Grady InternViews: Anushka Jariwala

This is part of a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their summer internship experiences.  

Anushka is a fourth-year advertising student working with AMC Networks as an Ad Sales intern and a T. Howard Foundation Internship Program Recipient. Read on as she provides insight into what this internship looks like.

Briefly describe your internship and responsibilities.

I am an ad sales intern at AMC Networks. I work under an account executive and the VP of Sales and work on whatever projects they require me to do. I do ad sales research and write reports, work on certifications training me in programmatic advertising and sales, and meet with executives in different departments to understand the way AMC Networks runs.

I’m currently working on two projects. The first is a group project to discover “the next big thing” for AMC Networks. My group and I are working on an idea to create, launch and promote a video game adaptation. We will then present our slide deck to the leadership team and CEO. My second project is a research project to work on upgrades for the AMC+ streaming platform and make suggestions on how to improve it. I will present this to the sales team at the end of the internship as well.

What does the structure of your internship look like?

Usually, my day-to-day routine consists of going to meetings, working on my projects, and learning more about television and streaming through certifications and research. I look at competitors, current trends in the media and new updates regarding AMC Networks. The structure is very loose overall and tailored to what I want to learn and explore even as I work on my assigned projects.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced?

The biggest challenge I’ve faced is reaching out and networking with professionals in my workspace. It can be intimidating to talk to these people that have worked in the industry for years. However, after talking to some senior-level people (including the chief commercial officer and the SVP of sales), I’ve realized that they’re always happy to chat. They’re very welcoming and were in my position once upon a time so they understand my nervousness. After a few weeks, I’ve become settled in my environment and feel more comfortable opening up.

What has been your favorite part about your internship so far? Tell us a story if you have one!

My favorite part of my internship so far is when some zombies came and visited us in the office! In order to promote and celebrate the premiere of AMC’s new show: “Dead City” — part of “The Walking Dead” universe — there was a free coffee cart a few blocks away where you could take pictures with zombies. After visiting the coffee cart, the zombies also came to the office and scared us. It was a cool experience and helped me understand how cool AMC’s work culture is. We’re always looking for ways to have a little fun.

How have the classes you’ve taken at Grady prepared you for this internship?

The classes at Grady are all very group project-focused. This has prepared me for interacting with some of the other AMC interns and working on my current group project. I have a background in creative projects and campaigns, so this new experience wasn’t unfamiliar to me. I had a lot of good ideas and was able to communicate them effectively.

What’s your advice to other students looking for a similar opportunity?

Be very intentional in applying to roles. Make sure your resume is up to date, and you present yourself in the way you want. Apply to roles you might not think you’re qualified for or you might not be interested in. Cast a wide net, and see what you can catch. Make sure your internship lines up with your goals. If you strike the right balance and keep applying, you won’t be disappointed. I’ve always wanted to work in entertainment, so I applied to the T. Howard Foundation, which is an organization that helps students find internships/opportunities in that field. If possible, try to find something like that so you have the right support system. Some recommendations include: IRTS Foundation, The Emma Bowen Foundation and FUTURE NOW Media Foundation.

How will this role guide your future career path?

This role will help me establish connections in the entertainment/media space and help me get a leg up when applying to other similar companies. I want to work in film/TV and AMC Networks is a provider, so I will have that experience going into my next role. This internship will also help me decide if I want to go into ad sales or a different area within advertising.

What’s your career goal?

I’d like to work in a marketing or a marketing-adjacent role within an entertainment company. My areas of interest include television, film, animation and streaming. I don’t know where I will go next but I’d like to do something similar to what I’m doing now at AMC Networks. I hope one day, I can work on big-budget campaigns that get people excited to go to the movies.

What lessons will you take back with you to the classroom in the fall?

I will come back with a better sense of the media landscape and trends surrounding advertising. Based on the research I’ve done, I will be more knowledgeable about topics I didn’t know about before: sales, data-driven marketing and digital marketing. Additionally, I will have improved my presentation skills significantly. I will be ready to get back to working on group projects with a better understanding of how to operate in a corporate setting.

How has this role helped you discover what you are passionate about?

I already knew I loved movies and television, but this internship has helped me realize how big the industry is and how many opportunities there are within it. There are so many possibilities, even in the current shifting landscape. In my time here, I’ve been given many chances to explore new content, understand the way it’s made and distributed, and create ideas of my own. I will always be grateful for that.

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Don’t be scared to do something you never thought you would do. I wasn’t interested in going into sales and most of the internships I applied to were geared more towards social media, marketing and PR. Now that I’m over halfway through my time here at AMC Networks, I’ve realized that there’s nothing wrong with trying something new or unfamiliar. There are still more things to be learned.