Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 11 No. 1 | August 2018

12 Inside Hokie Sports The National Association of Colleges and Employers recently released the 2018 Internship and Co-op Survey Report. This report, which surveyed more than 300 universities and employers, showed that the average job offer rate to interns is 59 percent. The benefits of the “real- world experience” offered through internship programs come as no surprise to Virginia Tech softball student-athlete Kinsey Johnson, a senior pursuing a degree in marketing. Although she won’t walk across the graduation stage until next May, she knows all too well the impact that the right internship can have in preparing for professional success and achieving postgraduate career goals. This summer, Johnson was selected to take part in the Nike Internship Program, where she spent 12 weeks at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. She came away optimistic that her time spent in Oregon provided her with the experiences and relationships necessary to be successful once her time on and off the Virginia Tech softball field comes to an end. Q: What was your specific title? What area(s) of Nike did you work with? KJ: This summer, I worked as the external engagement intern for Sustainable Manufacturing and Sourcing (SM&S). Our department fell under the larger umbrella titled “Global Sourcing and Manufacturing.” However, with my specific role and projects, I worked closely with a couple of other departments, such as Sustainable Business & Innovation and College Sports Marketing. Q: Why did you decide to apply for the Nike summer internship? KJ: Being a Nike-sponsored school, every day the “Swoosh” is branded into our lives. Whether while at lifting, conditioning, practice, or games, we are constantly representing the best name in the business, and it has always been rewarding for us as a program and university. I had heard amazing things about the culture and environment of the company, and I knew if I had the chance to work there, I would not only gain invaluable experience, but more importantly, establish a network of leaders in athletics from around the world. While I’m unsure of the specific career I want to pursue, I know it will be centered on the impact athletics can have on people, and since Nike embraces this concept every single day, it seemed like the most logical and perfect opportunity. Q: What was a typical day like? What were your responsibilities? KJ: The best part about my internship was getting to do something different every day. I always got to move around, meet new people, and try new things, which is something I really enjoy. I usually had a few meetings or phone calls regarding my specific projects in SM&S. On top of that, I tried to set up a one-on-one with a different person in the company every few days, so I could get insight on other positions throughout Nike. There is also a summer-long project for all interns called “The Combine” that I often worked on. This was where we were split up into small groups and spent all summer coming up with solutions to assigned company-wide projects and then presented them at the end of summer. On top of all that, the internship program did a great job of engaging interns through workday events that I often participated in. These events included, but were not limited to, speaker series, happy hours, employee network events, tours of various facilities, and a variety of skill and career development conferences. Q: What was the best part of your Nike internship, or your favorite project? KJ: The best part of my summer was, by far, all the people I had the opportunity to meet. The size and capacity of Nike created an amazing environment to network with employees from every corner of the world. Each person I met had such a diverse background, and it was interesting to see how it tied into their passion for athletics and their reason for being at Nike. In regards to my projects, I truly enjoyed all of them for different reasons. They were so distinct from one another that it provided me the opportunity to gain insight within every sub-division of my department. However, I do find myself more intrigued by those projects that involve engaging college audiences in an event or campaign. Q: What are your future career goals? KJ: This summer has opened my eyes to many new fields, and I am definitely interested in continuing to learn those options, but as of now, there are two paths that I am looking to pursue. The first is to pursue my master’s degree and establish a career within student-athlete development.My focuswouldbe on career development and financial education programs that place a heavy emphasis on those student-athletes who have the opportunity to turn professional. There are endless unknowns that can impact or end one’s professional athletics career, but still, many student-athletes don’t think of their alternate route past their days on the field. I aspire to create programs to help develop those new paths, so in the end, student-athletes are prepared to pursue a career in an area they are passionate about off the field. The second career option I am looking to pursue is actually at Nike. I have been lucky to see first-hand some of the impressive ways Nike- sponsored athletes represent us on the field, but as we all know, one day they have to hang up the cleats. I think there is an opportunity to develop programs that help our sponsored athletes, particularly women in non-high paying pro leagues, transition into the work world upon their athletic careers ending. Q: Any final thoughts regarding your internship you’d like to share? KJ: If you have the opportunity, apply. It was an amazing experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Also, keep your mind open. Don’t define yourself by your major or past experience or any other label. There are so many unknown opportunities out there for you. I, myself, didn’t realize this until Nike came along and placed me somewhere I never thought I’d work in and now I love it, so don’t limit yourself by a label. Tech softball player enjoyed summer as intern with Nike By Natalie Forbes Senior Director, Student-Athlete Development