7 minute read
Experiencing the Biggest Retail Operation on the Planet
By Emily Daniels
For students at Mississippi State University’s College of Business, internships are not merely suggested to them but strongly advocated as transformative experiences integral to their undergraduate journeys. Across the academic landscape of MSU, students are instilled with the early understanding that acquiring practical work experience is paramount for elevating their employability, particularly in the dynamic field of business studies.
Among these students is Keimauri McKenzie, a senior majoring in business information systems. Hailing from Laurel, MS, McKenzie has a connection to Mississippi State that runs deep, rooted in a familial legacy of Bulldogs – both of his parents are proud alumni. But it wasn’t solely family ties that drew McKenzie to the University; rather, it was the warm and authentic atmosphere he encountered during his campus tour that solidified his choice.
Despite being the lone Bulldog from his high school graduating class, McKenzie bravely immersed himself in campus life and various organizations. His involvement in the New Maroon Camp, first as a nervous camper, then as a counselor and later as the Counselor Trainer on the Executive Board, showcases his dedication to fostering a sense of community among students. His engagement in Mississippi State extended to organizations like Freshman Reach, the College of Business Ambassadors (COBA), MSU Roadrunners and the Student Association, where he played a role in bringing influential speakers like former British Prime Minister David Cameron to campus.
McKenzie has wholeheartedly embraced opportunities for leadership growth, making a positive impact on the Mississippi State community and ultimately contributing to his own success in securing a sought-after summer internship with retail conglomerate Walmart at its corporate headquarters in Arkansas. He sat down with us to reflect on his recent internship experience, sharing insights into the valuable lessons and opportunities gained at the intersection of academia and real-world application at the corporation described by Forbes as “the biggest retailing operation on the planet.”
Before we dive into your internship experience, can you tell us who or what influenced your decision to pursue your college education at Mississippi State University?
I chose Mississippi State because my parents both went here, so I honestly grew up being a Bulldog. I even had an English Bulldog as a pet! When I toured campus, the environment was just out of this world – everyone seemed super authentic.
What made you decide to pursue a business degree, and did you arrive on campus with a clear idea of your academic focus?
I always love telling the story. While I was touring campus with my family, we met with the Assistant Director of Recruiting and Events for the College of Business. During our conversation, I told her that I hadn’t declared a major, but I said I wanted to do something with business and technology. She asked me if I had thought about the Business Information Systems (BIS) program here in the College of Business. I hadn’t, so she told me all about the program and the possible career paths that BIS graduates could have. A lot of students struggle with choosing who they want to be when they grow up, so I’m really thankful I was able to find something that I was so passionate about so quickly!
That’s great to hear! All right, so let’s talk about your recent internship with Walmart. Was this the first internship that you’d had?
Yes ma’am, my firstever internship. I heard about the opportunity back in February, when I served on a panel board with several COBA members during MSU’s Academic Insight event. Renee Graham, a fellow COBA member, was talking about an internship she’d had with Walmart last year. After the panel, I told her how interesting it sounded, and she offered to contact her recruiting officer and put in a good word for me. Almost immediately, the recruiter reached back out to me to with more information and sent over the application to fill out. Shortly afterward, I had my interview round, and then few weeks later, I got an e-mail saying I had been accepted into their summer internship program!
How would you describe your internship experience? Did it match your expectations?
I interned in the merchandising sector, specifically with the Transformation Team, at Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, AR. I may be biased, but I thought my position was cooler, because while other merchandising interns were assigned to specific departments, my role involved working across all the departments. My main project focused on regional brands, aiming to optimize and expand the assortment in different areas. While I was there, I learned how to utilize Microsoft Power BI to analyze Walmart sales versus competitors’ sales, identifying opportunities to boost market share. The project aimed to optimize the assortment by adding, not adding, maintaining or deleting products based on their performances.
Were there any networking opportunities or events specifically for interns?
Walmart organized several large intern programs and events while I was there, including a welcome week with intern activities like Topgolf, speaking events with all the top Walmart executives and the Associates-Shareholders Celebration. I had heard that last year’s Shareholder event featured a performance by the Jonas Brothers, but this year’s event blew my mind! Kevin Hart hosted it, and it featured celebrities like Shania Twain, John Legend, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Rachel Platten, Snoop Dogg, Pitbull and a video call from Tom Cruise. It was surreal to see that many famous people in one place!
What was your favorite part about the internship?
My favorite parts were learning so many different things about the merchandising world and being able to see the results of my work here at Walmart. From the outside looking in, I would have never thought there were so many moving parts for each employee to keep a company going. In my first week, I sat in on a Zoom call to connect with people in every field that had to do with merchandising to make sure everything was running smoothly. We had people in replenishment, planning, pricing, modular planning and all these different things that go into the everyday process of getting products on the shelf. And so, that was honestly my favorite part – being able to connect with people from all different areas.
What are your plans post-graduation? Do you think you’ll have the opportunity to work with Walmart again?
Actually, I recently accepted a job offer with Walmart, Incorporated! After graduation, I will serve as Senior Analyst of Merchandising within the Merchandising Development Program (MDP). MDP is a 12-month rotational program for Walmart U.S. Merchandising positions, and it gives you an opportunity to learn and build core merchandising knowledge and skills. After completing the program, I will be promoted to one of four full-time roles: Associate Merchant, Replenishment Manager, Planning Manager or Business Analytics Manager. I can’t wait to get started!
Congratulations! So, do you have any advice you would give to someone who is considering an internship?
One, allow the MSU Career Center on campus to help you with your résumé and interview skills to make you stand out to employers. We are lucky that we have that resource at our fingertips. Two, always be confident in yourself and trust your ability. You’ll never know what doors may open for you in the future if you don’t ask questions and put yourself out there. Three, a positive attitude and a willingness to learn make a lasting impression on future employers.
