Jack Allen is from Fairfax, VA and uses he/his pronouns. He is a junior pursuing a dual degree in Marketing (DMS) and Management (EIT).

Jack Allen will be interning for Warner Bros. Discovery in the summer of 2023.

We asked Jack to share both his internship and Pamplin experiences with us.

How did you find your internship? What is your title and what will you do for them? 

Short story? Networking. Longer story? I reached out to someone named Luke Buxton, who founded UNC-Chapel Hill’s version of one of the organizations I lead. I was interested in learning more about how his time in the organization, leadership advice, and how he was doing on the Bleacher Report Integrated Strategy team in NYC. We had a great informational interview and he eventually found me a guy to connect with named Jared, who’s in Atlanta working in Product Marketing for Bleacher Report. I conducted another informational interview with him, and he asked for my resume to send around and get me an interview. I applied generally for the Warner Brothers Discovery Sports Marketing Internship, but Jared helped me get my foot in the door with Bleacher Report and Product Marketing specifically.

My title this summer will be “Bleacher Report Product Marketing Intern”. Jared’s actually going to be my manager, which is really cool. I’ll be working on creative requests for paid and organic marketing placements, curating copy for marketing campaigns, supporting B/R email strategies, managing A/B test plans, helping coordinate product launches, and whatever else I can do to support the team!

What do you think will be your favorite part about the internship?

I’m extremely excited to meet new people and learn from veterans in the company. I plan on introducing myself to as many people as I can, raising my hand, joining groups, and setting up informational interviews. Also, after living in Virginia my whole life and not knowing a single person in Atlanta, it’ll help to make some new friends!

What type of student would you recommend to apply to this internship and why?

I would say someone who is passionate about working in sports marketing, knows the B/R brand, and is relentless. I spent hours upon hours preparing for my interviews and even took 14 pages of handwritten notes before my final interview. It’s because I cared and wanted it that bad. Not even just with this internship, but with any internship, make sure it gets you excited enough to want to put in the work for it.

How was the recruitment process?

It was pleasant! I completed a HireVue interview as well as another with some really cool people on the marketing team. That might seem kind of short for a process, but I think I set myself up for success by making connections in the company beforehand. Regardless, it felt right because everyone was so kind and made me feel comfortable throughout. The official Warner Bros. Discovery LinkedIn page even commented on my acceptance post!

What do you want to do after graduation? 

I would ideally love to continue on the path that I’m on now. Ever since I took my first Sports and Entertainment Marketing class in 10th grade, I’ve wanted a career in the industry. I think this internship is a wonderful opportunity and I plan on making the most of it to set myself up for success!

What advice would you give to an incoming Pamplin freshman?

Seek discomfort! Adjusting to college is tough and making the effort to make new friends and get involved on campus can be uncomfortable. It takes some embracing of that discomfort in order to adapt, stretch your boundaries, and grow. Trust me, you’ll be better for it.

What is your favorite part about being a management and or Pamplin student?

I really enjoy being surrounded by innovators and entrepreneurs. The passion to create and solve problems is contagious in the college and I really think people build each other up here. It helps that I’m a part of the EIT program specifically.

What is your LinkedIn?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-allen222/

If any, what organizations are you in and what do you enjoy about them?

I currently serve as the President of both Pi Sigma Epsilon, a gender-inclusive business fraternity, and UNCUT Blacksburg, a sports media non-profit. I love them both! Not only is Pi Sigma Epsilon the reason I’ve developed the professional skills to obtain this internship, it’s also the reason found my community and best friends at Virginia Tech. UNCUT Blacksburg has also been wonderful. I find a sense of purpose in being able to work with Virginia Tech student-athletes to share who they are as humans, rather than just athletes.