Shannon Bergin '22 doesn't have a car. Typically, that's not a problem, but it became a burden when she started looking for internships. Bergin could have focused on online opportunities or she could have considered the bus, instead - she scouted every marketing agency within walking distance to campus. The thing is - that limited her search to just one.
Vibrant Brands works with hundreds of clients to strengthen their brands through creative strategies. And, they happen to be located at 543 Loudon Road, literally a four-minute walk from Siena Hall. Bergin took her shot and sent the company a brief message via their website. She heard back very quickly, and not long after, she scored the internship.
As a sales and brand development intern, the marketing major is responsible for researching and recording information on potential clients.
"It's interesting to research different companies and discover what makes them unique and enter their information into our system."
Next year, Bergin hopes to land a marketing job related to branding. In fact, at VIbrant Brands, she's had the opportunity to sit in on creative branding meetings related to slogan creation and logo design.
Bergin is also a legacy athlete at Siena. Both of her parents are graduates, and her dad played football and golf at Siena. Bergin runs cross country and track and was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team and MAAC Academic Honor Roll last year. Between classes and practices and 12 hours a week at her internship, there's not much time left over. Which is why the 4-minute commute is so nice.
“Doing internships definitely helps improve your communication skills and teaches you how to stay focused and organized. Even simply communicating with people in the office can then help you build connections. That’s important because even though you might not get a job in this internship, your supervisor might know someone that's hiring and help you later on.”
Shannon Bergin '22
