From Mission to Impact: Making a Difference as a Field Marketing Intern at Appian

Lauren Kish is a rising senior at University of Virginia, majoring in Commerce with concentrations in Management and Marketing, as well as tracks in Strategic Business Consulting and Business Analytics. This is her first professional internship as a Field Marketing Intern. Lauren's previous experiences were at her local pool, where she worked as a lifeguard and then as an Assistant Manager. Read on Lauren’s experience as an intern at Appian and how she found out her passion for Marketing. 

What attracted you to the internship position at Appian in the first place?

The mission of the company resonated with me – to help many other people to streamline their business processes, which stood out to me. Also, all the people I talked to during my interview process were so friendly and I connected with them right away.

How would you describe the company culture?

One of the first things that stood out to me was the culture. Everyone was friendly and wanted me to succeed and be successful. All the projects that I was assigned to were meaningful and I truly felt like I had an impact. The Intern Program Team also organized  many events for the interns to meet other people, which was fantastic to have those connections. 

Tell us about a project you worked on during your internship that was the most exciting.

I have a wide variety of projects, but the main one that I am the most excited about is planning a field marketing campaign here at Appian’s Headquarters. This event is in partnership with Children’s National Hospital, aiming to give back to their efforts in providing pediatric care in our community, while also generating further brand awareness for Appian in the region. As the project lead for this campaign, I am responsible for everything from coordinating with vendors for event set-up, to helping develop fundraising teams within Appian. Seeing  this campaign develop fully from start to (almost) finish, and knowing the impact that I am contributing to not only for Appian, but also for a cause that impacts so many lives in our community, has really been a special experience. 

Would you say that the internship matched your expectations going into it?

This internship definitely exceeded my expectations. The culture at Appian really stood out to me immediately. 

“As an intern, I’ve been trusted with significant responsibilities and have had the opportunity to connect with several C-suite executives directly. I think this level of trust and meaningful interactions with top leadership is a testament to the company’s inclusive culture, where interns are treated the same as full-time employees.”

How has the experience impacted you?

Prior to this summer, I wasn’t sure what type of marketing I wanted to go into. I have held marketing positions in my student clubs, but I hadn't been exposed to the marketing field in a professional setting. My role was a great introduction to this, because I was able to gain experience with various marketing functions, such as market research, digital, and analytics, and this diverse background will be valuable as I go into marketing as my career.

Can you describe some of the ways that you grew during your time as an intern?

At Appian, the encouragement for interns to contribute as if they were full-time employees significantly increased my confidence in sharing my ideas and speaking up, despite being the least experienced on the team. The respect and interest my team showed in my input further reinforced my ability to confidently voice my perspectives and ideas.

What are you most proud of that you’d accomplished at Appian?

I think it’s the fundraising event for the Children’s National Hospital. Even though the event planning isn’t fully completed yet, just knowing the impact this event will have on the local community, as well as for brand awareness for Appian, makes this project so meaningful to me. I also gained very practical experience in handling a large budget with this project. 

How have you expanded your professional network for future career opportunities?

I attended several optional networking events throughout my internship, where I was able to meet a lot of people within Appian, as well as outside of Appian. For example I was invited to a Top Golf event, where I networked with Sales employees within Appian, many of which weren’t local to the Washington D.C. area. I also attended a Commanders' VIP event with my coworker, Kelsey Wilson, which was another great experience to network with other professionals in similar fields.

Finally, what advice do you have for other students considering an internship with us?

Appian really values the culture at the company, so be personable and connect with as many people as you can prior to your interviews. Appian cares about the new hires and they won’t hire you simply because you are smart, but you also have to be a good fit for the company. Lastly, keep networking with the people across departments when you become an intern to expand your network as there are so many wonderful people to meet here.

Learn more about internship and campus hiring opportunities at Appian.