Ruthie Brown is from Giles County, Virginia and uses she/her pronouns. She is a Management Consulting and Analytics Major and is set to graduate in Spring 2024.

Ruthie is currently an intern for the United States Cyber Range of Virginia Tech. She has been an intern for them since September of 2022 and is still participating in the internship.

We asked Ruthie to share both her internship and Pamplin experiences with us.

How did you find your internship? How long have you been working there? What is your title and what do you do for them? 

I found the Business Development Internship at the United States Cyber Range of Virginia Tech through Handshake! I have been working for the USCR since early September. My title is Business Development Intern, and I have mainly been working on customer relations, social media strategy, and market research projects. 

What is your favorite part about the internship?

My favorite part about this internship is learning from my supervisors. My supervisor, Vicky Ratcliffe, is supportive and understanding of me being a student and wanting to learn. She also challenges me and offers opportunities to show my abilities while also helping me learn from my failures and mistakes. As a young professional, it is so important to surround yourself with professionals who are willing to guide and support you in your ambitions. I am thankful the USCR provides such wise, supportive, and fun mentors and colleagues for me to learn from. 

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

I would recommend any student that has any interest in learning about the inner workings of a business to apply for this role. As a Business Development intern, I get exposure to almost all parts of the company, since my role is to support the growth of the company in any way needed. For this role, the student would need to be able to take initiative daily, have a strong work ethic, think creatively to solve a variety of problems, and be willing to take constructive criticism in order to be a better employee. The student should also be professional in the way that they carry themselves in and out of the workplace. I work directly with high school and college instructors across the country, so it is important to know how to be professional and understanding of my clients' needs and situations. 

What are your plans for this summer?

I found my internship through LinkedIn. I was looking for an internship in consulting, but I was unsure which industry I wanted to work in. I found Lord Abbett & Co.'s Advisor Consultant internship for 2023. I felt like the job description was what I was looking for. This internship fosters learning and professional development. I was looking for a company that cared about their impact and their clients.

How was the recruitment process for Lord Abbett & Co.? 

After applying through Lord Abbett's website, I was offered a HireView interview about 3 weeks after I applied. It was mainly behavior interview questions. About a week later, I was asked to interview with 3 employees in the Advisor Consultant role. The three people I interviewed with asked great questions, and the interviews felt more like conversations. The following week, I was asked to virtually attend Lord Abbett's Super Day. I went through a round of 3 interviews with employees in higher positions. They asked more difficult questions, but our conversation flowed, and it was one of my favorite interviews to date. They were knowledgeable and professional, but they were interested in who I am and who I want to be and less interested in my qualifications and experience. After this interview, I was asked to meet with the Advisor Consultant Desk Leader who also is in charge of the Advisor Consultant Internship Program that I was interviewing for. I, again, felt encouraged to be myself, and I really enjoyed his openness about the role and the type of candidate that succeeds there. Our conversation was lively and fun, and I could tell they were hiring interns based on drive, ambition, and willingness to learn. I was offered the internship about a week later, and immediately accepted. I didn't want to be 1 in 1,000 interns. I wanted to be known in the company by all levels in order to build lasting professional relationships and experience. I felt like Lord Abbett wants that for their interns, too. 

What are you most looking forward to for this internship?

I am really looking forward to learning more about Lord Abbett and the financial consulting industry and having the opportunity to work directly with senior leadership. I am also really looking forward to being in Jersey City/ New York City for the summer. I have never lived in a big city before, so I am looking forward to the life lessons I will learn and memories I will make. 

From your knowledge, what will you be doing for this internship? 

I will be an advisor consultant intern. The internship is primarily based around learning about the finance industry, the work Lord Abbett does, and how to succeed as an Advisor Consultant at Lord Abbett. I will work closely with a mentor from day one, as well as shadow different departments in the office to gain a holistic knowledge of the company. I will work on different projects, learn how to present Lord Abbett's products to clients, and actively participate in Lord Abbett's Global Corporate Citizenship. 

What do you want to do after graduation? 

I want to work in consulting or project management. I love working with people and helping businesses positively impact their community and their workforce through problem solving and innovation. 

What advice would you give to an incoming Pamplin freshman?

I would advise any Pamplin freshman to keep an open mind. Try a lot of different things and ask a lot of different questions. I would advise them to ask for mentorship and advice from professors and professionals in the industry you are interested in as well as industries you may not know a lot about. The Pamplin faculty want the absolute best for you, and they will do whatever they can to support you in achieving your goals. 

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

My favorite part about being in management as a Pamplin student is the spirit of the Pamplin college across all students, faculty, and alumni. Pamplin feels like a family. Everyone wants you to succeed, and this supportive atmosphere is hard to find anywhere else. Alumni are always happy to answer questions and connect. Faculty are always willing to go to great lengths to provide help in any way possible. Students have a team mindset. When one of us succeeds, we celebrate. When one of us is struggling, we encourage and help in any way possible. Ut Prosim is undeniably evident in Pamplin. 

How did the management department help you with your current and future positions?

My professor, Denise Cordova, was really helpful during the entire interview process for both my semester-long internship and my summer internship. She helped me practice and prepare for interviews, and she helped me understand if the positions were right for me. She also introduced me to my mentor, Mary Davie. Mary has been wonderful in walking me through the logistics of understanding my career path. She is also a great resource for expanding my network. 

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

I am a Young Life WyldLife leader at Shawsville Middle School. WyldLife is a middle school focused ministry. I really enjoy being a part of a community that is encouraging in every way, especially spiritually. I find so much joy in mentoring middle school girls in life and faith and having the opportunity to build relationships within the Shawsville community in order to make a positive, lasting impact. I am also Co President for the Pamplin Leadership Development Team. The goal of PLDT is to help students develop their professional and leadership skills through conferences, workshops, and events. As Co President, I help lead a team of five committees that plan and execute the Annual Pamplin Student Leadership Conference, various workshops at Virginia Tech and high schools across the state, and other networking and leadership development events for students at Virginia Tech. I love having the opportunity to lead a team that represents Ut Prosim so well.

 What is your LinkedIn?

linkedin.com/in/ruthie-ann-brown