By Eric Stann
Jan. 30, 2025
Contact: Eric Stann, 573-882-3346, StannE@missouri.edu
Photo by Sophia Scheller
Every semester, University of Missouri students use their business acumen, creativity and talents to help U.S. companies looking to expand.
It’s part of an innovative internship program at the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business’ International Trade Center (ITC). Under the leadership of ITC Director Jackie Rasmussen and Program Manager Krista Hinrichs, Mizzou students selected for the internship complete extensive research to identify and evaluate international markets and sales potential for participating companies.
It’s a win-win: Mizzou students shape their futures with valuable real-world project management experience and partner businesses gain insights to create a competitive edge in the global market.
Sixteen Mizzou students, including senior Riley Young, spent the fall 2024 semester as ITC interns. Working in teams of four, they gathered and analyzed detailed industry data and presented their findings to four company partners from Missouri and Illinois.
During the internship, Young, a native of Kansas City, Missouri, was eager to broaden her business knowledge and skill set while diving into global market research. For her, it was rewarding to help further the growth of a company, she said.
Read on for a Q&A with Young about her experience.
Without divulging proprietary information, what did a typical week looked like during the internship?
In a typical week, we worked as a group to complete research into different countries’ markets and conducted research through various databases. We came together twice a week as a group with ITC Program Manager Krista Hinrichs to gather our ideas and make sure we stayed on track.
How did this internship connect you with companies and industry professionals in addition to your client?
Each week we got to meet new people from different companies, and they all told us about job opportunities and how they got into their respective industries. These networking opportunities were invaluable and helped me see myself doing something similar in the future. Getting to work hands-on with a company and contribute to their growth was incredible. Knowing I played a role helping them expand made the experience even more rewarding.
What growth opportunities did you gain from this internship?
I was able to grow many skills and my knowledge of the industry through this internship. We conducted research through many different databases and spent a lot of time looking through data and finding the most valuable information. We met with different professionals in various fields during our final presentation, and they introduced us to further opportunities after graduation.
What did you enjoy the most about the internship?
I enjoyed immersing myself in something completely new to me and developing different aspects of my professional skills. The group I worked with throughout the internship was amazing and made the experience so enjoyable. We also went on a site visit with the company we were working with to see first-hand the ins and outs of the business and their day-to-day operations.
How did Rasmussen and her team support your internship experience?
ITC Director Jackie Rasmussen and ITC Program Manager Krista Hinrichs were amazing mentors and helped us every step of the way. Each week they introduced new work for us and guided us to succeed. They were there to assist us with any questions or struggles we had and pushed us to do our best.
What advice would you give to fellow students looking to apply for this internship?
I would highly recommend any student with interest to investigate this opportunity. I was nervous when I started but immediately knew it was the best decision I could make. The program is a great way to develop real-life skills and grow as a professional.
What will you take away from this internship that you’ll apply after graduation?
It's important to me because all my previous job experiences have been part-time opportunities. This is my first real-world experience in my chosen career field. I have opened my eyes to so many more job possibilities and new interests that I can keep expanding upon. Never be afraid to try something new — you can always learn something and keep growing.
