Summer Associate Program

Caitlin Hawkes
Ontario
Canada Administration
McMaster University
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (Expected Graduation: Spring 2023)

Wrapping Up the Summer Associate Program

What was your favorite event of the summer?

My favorite event of the summer was the NPD Canada Volunteer Day! A group of us went to an organization called Food For Life in Burlington, where we sorted and packed about 170 bags of fresh food that would be delivered to local individuals and families. This was closer to the beginning of my internship, and I was a little nervous to go as I didn’t know too many people, however, everyone was so welcoming and so excited to be helping out the community. It ended up being a really fun and fulfilling day!

What fun activities have you been able to participate in during a Summer Friday?

Summer Fridays have allowed me to spend a lot more time outside, enjoying the nice weather. Usually on a Summer Friday I will head to my friend’s house to sit out by her pool and read, take my pup for a nice long walk, or go for a hike. I love to be outside during the Summer and these days have helped me keep on track with that!

How has your relationship with your team and/or buddy evolved?

My relationship with my team/manager and my buddy has been very supportive since the beginning. Everyone has ensured I have the proper guidance and feel comfortable asking questions if I need help with something. That being said, these relationships have evolved over the Summer into a sort of friendship. I look forward to our daily or weekly meetings to catch up at the beginning and then talk business at the end. Their support and care have really made this Summer and my project as smooth as possible.

What’s one piece of advice you have for future Summer Associates?

One piece of advice I have for future Summer Associates is to take advantage of the opportunity. NPD has a wide variety of people, and resources that can support you and help you grow. Take the time to investigate Cornerstone trainings to learn new skills and enhance your existing ones. Take the time to connect with people across all practices and roles and build relationships with them. If something interests you, like the DEI committee for example, take the time to get involved. If your office is doing an activity like an office day, a hike, etc., go! Taking advantage of this opportunity will only provide you with the best possible experience.

Briefly summarize your Summer Associate experience.

My Summer Associate experience has been awesome, and it feels like I blinked, and it was over – but time flies by when you’re having fun, right? I cannot emphasize enough how much I learned and how many people I met throughout this program. It has given me the opportunity to use my existing skills and knowledge from university and apply it to the actual field, while simultaneously teaching me so many new things. I am grateful to have had this experience at NPD!

Halfway Through My Summer Associate Program

You’re halfway through the Summer Associate Program. How do you feel it’s going?

I cannot believe we are already halfway through [the Summer Associate Program], it FLEW by! I feel like the program is going very well, I have met a lot of people, had some exposure across different teams, and have really been able to dive into my main project. While it might be a little overwhelming that we only have 5 more weeks left, and there is still so much to do. I am extremely excited to see how mine, and the other Summer Associate projects play out!

What have you learned about the role that your team/department plays at NPD?

I have learned a lot about the role that the marketing team, specifically in Canada, plays. Something that I found the most interesting was that the role I am doing with my manager is a lot more about project management rather than design. Therefore, we interact with a lot of people every day to ensure we have the right content, the right images, the right point of contact, the right list of companies to target, etc. This has been really helpful in understanding what all the other teams do, and how we all fit together as NPD.

What is the main focus of your project this summer? Have you faced any challenges/surprises as you have been working on it?

My main focus of my project this summer is a series of three marketing campaigns to generate new leads. A challenge that I have faced so far is a delay in the launch of the first campaign. However, we were able to quickly re-align everyone involved and get back on track with a new timeline, and I am excited to see the results of the first campaign soon!

What are you most excited about for the remaining half of the Summer Associate Program?

I am excited about finally seeing everything come together for everyone. Throughout the program so far, all of the Summer Associates have been able to share what our projects are, talk about how it’s going, do presentation training together, and I am really intrigued to see everyone’s final project come together and cheer them on!

Emily Miller
Connecticut
North America Practices, Analytics
Wake Forest University
Bachelor of Science in Business and Enterprise Management (Expected Graduation: May 2023)

Wrapping Up the Summer Associate Program

The Summer Associate Program is coming to an end. What has been your greatest accomplishment during the program?

The Summer Associate Program has facilitated immense growth for me both personally and professionally. However, my greatest accomplishment during the program is the fact that my team allowed me to work on a client case study to help supplement my final project. This project was extremely meaningful because it allowed me to work on a client project with another Summer Associate.

What fun activities have you been able to participate in during a Summer Friday?

I really appreciate Summer Fridays because they incentivize me to finish my work so I can get a head start on the weekend. Therefore, one of my favorite activities I was able to attend because of the Summer Friday options was a concert in New York City!

