What's your job about?
During my 6-week INKOMPASS internship at Philip Morris International (PMI), I was placed in the External Affairs (EA) department. The EA team is heavily involved with external stakeholders and is responsible for protecting and fostering corporate reputation whilst identifying opportunities to improve external impact.
My internship began with two days of onboarding with a project brief outlining the task to work towards for 6 weeks. I was tasked to analyse the current industry landscape and identify areas of opportunity.
The first two weeks allowed me to gain a firm understanding of the industry with the support of my Project Coach and Buddies. In order to immerse myself, I conducted my own research and also consulted various teams to strengthen my understanding of the business. This often meant that my first two weeks were often filled with meetings and I learnt to manage my time effectively and juggle conflicting priorities.
Each day, I would commence with a 15-minute meeting with my project coach to ensure I was on the right track. From here on out, I would continue researching to build a proposal for the Leadership Team.
In preparation for my proposal, I met with the relevant internal stakeholders to ensure I adequately addressed all possible concerns. It was then a matter of practising until the big day of Presenting!
After my 6 week internship between January and February of 2023, I was fortunately offered a Part-Time role afterwards. I now work with the New Categories Team with transferrable EA knowledge from my intern days.
What's your background?
I am born and raised in Melbourne coming from a family with Medical background.
In Year 12, I discovered my interest in the business world as I have always had a passion for subjects relating to science and economics. Therefore, I chose to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences and Commerce at Monash University.
During my studies, I worked as a Medical Receptionist and also a Pharmacy Assistant which allowed me to explore the medical side of my degree but I had a desire to explore the Commerce side too.
With that in mind, I came across INKOMPASS whilst searching for internships in the Marketing/Sales field, I was immediately intrigued by the major business transformation in progress.
INKOMPASS stood out to me at the Assessment Centre stage when I went through numerous application processes (as many uni students do!).
Being able to talk with people you could be interning with whilst having the chance to interact with a team of such experienced and talented people was truly a privilege and a large motivator towards my decision to intern with INKOMPASS. I was fortunate enough to have spoken to my future project coach at this Assessment Centre and seeing so many familiar faces on my first day made me much more comfortable.
Could someone with a different background/degree join INKOMPASS?
Absolutely! The unique aspect of the INKOMPASS is the ability to work in a field you want to explore. I was initially searching for marketing/sales-related internships to complement my Commerce major but ended up working with the External Affairs team. This happened because I expressed my interest after meeting the team at the Assessment Centre, I thought their roles provided a great opportunity for me to challenge myself in an unfamiliar business area. It is all about being willing to step out of your comfort zone and commit to your development as the company is happy to support you through your journey.
What's the coolest thing about your role?
The coolest thing about my current role in the New Categories Team is the ability to work within a new FMCG space. Given that the team is relatively new, they are open to any new ideas and initiatives fostering creativity and inclusivity. From here, I have felt comfortable asking questions to expand my knowledge base whilst not feeling restricted in my role as an intern. I also love that I am given real-life tasks which contribute to real projects to that I can add value. The PMI team treats you as an equal and I truly believe this made me grow throughout my internship and current role.
What is the most challenging part of your role?
As PMI works in a highly regulated space, there are certain processes that you need to adhere to when completing tasks. It is integral that the organisation ensures we are always compliant and have consumer care as a priority. Whilst these are crucial traits, it does make it a little difficult to finalise steps within the project without obtaining the necessary approval (e.g. Legal & External Affairs). In conjunction with this, you need to gain access to particular platforms to ensure security and confidentiality. This once again enforces the importance of the work you do at the company and how you can make a real difference.
What’s your advice for students to get the most out of their university experience?