Internship Spotlight: Thomas Schlaerth, PR Training Academy/MettaComms

Thomas Schlaerth BSBA ‘25 (Management Information Systems, Operations and Supply Chain Management with Global Business) was a Global Intern at PR Training Academy/MettaComms in Dublin, Ireland.

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

There were a few big projects I worked on during my time at PR Training Academy this summer. The first project I worked on was a market analysis of KPMG audit clients to potentially find trends for the future. The point of my research was to help in the creation of MettaComms which is AI and Algorithm based software to help companies with thought management and decision making. I found relevant information regarding ESG which I informed the CEO and would later be applied to this program. Another project I worked on was researching and analyzing competitors in the communications industry—more specifically the analysis of how our competitors marketed their corporate communications courses to their clients.

What did you find most challenging about your internship?

What I found most challenging about my internship was the sheer amount of information I needed to sift through. For my first project, I had to read through at least 25 companies' 200-300+ annual reports for their companies. I had to be thorough in my research to get an entire understanding of each company’s policy. I initially tried to find keywords, but as I kept reading the companies had their ESG reports in many different sections depending on the company, as well as many different strategies. Through my research, I was able to give an in-depth report to my CEO about the trends of ESG in varying industries.

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

If you are fortunate enough to be in a situation where you can intern abroad, go for it. The connections that you make with people all around the country and the world are an experience that not many people get to have. Not only are you potentially seeing some of the most interesting tourist sites in the world, but you are also understanding the difference in culture between the US and the rest of the world. Even if you don’t know anyone on the trip or in the program, the fact that you are American students will allow friendships to bloom with your peers.

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

Eller prepared me to show my supervisor and CEO how Eller Students are some of the best students in the country. In my program, we had multiple other interns who were not prepared to handle work, collaborate, or present the way Eller prepares you. The course that gave me the edge over my colleagues was both the BCOM courses. Being able to interact with the supervisor and CEO intelligently and respectfully is what stood out to them. Also, Eller teaching us how to publicly speak and network is another reason why I was trusted with some of the more vital work for the company. Being able to build trust and relationships in the workplace using the skills from Eller has been my greatest strength.