Regina Hill, M.B.A.

In my humble opinion, the goal of marketing should be to set up the alley oop for the sales team. We should warm up the playing field and provide supporting sales tools and training .At the end of the day, we should have a mindset of helping the sales team meet their goals vs. an us versus them mentality.

Personal organization, effective time management, and self-awareness are helpful tools to justify your "no" at work. Also, remember that saying "no" may look more like "help me prioritize what's currently on my plate" or "not right now." Presenting your current workload will help your supervisor help you prioritize work or take something off your plate. Presenting alternative timelines to internal clients will help manage expectations. Presenting people who may better align with the work showcases thoughtfulness and may also offer others opportunities for growth or exposure.

Sustainability is an immensely complex field. No one has all the answers, but showcasing that you understand the ecosystem is important. This includes materials, supply chain, and human rights. Compliance and regulation are a big deal with government, partners, and consumers holding organizations accountable. It's more than having a good idea or a good heart (though that will be helpful), knowing how to navigate the sustainability system - or being willing to learn - is imperative.

Summer associate programs/internships can open doors or create the foundation for future opportunities. There are times when organizations hire summer interns full-time. Although this will not always be the case, having the experience under your belt (and on your resume) may be an advantage during your job search.

Keep an open mind. There are many different marketing opportunities to explore. B2B is much different than consumer marketing. Both can be rewarding or stressful. Use this time to discover more about industries, personalities, the type of work, career paths, and hours required for success. This will be extremely helpful as you craft your future career.

Agree with the above contributors. Instead of measuring the brand audit, you would measure the outcomes of the actions implemented as a result of the brand audit. Are you seeing new customers? If so, are these the customers you desired to obtain? If not, how can you use this info to inform more decisions. Are you seeing sustained or increased brand loyalty? Does your customers' perception of the brand align with your execution? What is your brand sentiment?