What’s one piece of advice you have for future Summer Associates?

My biggest piece of advice is connect with as many employees and associates as possible! Everyone at NPD is so knowledgeable and holds a unique set of talents and life experiences. Therefore, setting up meetings with employees from various departments allowed me to learn everything from career advice to life lessons.

How did NPD support your growth over the summer?

NPD was great at facilitating growth for all its Summer Associates. First, they really treated us all like full time employees by giving us access to as many resources and trainings as possible. Secondly, they also set up extra training and learning sessions that helped us transition into the company and finish our presentations.

Briefly summarize your Summer Associate experience.

My Summer Associate experience was extremely educational, transformative, and fun! I loved getting to learn about the company, meet people from all over the country, and work on my Summer Associate Project as well as client work.

Halfway Through My Summer Associate Program

What have you learned about the role that your team/department plays at NPD?

I have learned that the role my team plays at NPD is essential to showing clients how their brand is valuable and how they can gain market share. My team fosters innovation and provides clients with important insights to further grow.

What is the main focus of your project this summer? Have you faced any challenges/surprises as you have been working on it?

The main focus of my project this summer is to create a user guide that encourages internal and external groups to implement and take advantage of the new Checkout ‘Hub.’ As I am working on my project, I am surprised by how many different insights one can take away from the Hub and the different conclusions we can make from data that is provided by the Hub.

Each week you are participating in a “Get to Know Each Other” networking series. What has been the most surprising/exciting/fun thing you have learned about one of your other Associates?

I have learned many exciting and surprising things about other Summer Associates. I have learned that even though many Summer Associates have different daily task and responsibilities, all of our work interconnects to help make NPD function.

You recently had a Round Table discussion with a few Senior managers. What was one key thing you learned?

One key thing that I learned is that even as a Summer Associate is that it is important to make my voice heard. Even though I have only been at NPD for a few weeks, any ideas, questions, or suggestions that I have are just as important as someone who has been at the company for several years. If anything is on my mind that can help to improve NPD, it is important to speak up!

Diving in to NPD: My First Two Weeks

How did you prepare for the first day of the Summer Associate Program?

First, I set up my work space with my NPD laptop, monitor, and office supplies to ensure I had a comfortable, clean space to work. I then met with my manager and a few members of the team which made even more excited to join the team!

What are you most excited about this summer?

Overall, I am excited to be a part of my team and see first-hand how NPD plays a major role in the marketplace. Second, I am also really looking forward to my summer project because it is allows me to be creative while also showcasing all I’ve learned throughout my internship experience.

Have you networked with anyone outside of your immediate department yet?

Yes, NPD does a great job of pairing us up with buddies from other departments, so we have another contact point to speak with. Therefore because of this program I was able to meet and network with people outside my department!

How is the transition into your team going?

My team has been great as they made me feel included right away by including me in as many meetings and conversations as possible. This has helped me not only get to know the people on the team, but also learn the information from different perspectives! The NPD Group as a whole has been super inclusive and everyone, I’ve met has been exciting, engaging, and gives great advise! Also, my team, commercial analytics, hosted a meet and great for me so I could meet the whole team and get to know them which was super thoughtful.

Fallon Leibowitz
New York
North America Practices, Analytics 
Hofstra University
MBA Business Analytics & Marketing (Expected Graduation: May 2023)

Wrapping Up the Summer Associate Program

How has your relationship with your team and/or buddy evolved?

My relationship with my team has been nothing but the great! Everyone is so supportive, friendly, and always able to answer any questions I have. At first, I was nervous joining the team as a Summer Associate because everyone had developed a relationship already. After ten weeks, I feel as if I had been part of my team for years! My buddy is just as amazing as my team and is willing to help and guide me! I always look forward to our weekly meetings!

What’s one piece of advice you have for future Summer Associates?

One piece of advice that I have is to ask as many questions as you can! When I first started, I was nervous to ask any questions I had because I thought they were obvious, and I did not want to sound like I did not know anything. After ten weeks, I realized people who have been at the company for years still have questions. There is so much to learn and the more you know, the better understanding you will have of NPD.

How did you make the most of the program while being remote?

While being remote, I made the most of the program by collaborating on Zoom with many people in different departments across NPD. These colleagues were from all over the country and even some parts of Canada that I would not have met/ been in the same office as if this were an in-person internship.

What is one thing you learned about finding success while working in a large tech/market research company?

