Internship Spotlight: Makena Gesino, PepsiCo

 Makena Gesino '23 BSBA (Marketing & Business Management) was a Sales Management Intern at Frito-Lay, PepsiCo in Tucson, AZ.

What was the process for getting this internship/job?

I attended an Eller Career Fair my freshman year, where I saw a presentation about what it’s like to work at PepsiCo/Frito-Lay. After that, I networked within PepsiCo and the Tucson Zone to learn more about the company and the people who work there. The Frito-Lay internship is offered for the summer after your junior year, so once junior year began, I filled out the internship application and completed a virtual interview to secure the position!

What type of projects do you work on?

For my summer internship, I was assigned a project for Convenience Store Growth & Development. For this project, I was tasked with helping with product placement in stores, increasing the market standard of planograms, improving the process of identifying and communicating voids, and increasing sales and market share.

What is your favorite part of the experience?

My favorite part of this experience has been the company culture at the Tucson Frito-Lay. Everyone is supportive and foster a fun, positive work environment that has made my first internship experience amazing! My mentors have always welcomed any questions I have and are committed to helping me learn and develop new skills. I am so thankful that I am able to work with the wonderful people at the Tucson Frito-Lay!

What do you find most challenging?

I’d say the most challenging aspect of this internship was learning the acronyms/lingo that employees use in the office and understanding the complex process of manufacturing, distributing, and selling the product. As well as waking up at 3 am to go on route rides, even though they were a lot of fun!

What are you learning?

I’m learning the entire process of Frito-Lay’s operations, from making the chips at the manufacturing plant to the point of final sale at retail locations. I’ve gotten first hand sales experience by selling displays into stores to expand our product portfolio and increase our market share. I have also enjoyed learning about the science behind product placement in stores, it’s interesting to see the various ways that companies position their product that you don’t think about as a consumer!

What advice do you have for other students looking for similar experiences?

My advice for other students looking for similar experiences is to search for the industries that interest you the most. Once you’ve narrowed down which industries you would want to work in, connect with people within those industries and ask them about their experiences and future opportunities for internships. Make as many connections as you can, networking is one of the most beneficial things to securing an internship!