Megan Grote is a student in the M.S. in Event Management program at the Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. In this post, she tells us more about her internship this fall semester.
Where are you interning and what is your job title?
I am interning at Factory 360, an experiential marketing agency specializing in event production and pop-ups. The agency helps in every stage of the event production process from graphic design and marketing to event design and installation. My official job title is Account Coordinator.
What projects have you been working on so far?
In the beginning, I was working on a few accounts simultaneously, but my responsibilities shifted and my time has been dedicated to one project. The project has involved working with the Bowie Estate to produce “Bowie 75” pop-ups in the SoHo area of New York City, as well as in London. The pop-ups are in honor of David Bowie and commemorate what would have been his 75th birthday. While the pop-ups are largely retail-based, they also possess interactive experiences within the space and feature newly released archived David Bowie content. My responsibilities have primarily revolved around client management, vendor communication, and the installation at the SoHo venue.
Have there been any challenges in your internship so far? If so, how have you learned to overcome them?
Managing client expectations has been a challenge, and we have had to navigate client requests while also remaining practical and within budget. Both of my primary supervisors, and project leads, have been incredibly supportive and insightful and helped me better understand compromising and negotiation processes. Additionally, due to the general nature and fast-pace of the events industry, I have had to hone in on my time management skills. This has been especially important considering the time difference with London, and having to be available during some of their working hours.
What do you hope to take away from your internship?
I started this internship with the goal of gaining practical knowledge and hands-on experience with larger, and more long-term events. I believe I am leaving this internship with exactly that. I am grateful everything worked out the way it did because it has been particularly beneficial to work with a more entertainment-based client as I hope to work within the entertainment and sports event niche.
What are your future plans?
Upon graduation, I hope to further establish myself in the sports industry and apply my education and experiences to a position in event marketing. Since there are many unknowns I want to remain flexible and open to different opportunities. I would love to stay in New York City or a similar environment and work with a larger organization to market and produce event activation experiences. I am also particularly interested in user experience and user-centered design and would love to incorporate those principles into my professional career.