One thing I learned about finding success would be to take advantage of all the resources NPD offers. I met with as many people as I can, participated in DEI events and even went into office several times during my ten weeks here. I was able to find success by doing these things because I did beyond what was expected of me as a Summer Associate.

Briefly summarize your Summer Associate experience.

My Summer Associate experience has been great! It exceeded my expectations, and I was truly able to grow as a person. The people I met have been so helpful and supportive and I will miss interning at NPD greatly.

Halfway Through My Summer Associate Program

You’re halfway through the Summer Associate Program. How do you feel it’s going?

I can’t believe we’re only halfway through the Summer Associate Program because I have learned and been exposed to so many different projects. I also really appreciate that we have time to work on our own individual summer project as it allows us to showcase all we’ve learned throughout the internship.

What have you learned about the role that your team/department plays at NPD?

I am a member of the RBG Commercial Analytics Group. Our main job is to help show clients where they currently stand in the marketplace and how they can use analytics to help gain a competitive advantage and ultimately grow their share and profits.

This summer you were paired up with a buddy. How has that relationship evolved over the past couple of weeks?

My buddy has been really beneficial to my development at the NPD Group. Initially we started our conversations as casual get to know each other. However, the more work and projects I’ve been assigned I’ve gotten to use my buddy as another touchpoint and resource to bounce ideas and questions off of. Specifically, he sent me some of the work he did on the pricing and promotion tool to help assist me with my internship project.

Each week you are participating in a “Get to Know Each Other” networking series. What has been the most surprising/exciting/fun thing you have learned about one of your other Associates?

I really have enjoyed the “Get to Know Each Other” networking series because it has allowed me to meet with so many of my fellow peers. Not only do I really like learning about my coworker’s favorite activities and places, but I really enjoy hearing about their work at NPD as well. All of the associates are working in various fields and divisions so it is really great to connect with such a diverse group of people and learn about their roles and projects. 

You recently had a Round Table discussion with a few Senior managers. What was one key thing you learned?

The Round Table discussion with Senior Management was really great because it allowed us insight into how these leaders became so successful and what they prioritize. While every piece of information was helpful, my favorite takeaway was them honing in on the importance of collaboration and how it has really allowed NPD to succeed.

Diving in to NPD: My First Two Weeks

How did NPD engage and prepare you in the months leading up to the Summer Associate Program?

NPD was very engaging with the Summer Associates in the months leading up to the program. We received care packages filled with NPD goodies like customized NPD water bottles, drawstring bags notebooks and even a box filled with tasty snacks. There was a lot of communication between HR and the Summer Associates. Even before the summer program officially began, I felt like I have an ample amount of resources to reach out to. NPD had also sent us technological equipment to prepare us for the program.

How did you prepare for the first day of the Summer Associate Program?

I prepared for the first day of the Summer Associate Program by doing extensive research on the company. I familiarized myself with how the company operates, NPD’s most known clients and specific roles of certain employees within the company. I also came prepared with an abundance of questions, like how NPD collects data and how each division in the company interacts with one another. Lastly, I made sure to get a good nights sleep the night before my first day!

What have you learned about The NPD Group in your first two weeks that has surprised you?

I have learned so much about The NPD Group in my first two weeks! The way that NPD collects and organizes data and the way that clients are able to understand it truly amazes me. After my first day of interning, I started to notice how much data is around us even outside the workplace!

Overall, how do you feel the Summer Associate Program is going so far?

The Summer Associate Program is going great so far! I feel extremely welcomed. There is an abundance of resources whether it be reaching out to colleagues, video trainings and meetings that has helped me expand my knowledge of analytics. The NPD Group has made it easy for me to reach my goals as an intern.

Matthew Rossi
Florida
Global Technology, Enterprise
University of Miami
Master of Science in Data Science (Expected Graduation: December 2023)

Wrapping Up the Summer Associate Program

The Summer Associate Program is coming to an end. What has been your greatest accomplishment during the program?

I’m so proud that I was able to deliver value with both of my projects. Getting feedback and knowing that I had saved others time and effort was very fulfilling.

What’s one piece of advice you have for future Summer Associates?

You have more power than you realize to control the path of your summer! Network like crazy, find people doing interesting things, and get involved with helping them out. Think of ways to take your project further than the proposal and find the people who will help you get it there.

How did NPD support your growth over the summer?

NPD’s open culture was vital to my growth – everyone I reached out to was willing to take time out of their day to speak with me, share their wisdom, and support what I was doing however they could. Because of their guidance, I developed both soft skills necessary for navigating a corporate environment and the technical skills required to deliver value at a tech-driven company.

