Summer Intern Spotlight: Darisi Garg 26BBA, IPG Mediabrands
Every summer, Goizueta Business School students from all programs step out of the classroom and into internships at companies around the world. These experiences are not just about gaining practical skills; they often lead to lasting memories, powerful insights, and sometimes even job offers.
In this series, we’ll highlight several students who completed exciting internships this summer, sharing their journeys, challenges, and triumphs. Stay tuned to discover the incredible work our students have been involved in and the valuable lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Here, we sit down with Darisi Garg 26BBA who spent the summer interning at IPG Mediabrands, a Fortune 500 media and advertising agency in New York City. “During my time with the analytics team, I worked for a multinational pharmaceutical client and helped launch a project management tool, led data migration efforts, and created insights for campaign brands,” says Garg. “One of the highlights was the Perfect Pitch competition where my team of interns and I developed a full-funnel media plan for a nonprofit tobacco control organization and had the chance to pitch to the real client. We won second place!”
Garg states that her key takeaway is the power of blending creativity with data to craft campaigns that truly resonate and make an impact. She adds that the experience taught her that the intersection of analytical rigor and creative thinking is where the most innovative solutions are born. “A huge thank you to Goizueta for providing me with the marketing and analytical skills needed to excel in my internship,” she says.
“For Goizueta students, my advice is to embrace curiosity and explore different industries and roles that align with your passions. The business world is vast, and there are countless opportunities waiting to be discovered that go beyond traditional roles,” says Garg.
During her internship at IPG Mediabrands, Darisi Garg was interviewed by Master Ji’s Heritage Ram Leela Studio, Inc. Below is her insightful Q&A, originally posted on LinkedIn as ‘Corporate Culture: A Summer Intern’s Perspective,’ where she shares her experience with positive corporate culture at a large media consulting agency.
Read on to explore her full Q&A!
Darisi, could you describe your summer experience and how it began?
My internship has been incredibly positive from the start. My mentor and I started interacting three weeks before I officially started at the company. She set up a meeting a week in advance to introduce me to my manager and provide an overview of the organization and the projects I will be working on. This head start made me feel prepared for my first day, and like I already had familiar faces to look for. It set the tone for a very supportive internship experience.
Were you actively involved in client work?
Absolutely. Thus far, I didn’t have a single day where I wasn’t actively involved in the client work. I hear stories of interns sitting on a bench, but not the case for me or for most of my peer group of about fifty interns. I feel like the program is designed to ensure interns get a holistic experience – everyone from top to bottom are deeply invested in shaping this experience. During the first week, senior leadership provided detailed insights about processes and business methodologies. We receive 4-6 hours of weekly trainings directly from the project teams.
In addition to regular billable work I got the opportunity to collaborate with my fellow interns on a high-stakes pitch project. It culminated into a presentation in front of one of the agency’s clients – an invaluable experience.
Tell us about the role of your mentor in your development.
My mentor has been pivotal. She is incredibly kind, hands-on, and approachable. She not only answers my questions patiently but also checks on me regularly, even on her days off work! She ensures I grasp team projects by explaining them thoroughly and champions my small wins, which boosts my confidence. You need to come here and work for us and drop out of school, ha-ha, she once complimented. My team members are equally supportive. Their expertise in their fields is impressive, and they are always willing to lend a hand. A simple act like stopping me in the halls to ask how I am doing and offer help makes a big difference in feeling welcome and valued. And, as for the other interns – we formed a strong bond as we leaned on each other during stressful times and navigated the workplace together. We explored NYC and one of my new intern friends visited me in Princeton!
Could you highlight some of the projects you’ve been involved in?
I am working on three main projects: I am developing a project management tool that streamlines communication and improves client service; preparing insights on the various marketing campaigns that we run for a multinational client; and working with a team to create a data-driven full-funnel media plan for client’s brief. The projects are challenging and time-sensitive but the culture around makes it easy to absorb all the pressure.
On a scale of 1-10 how do you describe the happiness of the team and yourself? Are there any fun activities?
I’d rate it a solid 10. Every day, I am simply amazed by the culture. It is genuine and not overly showy. Most of the team spends three days a week working onsite. My team is diverse, and we often engage in small talks where I get to learn more about their backgrounds: their education journey in America, travel stories, and relationship milestones. There is no gossip among team members. They all seem to love their work!
We have flexible no-meeting Fridays. Free meals are always rotating around the desks. In one instance, during the pitch project preparations, we were amazed when the agency’s graphic design team created a logo for our mock agency – super cool! Also, many offsite interns traveled to our headquarters, and some visited client sites and had a chance to interact with their favorite celebrities. Our beer garden and happy hours are the icing on the cake.
Behind the scenes, Darisi reflects on her transformative moments:
Every day here feels like an “aha” moment. I grew up learning stories of success in finance and traditional consulting. That if you choose to study a different subject matter like marketing you won’t make it and you will be the one impacted during a downtrend. The success in business was such narrowly defined in my mind. Here, I am amazed to see creativity, strategy, and community impact firsthand.”
In closing Darisi offers advice to future interns and peers:
Broaden your point of view about business and don’t let conventional expectations dictate your path. It’s about finding a purpose in what you do.
Darisi’s journey exemplifies how a supportive culture can nurture growth and redefine success beyond traditional norms. Her experience underscores that, yes, good corporate culture does exist.
“Darisi is a key member of our team, spearheading the study of corporate culture and purpose for the development of our Master Ji’s Purpose DEI Lab™.”
Other contributors: Noemi Garg, MD Lakshmi Kant Garg
Explore more exciting student internships and the experiences that shaped their summer! Discover more here.
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