My name is Victoria Lessley and I am a senior at Arizona State University studying Business Communication and Film and Media Production. The following summer of my junior year I was able to join the Nativa team to complete my first marketing internship. This experience opened my eyes to the world of marketing and provided new possibilities to challenge myself. The word intern is often associated with someone grabbing coffees or sitting quietly in the back of meetings. I thought the same, until I started my internship with Nativa. I began hands-on work on day one. From influencer led campaigns, blog writing, proposal work, market research, and content creation, every day brought a new opportunity.
No two days looked the same. On Tuesday, I’m brainstorming compelling content for social media. On Thursday, I’m helping build a proposal presentation for a client. By Friday, I’m developing creative blog articles to drive up SEO traction. This is one of my favorite parts about my internship experience at Nativa: the variety. It taught me something that no classroom or textbook ever could. Marketing is way deeper than making projects look aesthetically pleasing, it’s the opportunity to add creativity to my work.
What stood out to me the most was the emphasis on multicultural marketing. As I began my internship search, it was something I had yet to see with marketing agencies. Being someone that comes from multiple cultures and backgrounds, I felt a sense of belonging and knew immediately this was an opportunity I needed to be a part of. I was able to work alongside my incredible mentors Eric Diaz and Ally Santiago, who allowed me to feel comfortable asking questions and gave me the independence to work on projects with significant importance. I was able to assist with campaigns for clients such as Desert Financial Credit Union, Vitalant, Schwarzkopf, and more. I saw firsthand what goes into behind the scenes of these real world projects and saw the innovative strategies used by experienced marketers.
Through some of the most valuable lessons, I was able to present research findings, adapt messaging for different audiences, receive feedback to strengthen my work, and balance multiple deadlines. I also gained a deep respect and appreciation for the weight marketers carry in representing communities authentically and respectfully. As I continue to embark on my marketing journey, I’ll carry what I have learned here at Nativa and apply the knowledge and skills I’ve developed into my future endeavors. I gained a deeper understanding on how thoughtful and culturally informed marketing makes a meaningful difference for brands and the communities they serve.
I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to learn from such a talented team and contribute to projects that create meaningful impact, and even more grateful I have the chance to extend my internship this upcoming fall! This experience has not only helped me grow professionally, but it has shaped me into the kind of marketer I want to become.
For more information on what it’s like to work as an intern with the Nativa internship program, check out other blogs posted by past interns!
