This past summer, I had the opportunity to work as a Marketing Intern at Thrive Companies, a real estate development company based in Columbus, Ohio. Thrive Companies builds modern homes and communities for the growing population of downtown Columbus, as well as other areas. I took this internship with the hope of gaining professional experience, and by the end of the summer, I realized it would be a defining part of my college journey. For this internship, I was given projects like SEO research, weekly blogs, website auditing, and content strategy. Not only was I taught the dos and don’ts of marketing, but I was also taught that to achieve effective marketing, one must create an intersection of strategy and human connection. 

When I began my internship in June, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I figured I would be shadowing coworkers, assisting with social media content, and contributing to promotional ideas. While this was true, my responsibilities were also targeted at the analytical side of marketing. I conducted SEO research daily to identify keywords to help Thrive’s website reach more potential homebuyers. I also did a good amount of website auditing to evaluate content clarity and search performance. When I first started, I was very nervous due to my lack of experience. Classes I had previously taken at USC had introduced me to SEO concepts, but applying them in a business environment was not the same as studying flashcards for my exams. I learned that SEO wasn’t just about being highly ranked on Google, but it is more about understanding, making it easier for people to get wanted information on one of the biggest life decisions a person will make, buying a home. Collaborating with Thrive’s marketing team also allowed me to see firsthand how each department of the company contributes to the company’s goals. The interactions I had on a day-to-day basis helped me develop confidence in communicating ideas, asking questions, and being able to learn from my mistakes. 

At first, I was hesitant, but as my projects progressed, I was able to understand the deeper purpose behind the work I was assigned. Before starting this internship, I mostly associated marketing with the media, billboards, and branding. Thrive showed me that while that is true, marketing is also about intent, data, and structure. In my research, I would analyze keyword trends and notice growing interest in topics such as new construction vs. resale homes. Using this data, I created a pillar page on the topic. It was interesting to see the lessons from my business classes on consumer behavior and purchase decisions come to life from the other side of things, not just as the buyer. 

My main takeaway from this experience is that marketing works best when it blends strategic research with real-world situations. Stories reveal the reasons behind people's wants and desires, while data can reveal what they want and desire. Being able to know both enables marketers to create communications that appeal to consumers. In my communication classes, I now consider audience data interpretation and how to measure engagement more carefully. I have learned how to combine creative narrative and quantitative analysis in my business minor, and I now see them as complementary rather than separate skills. 

Aside from academics, my internship at Thrive Companies gave me a clearer vision of what life after graduation might look like for me. I learned that asking for feedback, voicing your opinion, and taking initiative are equally important as any technical skill. Ultimately, my summer at Thrive Companies showed me that knowing people and purpose is essential to effective marketing. By combining analytical precision with creativity and empathy, I learned how to work creatively, improve a website's performance, and make a message matter.