In this “Day-in-the-Life” blog post series, we will be featuring the profile and internship experience of our students from Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management as they reflect on what a typical day in their internship role looks like.
Name: Christopher Spina ’23
Majors: Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics
Minors: Public Communications and History (NEW/MAX)
Internship Title/Company: Supply Chain Intern at BD
Describe your position and what it entails?
This summer, I am a supply chain intern at BD where I am working as a member of the supply chain relations team. My primary focus has been my intern project, which involves measuring and tracking customer forecast accuracy and bias in relation to orders and sales.
What does a typical day in your role look like?
I start off my workday meeting with my project sponsor to develop a plan of what to accomplish by the end of the day. Afterward, I work on my intern project for a couple of hours. If I run into any issues or have questions, I set up a call with a teammate to check in and go over anything regarding the project. Then, I eat lunch with other interns.
In the afternoon, I attend a meeting with the supply chain relations team to communicate any important information, check in with other team members and see what is working and what is not working. Typically, after this meeting, I take a 30-minute break where I network with colleagues in the office. For the rest of the day, I continue working on my project and check in with my sponsor.
The BD Summer Internship Program offers sessions for all interns to join that consist of product reviews, executive speaker series and resume workshops. If there is one on schedule, I always attend before leaving the office.
What do you look forward to most coming to work?
My favorite part of interning at BD this summer is the great teammates and fellow interns that I get to work and interact with every day. Everybody I have met has been so friendly, helpful and welcoming, which has really made a tremendous impact on my experience. Additionally, it is very rewarding knowing that the work I am doing is making a real difference in advancing the world of health.
How did you land this internship?
After interning with Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare last summer, I developed an interest in the medical supply chain and wanted to gain more experience this summer. During the school year, I researched the leading companies in the medical device and technology industries and found BD was hiring interns. I applied and ended up getting an offer.
How has Whitman prepared you for this internship?
Whitman prepared me for this internship in a variety of ways. While the classes I have taken thus far did a great job in exposing me to supply chain management, my professors helped me discover my interest in the subject by making a relatively difficult topic clear and engaging in class. Additionally, the Whitman Career Center was very helpful in the application process for BD. The career advisors provided great assistance in polishing my resume and giving me tips before my interview.
What have you learned so far from this experience?
So far, I have learned so much about the industry and how different customers forecast and respond to disruptions and issues in the supply chain. Furthermore, through my internship project, I have been able to hone my existing skills in Microsoft Excel and have developed new ones in PowerBI.
- Balsara, Salerno Serve as Class of 2023 Whitman Class Marshals - December 23, 2022
- Five Ways Students Can Ace Final Exams - November 4, 2022
- Whitman Student Eager to Explore Various Career Paths - October 27, 2022