Gabriel Gonzalez
Graduation Year
May 2017
Major
Advertising
Hometown
Chicago
Campus Activities
Delta Kappa Epsilon
American Advertising Federation
Phi Eta Sigma
University Tees
Hobbies
Website design and designing and selling custom apparel
LinkedIn
Employer
Discover Financial Services
Internship Title
Marketing and Brand Communications Intern
What were your duties?
Developed new print ad, in-stadium signs, point-of-sale cashier mats, live reads, and digital banners by working with Discover's internal creative agency, INCITE. Led to 70,000+ unique mobile impressions in 8 days and 12.7 MM estimated impressions throughout broadcast. Maintained weekly communications between Northwestern University Athletics, the National Hockey League, Six Flags, and Discover. Secured legal and business approvals on assets and wrote creative briefs to guide creative strategy on multimillion dollar sponsorships. Trafficked dozens of broadcast and digital assets to the Aegis advertising agency. Assets for clients include JD Power and NCAA football teams. Assisted with media planning and testing for Discover it Chrome for students. Media guarantees 20.8 MM impressions throughout flight. Led copy test with Consumer Insights regarding "Good Grades" messaging.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
Working with 100+ interns while living at a resort (for free) all summer long was definitely a unique experience that few internships can afford.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
It was difficult navigating such a large organization and tackling unexpected challenges.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
The University of Illinois and College of Media have given me the tools, skills, and confidence to not only take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way but to actively seek out potential opportunities for personal growth and development.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
My internship with Discover has given me invaluable client side experience in the realms of advertising and marketing. If I pursue a career in agency work I will be better prepared to service clients and am more attuned to their needs since I have been on the other side of the table.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Don't be afraid to ask questions and share your thoughts. Your job as an intern is not to just learn but also contribute to your team and the company, so don't be shy and take some calculated risks.
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