Viviann Nguyen joined our Marketing team for the summer as our digital content intern. She is in her senior year at the University of Oregon, pursuing a BS in advertising with a minor in business administration. Viviann has volunteered at various organizations and held a previous internship in accounting and marketing. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano and violin, writing short stories and journaling, and drawing both digitally and in a sketchbook.
Viviann was the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from the TPG Foundation. Her achievement is not just a reflection of her academic and professional accomplishments, but of how she embodies the core values of The Partners Group.
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“Digital Content Intern.” The title stood out amongst the hundred marketing intern positions with its detailed description that checked all the boxes for what I wanted out of a summer internship. The position was for an insurance brokerage firm called The Partners Group. I applied, wondering what the internship might offer. I will admit, I was initially hesitant because . . . wouldn’t working at an insurance brokerage firm be . . . boring? But I was gravely mistaken – I’ve discovered just how multifaceted the company and the Marketing department truly are.
During my internship, I worked on a variety of projects that not only pertained to my career interests, but also taught me new things. My workload included copyediting weekly news, writing and scheduling social posts, managing production tickets, and more. My largest project was the social media campaign for the 3rd Annual TPG Throwdown: Cornhole for a Cause, which was a cornhole tournament fundraiser for two organizations specializing in aiding the lives of foster children. I wrote its social posts, managed the press release, and live-posted during the actual event. The task seemed daunting at first, but I found it exciting that I could oversee the social media campaign.
Overall, I was surprised by the versatility of my tasks. I got to help with filming videos, writing and scheduling posts, and helping set up the Throwdown. By doing these, I was also able to fill out an Intern Passport – a checklist of tasks to be completed throughout my internship. The reward for completion was gift cards! Additionally, an email was sent to me about the TPG Intern Scholarship. Immediately interested, I began to work through the questions. Soon after applying, I was granted the scholarship! I was so proud of myself and happy they saw value in my skills.
I really enjoy the work environment that TPG fostered. Everyone brings a friendly face, contributing to the lighthearted atmosphere. Kerry Conroy (Content & Communications Manager) has been a great mentor, and I also enjoyed learning from the rest of the marketing team. I shadowed Jake Melara (Senior Videographer) and saw the many steps that go into filming and photography. I also shadowed Taylor Capek (Visual Design Lead) and saw the precision that goes into graphic designs and visual appeal. Courtney Itami (Managing Director of Sales & Marketing), Kyle Lusk (Tech Specialist), Alyssa Mueller (Project Manager), and Michelle Mendoza (Jr. Digital Marketer) were also incredibly helpful in teaching me how to maneuver new platforms and learning their workflow. I loved the side quests the team would take, which included our morning coffee run and “Fun-Drink-o-Clock” (title dubbed by Alyssa) in the afternoons for kombucha or sparkling water. They also don’t shy away from joking around and making references to funny trends (“very demure, very mindful,” “office siren,” etc.). All these things that the team has incorporated into the workplace have made the environment productive and fun.
This lighthearted atmosphere intertwines with TPG’s emphasis on giving back to the community. TPG cares, and I can see that this is a value that everyone cherishes, just seeing the effort they put into the company’s charitable events like the TPG Throwdown. It is truly inspiring to see people unify and contribute to beneficial causes.
I walked away from this internship more confident than before. My learning experiences were valuable and built upon the framework I have been steadily crafting since discovering my career aspirations. I had an amazing time becoming acquainted with the Marketing team and I am grateful that I got to put my writing skills to effective use. Thank you, TPG!
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