BGSU student forges pathway to a marketing career at Fortune 500 company, credits education and on-campus involvement for success

After a successful digital marketing internship at Sherwin-Williams, BGSU junior Brooke Korsgaard works part-time for the company while pursuing her degree in business administration. (BGSU photo/Craig Bell)

BGSU student forges pathway to a marketing career at Fortune 500 company, credits education and on-campus involvement for success

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5. BGSU student forges pathway to a marketing career at Fortune 500 company, credits education and on-campus involvement for success

After a successful internship at Sherwin-Williams, junior Brooke Korsgaard is working part-time for the company as an undergraduate

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By Laren Kowalczyk '07

As a sophomore at Bowling Green State University, Brooke Korsgaard took a chance and applied for a digital marketing internship at Sherwin-Williams, one of the world's most recognizable paint brands.

She assumed her chances of getting the position would be slim, with only two years of college coursework and no professional marketing experience. Regardless, she forged ahead, relying on her BGSU education, leadership skills and genuine eagerness to learn.

Korsgaard not only secured the internship at the Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams Company in Summer 2023, but has continued in her role part-time, setting herself on a pathway to a career at the Fortune 500 company after graduation.

"I've always dreamed of having a career at a large company, and to have the opportunity to intern at Sherwin-Williams and continue working there as a student has been the best experience," Korsgaard said, now a junior.

"Pushing myself outside my comfort zone was a huge part of getting this opportunity, and that's something I developed at BGSU."

Korsgaard holds a co-op position at Sherwin-Williams, which allows her to work at the company while finishing her degree, with the goal of transitioning into a full-time role after graduation.

"I've had a lot of experience with interns, and Brooke is impressive," said Lindsey Guzzo, digital operations manager and chief of staff for Sherwin-Williams Performance Coatings Group. "She was highly educated, had a lot of poise and didn't hesitate to take on projects or challenges.

"We see a lot of potential in her and would like to have her on our team permanently."

Brooke Korsgaard secured an internship at Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams in Summer 2023 and now holds a co-op position that allows her to work at the company while finishing her degree at BGSU.

From the classroom to the real world

Korsgaard, who is from Stow, Ohio, is majoring in business administration, specializing in marketing at the nationally ranked BGSU Schmidthorst College of Business, with access to high-tech learning facilities and expert faculty members in the state-of-the-art Maurer Center.

Korsgaard is learning fundamental marketing principles through her classes - concepts she then applies to her projects in social media, email marketing, analytics, marketing automation and project management at Sherwin-Williams.

"I'm learning so much in my classes, and it's really valuable to see firsthand how it works in the real world," Korsgaard said. "I knew the BGSU Schmidthorst College of Business had a good reputation, and now I see why it's so highly ranked."

In addition to the education Korsgaard receives in the classroom, she holds several leadership positions in student organizations on campus, which she said have also been crucial to her early professional success.

Korsgaard is the vice president of marketing for Women in Business Leadership, vice president of communications and membership recruitment for the BGSU chapter of the American Marketing Association and head of the marketing committee for the Young Women in Leadership Conference.

"Getting involved on campus has really helped me grow as a person. It has provided me with confidence, networking experience and opportunities to work collaboratively with all different types of people," she said. "My biggest advice to students is to get involved because that's one of the things that has really shaped me into a leader."

BGSU junior Brooke Korsgaard works remotely for Sherwin-Wiliams in a digital marketing role, which she balances in between classes. (BGSU photo/Craig Bell)

Excellence in business education

The Schmidthorst College of Business, ranked among the top business schools in the U.S. for student experience by Poets&Quants, provides students with valuable and relevant academic and experiential learning opportunities to prepare them for professional success.

The college often hosts engaging events that bring corporate partners and alumni to campus to share knowledge and build connections with students, complementing the mission of the Michael and Sara Kuhlin Hub for Career Design and Connections to connect students to its robust network of industry professionals in collaboration with colleges across BGSU.

The Kuhlin Career Hub positions students for professional success by introducing them to its growing network of top local and national employer partners through events like career expos, prototyping experiences and alumni mentoring through the Falcon Professional Network.

The personal connections facilitated through the Kuhlin Career Hub are integral in helping students build connections with professionals in their chosen fields.

"We believe that a BGSU Schmidthorst College of Business education is more than a degree," said Schmidthorst College of Business Dean Dr. Jennifer Percival. "Through our collaboration with our industry partners, we are able to facilitate a work and learning experience that provides our students with the opportunity to apply what they learn immediately and begin their careers while completing our program. This enhances the learning for all students as they bring these work experiences with them to the classroom."

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Media Contact | Michael Bratton | [email protected] | 419-372-6349