Sara D'Urso

Major: Global Studies
Minor: Spanish

Consumer Intelligence Intern at NielsenIQ

How did you learn about this internship opportunity?

I had known of NIQ as a well-respected market research company, and a current employee recommended that I apply.

What is a piece of advice you would give someone in your major looking for an internship?

Be open to any and all opportunities. The Global Studies program teaches students to think critically about world issues and approach problems from various perspectives, which is valuable in any work field. Apply to any internships that sound interesting - the worst that can happen is getting a “no,” but you never know when you might land an offer.

What key responsibilities or projects have you taken on during your internship?

During my internship, I was placed as an analyst on a couple of client projects where I assisted with delivering reports on new product (CPG) innovation tests. After surveys were completed, I used the organization’s tools to prepare the data, run the initial analysis, and collaborate with my team to shape final deliverables that explained the results and guided clients on how best to move forward with their innovation. In addition to projects, I assisted with updating our databases and pulling data from past studies to support further research within the company.

How has your internship helped build your skills and clarify your career goals? How did being a Liberal Arts student at Purdue apply to your internship?

My internship helped me strengthen my data analysis skills and learn to visualize data in a way that helps inform business decisions. Through participation in several client projects, I learned to think critically about why certain patterns and results appear in diagnostics and how to explain those results clearly to clients. The balance of data analytics and client-focused communication became one of my favorite aspects of the role, and I appreciate how I had the opportunity to hone my presentation and writing skills throughout the summer. Thanks to my Purdue Liberal Arts education, I came into the internship with strong communication skills that gave me a solid foundation to build on. As a Global Studies student, my coursework challenges me to approach problems from multiple angles and consider diverse perspectives, which proved to be valuable skills as an analyst. Curiosity is essential in any internship, and my Global Studies courses have taught me to stay curious about the world and always seek to learn more.

In what ways has the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University supported your internship journey? How has your participation in our Job-Ready program specifically aided your professional development?

I’m so grateful to the College of Liberal Arts for helping make my internship experience possible through the Job-Ready award. It made it easier for me to move to Chicago for the summer and take advantage of working in-person in the downtown office, where I made valuable connections with coworkers and other interns while learning more about the market research field. During the summer, I always felt supported by Purdue’s CLA and encouraged by the pride they take in their students. I know that the school wants me to succeed, and it’s evident by their mid-summer check-in email and willingness to help their students. Being a CLA Degree Plus student has allowed me to pursue my interests in world events, policy, and languages alongside my economics degree, which has proved to be an invaluable combination. In addition to learning important technical skills like data analysis and coding, CLA teaches me to communicate with others in an effective way and to think about issues from a variety of lenses. I’m so grateful for all that I’ve learned, and how it’s opened doors for me professionally.

Could you highlight a standout aspect of your experience in the Job-Ready program that you find particularly noteworthy?

One noteworthy experience from my summer internship was the opportunity to contribute to a full project from initial proposal all the way to client delivery, and how that sparked my enthusiasm for turning data into meaningful and actionable steps for clients to inform their strategies. I loved exploring the different diagnostics and visualizing the data in ways that revealed key insights, and I learned how to ask questions and dig deeper to understand why certain numbers appear the way they do. This experience was so helpful in shaping my passion for bringing data to life, and I’m grateful that the Job-Ready program helped enable me to grow this skill, and many others, throughout the summer.