Last Call

Naomi Augustin

marketing intern in the time of COVID

The 2020 job market is, concepts that can only be applied The brewing industry is notoriwhich is basically twice a week. well — bleak. But, superacademically; they applied to the ous for marginalizing women star Clark professor (and real world. Basically, he coaches and people of color. Was that Is it a pretty quick process? It Adidas alumnus) Lawrence you in learning how to tell a story, something that you felt comonly takes five minutes. Norman continues to push his how to brand yourself, and how to fortable addressing during your students to seek experience in the stand out while applying for jobs. internship? Yes, I had a valuable That’s awesome. What advice field. As a result, Naomi AugusWhen it came time for me to purdiscussion at the end of my interndo you have for young people tin’s stint with Start Line Brewing sue an internship, he kind of acted ship. I think, moving forward, uninterested in studying marketCompany taught her the value of as a network. Start Line Brewing derstanding that human rights is ing? I think if there’s one thing nuance, storytelling and building Company is where I interned as a a part of sustainability is pivotal. I’ve learned this a personal brand. We spoke with marketing consultant. Overall, addressing issues that are year with the her this week about navigating beyond business is so important. I influence graduate school in an unprecWhat sort of responsibilities think one thing the company took of Proedented time and the importance did they task you with? I was away from my work is that it is imfessor of gaining authentic experience. responsible for analyzing marketportant to have an overall brand Lawing strategies within the brewing purpose. Implementing your How did you end up in Worcesindustry in Massachusetts. I don’t beliefs into your brand personality ter? I am originally from Saint know if you’re familiar with the is a real challenge. Lucia, a really small Caribbean Massachusetts Brewers Guild. Island, but my family came up It’s a collection of breweries that What is it like being a college here so I could go to high school. came together to strengthen the student right now? A little weird. Funny story, I actually did not industry, and I was tasked with It does not feel like we’re going to apply to Clark. I didn’t know much looking at how they promote college, but I have a lot of work about Clark until I learned I got themselves to their customers. It that definitely makes me a colaccepted. When I came to visit, was a combination of learning and lege student. I’m a fifth-year grad I was happy because I had been consulting. One thing I learned student. It has been a shift from looking for a small, very intimate about was the impact of brandundergrad to graduate-level work college. ing colors and the importance of because it requires more personal constructing your website in a responsibility. What are you studying? My way that makes it easy to view. major is business management. Funny enough, I learned that a lot Are most of your classes over I’m on a marketing track with a of breweries do not have websites Zoom? Yes. I have one that’s a double minor in entrepreneurship built to sustain viewers by alhybrid. and East Asian studies. lowing them to browse. That was interesting. I came forward with Is there a mechanism Can you talk about how you a couple of recommendations for for you all to get landed an internship after the company moving forward. The tested at Clark taking a class with Professor owner said he will be implementwhenever you Lawrence Norman? I was really ing some of the strategies that I need to? Yeah. interested in the class overall. My suggested. In a few months, we’ll You can get entrepreneurship minor advisor be able to see how Start Line has tested whenever actually told me that this was a progressed. you need to, but new course Clark was offering it’s mandated and she thought I would be a good Can you share one of the stratethat you get fit. I decided to take it. Professor gies you proposed, or are they tested every Lawrence was definitely not your top secret? Sure. In regards to three days, average college professor. colors, I suggested the importance Yes, I had the pleasure of sitting that is tied to your brand’s specific in on one of his classes and by colors. For example, their website the end, I was like, “Where do I sign up?” I think this was my favorite class that I’ve taken at Clark. It was definitely not conventional, which is something you expect here. He had my attention throughout the whole semester. was a shade of green that was not associated with the tone of their business. Also, their content menu on the website kind of began to assimilate to other websites in the industry. I wanted to make sure Start Line would stand out from PHOTO SUBMITTED It was one of the classes that I the rest of the industry as a whole. looked forward to every week. He taught us lessons, but not of understanding the emotion rence and Clark as a whole, it’s that even as a college student, just remember, you’re also building your brand. You’re building a picture of who you are. It’s not only corporations or companies that have a brand; you as an individual also have a brand. Represent yourself in the best way possible, especially when you interact with professionals in the industry. A lot of people are watching. As you go through college, take advantage of the strong influences and opportunities that are provided to you.