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By Lara Kilchenmann
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The Delta Experience One of the many standout moments of my internship was attending Delta’s Q2 Earnings Town Hall. Being in the presence of Ed Bastian, Delta’s CEO, was nothing short of inspiring. His dedication to the company’s vision and his approachable demeanor left a lasting impression on me and many other employees. This event was not just about financial results but also a testament to how deeply Delta values transparency and communication within its workforce. Another personal highlight was meeting Paralympian Mallory Weggemann through Delta’s partnership with Team USA. Her story of resilience and triumph was truly motivational, and her visit underscored Delta’s commitment to celebrating and supporting diverse and exceptional individuals. It was a privilege to hear her speak and witness the impact of her journey. Exploring Delta's Legacy Behind-the-scenes tours of Delta’s facilities such as the Delta Flight Museum and Delta Tech Ops provided an insightful look into the airline’s storied history and cutting-edge technology. The Flight Museum, with its collections of aircraft and memorabilia, was a glimpse into Delta’s evolution over the years. Additionally, Delta Tech Ops showcased the impressive scale and sophistication of Delta’s maintenance operations, highlighting its dedication to safety and innovation. Diving into the Role My role within the HR Communications team was dynamic and multifaceted. I was deeply involved in creating communications plans and supporting various projects, including content creation and intranet migration. Each project was a new challenge and opportunity to apply my skills, and I appreciated the chance to contribute meaningfully to Delta’s communication efforts. Collaborating with talented professionals from various departments broadened my understanding of the business and allowed me to build a diverse network. The insights I gained from these interactions were invaluable and contributed to my overall growth during the internship. Personal Adventures Beyond work, this internship was a gateway to incredible personal experiences. Over the past three months, I had the chance to explore four new countries and visit Europe for the first time. From marveling at the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame to savoring a genuine Belgian waffle, each experience was a million dreams come true. My travels also took me to California, where I enjoyed Disneyland for the first time. Collecting trading cards from Delta pilots added a personal touch to my journey and further connected me to the airline’s culture. Learning the Delta Difference Throughout my time at Delta, several key takeaways stood out:
My internship at Delta Air Lines was an amazing journey of professional development and personal growth. The experience solidified my admiration for the company and the airline industry as a whole. As I move forward, I will carry with me not only the skills and knowledge gained but also the inspiration drawn from Delta’s exceptional people and their unwavering commitment to Keep Climbing. I want to thank everyone at Delta for an unforgettable summer and for showing me what it truly means to be a part of something extraordinary. By Kylee Coles  At ICON 2024, I attended a session by Suzi Brown, vice president of communications at Disneyland Resort, about navigating brand image. Brown explained that at Disneyland, they have seven teams within this branch of their brand. Those teams are government relations, public relations, internal communications, external communications, public affairs, corporate social responsibility and executive communications. Each team plays a different role in upholding Disneyland’s brand image. For example, the government relations team tracks legislation and works with teams to ensure they are abiding by the laws, the public relations team pitches and crafts stories to attract customers and the media relations team handles crisis communications and high-profile announcements to protect the resort’s image. After learning this, I realized the importance of different roles team members take on.
Brown also shared her story and knowledge about securing her executive position at Disneyland Resort. She explained that she got an internship at Disney right out of college, but unfortunately at the time, they didn’t have any permanent positions available. She went on to work other jobs and 20 years later, her connections at Disney landed her a job. This taught me the importance of building and maintaining connections in the industry. In conclusion, Brown provided me with valuable information about making and maintaining connections, utilizing resources and sharing different routes students can take as communications or public relations professionals. After attending ICON, I am happy I got the opportunity to go. It taught me about the professional world of public relations more than I would have ever learned on my own. By Caitlyn Soya  At PRSSA ICON, I attended a “Strategic Creativity in the Competitive Entertainment Industry” session. The panelists included Gary Miereanu from GT Marmots/PR, Inc., Mercy Castro from NBCUniversal Universal and Tim O’Day from TO’DAY Group PR.
