional and collaborative. We are constantly aligning ourselves with Product Managers throughout the process as well as other teams such as Brand Marketing and Product Development in order to create a cohesive voice for every product. We also prioritize the markets and are their voice and customer service point.

How did you find this opportunity?

By chance online actually! I knew I was interested in the sporting goods industry and began researching through LinkedIn and websites of specific companies.

What was your experience like and what have you learned?

My experience has been absolutely amazing! Starting this internship was nerve-wrecking because I was offered the position during finals week and had to make a quick decision. A few weeks later, I moved to a completely new country I’ve never been to before. The people I’ve met, both employees and fellow interns, have been so helpful and passionate about their profession that it truly inspires me every day.

I’ve always been a meticulous planner. By the first semester of my freshmen year I planned out which courses to take per semester for the rest of my 4 years. However, this experience has taught me to take chances. I didn’t think I would be offered the position for so many reasons. 1) I’m American and EU work visas are hard to get 2) the industry is extremely competitive and so many more reasons but I applied anyways. I also had to drop everything at UMass; spring semester courses, my RA job, and Run4Fun in a few days. In the end taking these chances was incredibly worthwhile.

What advice do you have for other students?

As a senior this could be longwinded so bear with me!

Ask. Don’t be afraid to ask anything whether it’s a question or a position. Rejection can be hard but asking can be more rewarding. When I was studying abroad in Rio de Janeiro, I cold-called companies asking if they had any positions available. It took a few weeks of hearing rejections but in the end someone was so impressed they created an internship position for me. In hindsight I think that internship helped me a lot with adidas because the company really values international experience (All interns I’ve met here have had previous experience abroad).  

Create your own path. If there’s not an opportunity you want, create it. If a particular company doesn’t recruit at Isenberg, search and apply. Just because a career path you could be interested in could be a little different from the standard doesn’t mean you have to conform. It can be difficult but utilize the Chase Career Center to put your best foot forward and apply!

Plan. Previously I mentioned that taking risks could be worthwhile but planning is also rewarding. Finding a balance is extremely important! By planning I was able to do everything I wanted during my undergraduate career which became a catalyst for the opportunities I have now, like my internship at adidas.

Chase Career Center. Use your best resource! I probably went around 2 to 3 times a semester to review my resume, talking points for an upcoming interview, everything. Truthfully there were some moments where I applied last minute but by constantly working on my resume with them I felt confident in sending it out.