Penn State Career Conversations Sue Chappell

On this episode, we’ll be continuing our conversation on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. After speaking with students on the last episode about how DEI initiatives helped shape their internship experiences this past summer, I wanted to get an employers point of view. So, on this episode, I’m joined by two representatives from PPL, an electric utility company based in Allentown. Joining me was Brian Case, Manager of Corporate Talent Management and Diversity, and Monica Brooks, Manager of Diversity and inclusion. We talked about the history of DEI initiatives at PPL, the new initiatives that are currently being rolled out, the response to these initiatives, and how they help to shape the PPL culture. It was a very insightful conversation that I hope you’ll enjoy.

On this episode, I'm joined by current seniors Izaak Lustgarten, Nick Alico, and Jordan Scott. All three completed internships this past summer, and we discussed the DEI initiatives that they experienced at their internship sites, and how those initiatives helped to enrich their experience. All three give some great insight into what different organizations are doing to foster an inclusive workplace environment and share how that helped give them a great experience. 

Hi everyone, and welcome back to the Penn State Career Conversations podcast. I’m Zach Follador. This episode will serve as part 2 in our series about successful summer internships, and I’m excited to share these conversations with you, as I found them very insightful.

My first guest on this episode is Ryan Peterson, a senior aerospace engineering student who was offered an internship this past summer based on research he was doing with one of his faculty members at Penn State Brandywine. His good work doing research turned into something much more, and this conversation is a great highlight of how sometimes opportunities present themselves through non-traditional means.

Next up, I’m joined by Paul Kyriakos. Paul is a multi-disciplinary engineering design student at the  Abington campus, and he completed his internship this past summer with NAVSEA, a division within the Department of the Navy. Paul and I chatted about what it was like completing an internship with a government agency, what the application and interview process was like, and how that process differed from what you might experience in industry. For any students interested in working for the government, this conversation is a must listen.

My third and final guest on this episode is Shariyf Goldstein. Shariyf is a senior at the Brandywine campus finishing up his degree in American Studies. Shariyf is in the middle of an internship with the Urban Affairs Coalition of Philadelphia, specifically helping with their “Home Buy Now” program, which helps folks obtain mortgages to buy houses. Shariyf talks about how he found the internship, how his classwork prepared him, and the advantages of interning with a non-profit.

These interviews that I’ve done for this series have been very enlightening, and I hope you’ve enjoyed them as much as I have.

I’m excited to kick off this academic year with some student voices here on the podcast, as I’ll be speaking with a few students who completed internships this past summer. Spread over two episodes, we’ll touch on what each student did to prepare for their internship, what their employer did to make them feel comfortable and welcomed, and how that environment impacted their overall experience. There were some great conversations, and I think you’ll find them very informative and beneficial.

In this first episode, I spoke with two seniors who completed internships this past summer. First up is Isabela Carlos Alberto, an international student from Mongolia who worked as a Financial Analyst Intern with Goldman Sachs. Isabela and I spoke about how she found her internship, what Goldman Sachs did to integrate her into her team, and also some considerations and additional steps she had to take being an international student applying for an internship.

Next up, I was joined by Clay Kimsal. Clay is a senior in the Sustainable and Alternative Energy track in the engineering program and Penn State Hazleton. Clay moved to Cleveland this summer for an internship with Rockwell Automation. He and I discussed how he found the internship, how he approached his initial interactions with the Rockwell recruiters, and how Rockwell helped him move from his home in Pennsylvania to Cleveland, while making him feel comfortable in his new surroundings.

As the semester draws to a close, we’ll be discussing on this episode some options for alternative summer plans. Over the past year, a number of students have had internships taken away or drastically altered because of the pandemic. If you weren’t able to land the position you really wanted this summer, what are some things you can be doing that would look good on a resume? To discuss this topic, I’m joined by Emily Livingston, Talent Coordinator at WebFX in Harrisburg. As you’ll learn from our conversation, there are plenty of options for you if you find yourself in this position. Emily discusses projects, trainings, job shadowing, as well as how to properly convey these experiences on a resume or in an interview. We had a great conversation that I think will leave you with some great, actionable takeaways if this is the route you choose to take during your break. This will be our last episode of the semester, and I think it will serve as a fitting end as we head into the summer.

Hi everyone, welcome to part 2 of our series on entrepreneurship and small business ownership. I hope you enjoyed the first installment of the series. Today, I’m joined by two more individuals who were kind enough to share their stories with me.

First up on today’s show, I’m joined by Scott Woods. Scott is the founder and CEO of West Arete, which is based right in State College. Scott has a fascinating professional story, having spent a few years as a rock climber and ultra marathon runner prior to founding West Arete. He shares some great insight on how to successfully approach business ownership, and your professional life in general, while finding a balance and avoiding burn out. I think Scott’s perspective on taking risks in your career are very powerful, and that I hope will ring true to you.

Next up, I’m joined by Megan Steele. Megan brings a bit of a different perspective to the podcast. Megan is not a business owner herself, however she has started her career and grown as an employee at a small business. After starting with MasonJars.com as a Graphic Design intern, Megan got hired on full-time by the company and is still there over 5 years later. Megan offers some great perspective on why students should consider working for start up’s, and how the experience has benefitted her.

To learn more about the organizations mentioned in today's episode:

West Arete: https://westarete.com/

MasonJars: https://masonjars.com/