The session was packed, and getting a seat was competitive, just like the industry. Sitting in the front row, I wanted to make sure I made an impression. They specifically talked about the entertainment industry and how to get your foot in the door. Breaking into the industry can be a challenge in itself. California is known as the hub for all film fans and professionals. With such a large market, it can become oversaturated. This can make it difficult to distinguish yourself within this industry. A few ways to combat this are to observe seasoned professionals who can provide mentorship and advice, advocate for yourself and show your value. Listen and Learn “Be quiet and absorb everything around you,” Castro said. “Listen and shadow the people in the room and see how they strategize.” I never thought that listening could be just as valuable as sharing your opinions. By listening though you’re able to pick up on things you may not have heard otherwise. “Ask where you can add value, or what role can be filled,” O’Day said. By providing value, you’re showing the employer that you’re able to contribute something meaningful. Convey Confidence Something meaningful that I wanted to do was show that I cared about the panelists taking the time to speak to us. I valued all their information, and I wanted to gain as much knowledge as I could. At the end of the session, the panelists were allowed to answer questions from students. I took the opportunity to ask a question that would provide me with a new perspective: “What advice has a mentor given you that you could share with us?” Castro was quick to answer this question, and I now can lead with this in any situation. “Be confident, walk in with confidence, talk with confidence,” Castro said. The entertainment industry is now one I’m even more passionate about entering. Learning tips from people who have a secure career, made me feel like one day I’ll have a secure career in this industry. I will always make sure to be confident. I want to be able to step into a room and not feel imposter syndrome, or feel like my experience is not less than someone else’s. If I can harbor this confidence, I believe it’ll help me land a spot in this competitive industry. By Shannon Russell  At ICON, I attended the presentation “Marketing Yourself as a Content Creator” hosted by the Founder and CEO of Intern Queen, Lauren Berger. Berger’s business aims to connect college influencers with businesses to foster innovative collaborations.
Although I valued the entire presentation, I enjoyed it when Berger discussed how she earned a collaboration with Ford on her “College Ambassador Challenge” campaign idea. This collaboration was a massive success for Ford and Berger, as it won a Shorty Award (which are awards that recognize the most innovative and creative social media campaigns), but it wasn’t easy to pull off. Berger had an idea for a campaign in which Ford would select influential college students and challenge them to market Ford vehicles creatively. By competing with one another, the students would create innovative user-generated content to increase awareness of the Ford brand. Figure It Out But Berger faced a problem: She didn’t work for Ford and had no contacts with the brand. So, how would she put this campaign idea on Ford’s radar? She decided to rely on the motto she inherited from her mother: “Figure it Out!” Berger started connecting with Ford employees on LinkedIn. Through her deep dive on LinkedIn, she found the phone number of a Ford executive. She boldly reached out to him and explained her idea. The executive loved it, so he allowed her to pitch the idea to his team. The team was extremely receptive. All was looking up until Berger heard back from Ford a few days later. They said that even though they liked her idea, they would not be moving forward with it due to budget concerns. Being Bold This piece of the story was very surprising. As a student, I know the value of connections. But, I never realized that sending random LinkedIn requests could result in a conference call with Ford executives. This inspired me to be bold and reach out to people I want to work with, no matter how lofty my aspirations may seem. Although the meeting didn’t initially result in the outcome Berger wanted, she was able to make a valuable connection that she continued to leverage. Berger said the initial rejection devastated her, but she continued to push forward and “Figure it Out!”Over the next few years, Berger maintained her connections at Ford by sending “Happy Holiday” messages and general check-ins to keep her name top-of-mind. By doing this, she was called back by Ford three years later to re-pitch the campaign. It was greenlit and was a huge success. Often, I worry about bothering people and tend not to reach out as much as I should. But, Berger taught me this is not how the professional world works. If I have a dream or a goal, I have to go for it and be dedicated to its success. In the future, I plan to be more forward when connecting with professionals because I now realize the worst they can say is no (and, as proved by Berger’s story, this can always turn into a yes). Overall, by being bold, persistent and figuring it out, Berger made her dreams come true. I now realize that by doing the same, I, or any student, can push the boundaries to support our career. ICON allowed me to learn from Berger and hear her story, inspiring me and hundreds of other students. I encourage students to attend ICON in the future to hear stories like Berger’s and learn from a diverse group of professionals to strengthen their network. |
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