Briefly summarize your Summer Associate experience.

The word that defined my Summer Associate experience: Opportunity. I was immersed in NPD’s transparent, collaborative culture and given the opportunities to expand my network and deliver value through relevant learning projects. Because I seized those opportunities, I experienced tremendous growth.

Halfway Through My Summer Associate Program

How do you break up your day to stay motivated and engaged in this hybrid work environment?

The key, to me, is to schedule conversations. The opportunities I have to talk with other people at NPD give me the energy to make it through my day. When my work day isn’t broken up by meetings or coffee chats, I’m a strong believer in the power of the 5-minute break. A short walk or moment of rest allows me to refocus and stay productive.

What is the main focus of your project this summer? Have you faced any challenges/surprises as you have been working on it?

I’m working on two projects. For the first, I have built a PowerBI dashboard for the Enterprise teams that visualizes ticket data from the Helix system. I had never used PowerBI before, so my surprise was learning how easy it is to make beautiful visualizations.

For my second project, I’m building a Microsoft Power App that will run a python script that automatically performs feasibility analysis for custom forecasting reports for the Analytics team, with the application interface allowing the user to easily choose the industry, classifier level, and filters.

I’ve been surprised by how much I enjoy talking to stakeholders for these projects. The knowledge that the work I do will make a difference and save time for others is a major motivator for me – that’s something I didn’t know about myself prior to working for NPD.

What are you most excited about for the remaining half of the Summer Associate Program?

I’m beyond excited to present my work to the leadership team at the end of the program. I’m very proud of how my projects are shaping up and am eager to share the results.

You recently had a Round Table discussion with a few Senior managers. What was one key thing you learned?

Don Unser made a distinction between his experience working for Hewlett-Packard and his experience at NPD that really stuck with me. He explained that, while the former had an “engineering culture”, NPD has a “research culture”, and that has made a huge difference.

I’m a computer science student, but I perceive that the “typical” corporate programming job to which a Computer Science degree often leads is not for me – perhaps because I think of myself as a scientist, not an engineer. In making that cultural distinction, Don gave me words to explain my intuition. That lesson will stick with me as I navigate my career choices.

Diving in to NPD: My First Two Weeks

What are you most excited about this summer?

I’m excited that my projects provide me opportunities to learn new things and that the projects’ deliverables have obvious business value. I’m similarly eager about the opportunity to present my work at the end of the summer.

What have you learned about The NPD Group in your first two weeks that has surprised you?

I’ve been impressed by NPD’s culture for many different reasons. The culture is collaborative: people are eager to work on projects across different teams or connect with people in other departments. The culture is transparent: I was shocked that we were shown [in depth] details of the company on Day 2. The culture is welcoming: everyone I’ve met is friendly and always willing to chat.

In what ways has The NPD Group made you feel welcome and part of the team?

I have to give a shoutout to my manager, who, first of all, set out to understand my objectives for the summer and then created a program that aligned with those objectives, and second, is very understanding and easy to talk to.

Additionally, the Summer Associate program is structured to help foster relationships – it’s been wonderful to get to know some of the other associates and many people across many NPD teams so far, and it’s only been two weeks.

Overall, how do you feel the Summer Associate Program is going so far?

Excellent. I’m excited to see what the rest of the summer will hold!

Kelsey Space
New Jersey
Americas Product Management
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bachelor of Science in Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies (Expected Graduation: May 2023)

Wrapping Up the Summer Associate Program

The Summer Associate Program is coming to an end. What has been your greatest accomplishment during the program?

My greatest accomplishment this summer was watching an insight I created get presented to a client. When a team member reached out to me and asked me to build an insight for him that he would be presenting the following day, I quickly jumped to action and went digging in the Checkout data. Afterward, he sent me a recording of the client meeting and I was able to see first-hand the client’s positive reaction to my work. It is an accomplishing feeling knowing the work I did will help NPD even after the completion of the program.

What was your favorite event of the summer?

My favorite event this summer was the Let’s Jam: Scavenger Hunt. Although work has still been remote this summer, the Program Managers have still provided us with fun activities that have allowed us to get to know each other on a more personal level. All of the Summer Associateswere able to share many laughs during our virtual scavenger hunt. Another thing that I try not to forget is to take breaks! Taking a solid lunch break and standing up to stretch after meetings has increased how efficient I am when I am sitting at my desk.

How has your relationship with your team and/or buddy evolved?

