Internship Spotlight: Lindy Hanson, Giulia Materia in Florence, Italy

Lindy Hanson BSBA ‘25 (Marketing with Global Business and Studio Art) was a Global Intern at Giulia Materia in Florence, Italy.

If you worked on a big project during your internship, please describe what you did to help. 

During my internship, I worked on creating oil paintings that would be reproduced and sold as postcards and prints within the shop. I painted many locations in and around Florence, Italy, throughout the course of the two months while I got ready for an end of summer art exhibition. In addition to this, I oversaw social media and marketed the store through promotions. I helped to design and produce new products for the shop as well. 

What did you find most challenging about your internship?

I found organizing and planning an entire art show the most challenging. I had to create fliers and find a way to post them through the city to get customers to come to the show. I also had to create prints and copies of my paintings to be purchased. Through this challenge, the hardest component was the language barrier. The communication with small café owners to display my sign and the print shop was extremely difficult. 

What advice do you have for other students that are also considering interning abroad?

Interning, in my opinion, gives you the chance to have a deeper understanding of the culture of the place you’re studying. You will integrate into the community and live out your everyday life as a local. Everyday I was able to have coffee and lunch with my boss and her friends, and it was at these times that I really got a sense of what life was like in Italy. Due to how immersed I was in the culture, I believe this was an extremely eye opening experience. I would advise anyone unsure of doing an internship to partake in it rather than merely studying or vacationing. The internship allowed me to understand the overall society and lifestyle of Italy to a greater extent. 

How did Eller (or your previous coursework) prepare you for your internship? 

BCOM 214 prepared me the most for the internship. The skills learned about communication best helped. Skills in being persuasive came in handy when giving another perspective unfamiliar to Italians. Also when handling the language barrier, proper communication was needed.