Interning in a Pandemic: GW SBA Edition

By: Hailie Cadeau & Mac Steckler

Summer 2020 was an interesting time for everyone, especially for college students seeking an internship. University students rely on summer internships for networking opportunities and valuable job experience. Unfortunately, amid a global pandemic, many students had their internship significantly shortened to a couple of weeks or ultimately canceled. Some GW Sports Business Association executive board members were able to continue to participate in internships throughout the summer, although many experiences were modified.

Bryn Caren

Company: Sports Philanthropy Network

Position: Research, Operations, and Development Intern

Ethan Cuccarese

Company: Headfirst

Position: Marketing, Customer Experience & Communications Intern

Hailie Cadeau

Company: Madison Square Garden

Position: People Acquisition Student Associate

Before summer 2020, there was much uncertainty about whether internships were still taking place. According to Yello, a talent acquisition company, about 64% of employers canceled internships without any compensation. Ethan Cuccarese, who serves as the VP of Communications for the GW SBA, was nervous about the status of his internship. “I began the interview process with Headfirst the week before we were sent home in spring, so the entire process was stressful and ever-changing. While waiting to hear the final status of my position, I kept a consistent line of communication open with Headfirst to ensure they were aware of my strong intentions to stay in my role, something I always recommend doing. This illustrates your desire to be a part of the company as well as your appreciation for any opportunities you have been offered.”

“Although I was aware the coronavirus was slowly starting to spread at the time, I didn't think it would impact my internship.” Hailie Cadeau, Editor-in-Chief of the GW SBA, signed her offer letter back in February, before the rise of the pandemic. “I had friends whose internships were canceled due to the pandemic, and I was nervous that mine was going to be too. I did not hear from MSG, and sometimes no news is good news so I had faith. Mid-May I decided to reach out and was thrilled to find out that my internship was still taking place.” This summer Hailie conducted over 75 first-round phone interviews for MSG’s Fall Student Associate program, planned and executed three social events for the summer program, and conducted research on diversity initiatives.

Within days many companies had to make the immediate switch to working at home with no further instruction. For Bryn Caren, Social Media Officer of the GW SBA, it was difficult “setting up times to speak with other team members depending on what each person's schedule looked like, especially if there was a time difference.” This summer, she was able to complete research on various professional sports teams and the corresponding non-profit organizations that they are associated with.

Given the circumstances, managers did a great job incorporating interns into the company as seamlessly as possible. Bryn “had weekly team Zoom meetings, which allowed every member to catch up and go over the assigned weekly tasks.” Hailie had one-on-one meetings with her manager at first, which eventually turned into twice a week check-ins, along with other team meetings, and weekly department meetings. For Ethan “the work [he] did had real, tangible effects on the company that [he] could see.” He served as a Brand Ambassador by efficiently managing urgent phone & email communication via Salesforce, averaging about 200 calls per week. Also, Ethan developed targeted marketing email campaigns using Canva for the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals summer camps.

“Something I felt as though I missed out on, was the connections and friendships that often are created through internship programs. While I was able to connect with many of the other interns, I of course wish I could have had in-person contact with them," Bryn said. Although many internships remained virtual throughout the summer, Ethan was able to go into the office at 25% capacity, which he recounts as his favorite part of the internship. “The team at Headfirst is very laid back and fun, but hustles extremely hard and gets incredible work done. That is the exact kind of work environment I want in my future employer, so having the opportunity to experience it, even in a reduced capacity, was my favorite part of the summer. “

Not only was the country facing a pandemic, but there were also many protests and demonstrations against police brutality and racial inequality following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. The power of the movement was undeniable, and corporate America felt compelled to respond in different capacities. Ethan shares, “Hands down the best thing that Headfirst did was include the interns in their weekly Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion calls. Every Friday, the entire company would join a Zoom meeting to discuss different topics surrounding DEI and I was invited to join and contribute to every single discussion. We would split into small breakout groups to have meaningful and challenging discussions, and I was extremely thankful that Headfirst not only let me listen to these conversations but encouraged and appreciated me sharing my thoughts and experiences. Not many organizations make this kind of effort in the first place, but adding interns to these challenging, yet needed, discussions were something that surprised me and made me feel like a real part of the team.”

Hailie also had a similar experience working at Madison Square Garden. “We had biweekly D&I meetings where it was an open and safe space to talk about what everyone was feeling/ going through, and we discussed topics such as microaggressions and empathy. These calls usually had around 100 employees in it who worked under Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Madison Square Garden Corp., Sandy Kapell. I felt welcomed and comfortable within the large group, and decided to share an experience I had dealing with microinvalidation during one of the many sessions."

Despite working virtually this summer, all three GW SBA executive board members were able to make the most out of their opportunity to learn and grow professionally and personally. Whether it was the complexity and fast-paced nature of the sports industry, the need to be adaptable under challenging circumstances, or the importance of asking clarifying questions, all three students took something away from their unique experiences.