Throughout the course of this summer, I have become so much closer with both my teammates and my buddy. I was able to foster those connections with people and I look forward to reconnecting with them down the line. I know I can, and will, reach out to them in the future for advice or help, or even just to check in as a friend.

How did you make the most of the program while being remote?

Although I worked remotely this summer, I was able to make even more connections with team members than I thought imaginable. With just a click I was able to connect with people on the other side of the country. Something that is so special about NPD is everyone’s willingness to talk and teach, so I made sure to take advantage of the opportunities to chat with colleagues whenever possible.

Briefly summarize your Summer Associate experience.

NPD provided me with an amazing internship experience this summer. I learned how to work professionally in a corporate environment, network and make connections, and learn skills about how to analyze and build insights from a data set. This summer was everything I hoped for and more, and I cannot thank NPD enough.

Halfway Through My Summer Associate Program

You’re halfway through the Summer Associate Program. How do you feel it’s going?

I cannot believe I have already completed five weeks of the Summer Associate Program! I have had such a positive experience here at NPD so far, learning so much and meeting so many intelligent and kind people along the way. Diving into my project and getting feedback from other employees on the Product team has been so fulfilling and has reinforced that I am on the right track.

How do you break up your day to stay motivated and engaged in this hybrid work environment?

In a world that values remote work so much and is shifting to this being the new norm, it is important to still stay motivated, engaged, and productive throughout the day. One thing that has helped me is creating boundaries between my living space and my work space. Instead of working from my room, I will pick a different place in my house, treating it as my office.

Another thing that I try not to forget is to take breaks! Taking a solid lunch break and standing up to stretch after meetings has increased how efficient I am when I am sitting at my desk.

This summer you were paired up with a buddy. How has that relationship evolved over the past couple of weeks?

This summer, my buddy has been an incredible resource for me to go to with questions and provide me with extra help and support throughout a time with so many unknowns. She has made it clear that she is always just a “ping” away and willing to help me with anything that may be on my mind. As I begin to work through my project and see my ideas come to life, I plan on utilizing her as an extra set of eyes to give me advice and feedback.

Each week you are participating in a “Get to Know Each Other” networking series. What has been the most surprising/exciting/fun thing you have learned about one of your other Associates?

The “Get to Know Each Other” networking series has often been the highlight of my week. It has been very beneficial to learn about the other Associates who are currently working through the same learning curve that I am, and hearing what they are doing this summer! At the end of this summer I know I will continue to build these relationships with them.

You recently had a Round Table discussion with a few Senior managers. What was one key thing you learned?

A key takeaway that I will not forget from the discussion was the importance of personality and having a good attitude. When asked what makes a good new hire, all three of them agreed that having a positive outlook and seeing your work as “building a cathedral” and not “just laying bricks” was one of the most crucial elements to being a successful employee. This analogy stuck with me, and I will continue to bring a positive attitude to work each and every day.

Diving in to NPD: My First Two Weeks

How did NPD engage and prepare you in the months leading up to the Summer Associate Program?

Leading up to the start of the summer, NPD did a great job keeping us informed about what to expect for the start of the program. [The Program Managers] helped me throughout the onboarding process by sending helpful emails outlining what materials should be completed and when. Prior to the first day, I was also contacted by my manager and summer buddy, and I was able to meet them ahead of time.

How did you prepare for the first day of the Summer Associate Program?

In order to prepare for the first day of the program, I refreshed my Excel skills and did more research about The NPD Group as a whole. Because my knowledge of Excel was fresh in my memory, it was one less thing I was worried about in my first weeks. By doing further research of the company, not only did I have a deeper understanding of NPD as a whole, but I was also able to come into the program with questions I wanted to ask.

What are your goals for this summer?

My biggest goal this summer is to better understand data analytics. I already have learned so much from Analytics Summer Camp, and I am fascinated by how we can organize data to tell a story. I look forward to developing these skills throughout the next eight weeks.

How has The NPD Group helped you foster connections with other employees?

Already in my first two weeks, I have been able to connect with so many employees on the NPD team. Everyone has been so personable and given me great advice that I will take with me for the rest of the summer. One thing that is so special about NPD is that I met with these employees individually, making it easier to have a more personal and in-depth conversation. I have already created so many meaningful connections and met people that I will not hesitate to reach out to down the road. Everyone I have met here at NPD has been so incredibly welcoming and kind. Although starting any new experience is always scary, my manager and the rest of my team has made me feel comfortable from the very beginning.