Celebrating the 2024 summer interns at Driven Brands
In honor of Intern Appreciation Day, Driven Brands shines the spotlight on our team of 2024 summer interns.
In celebration of Intern Appreciation Day on July 25, we want to introduce and recognize the team of interns who have supported Driven Brands this past summer in a variety of capacities – from analytics and operations to marketing and FP&A.
Each spotlight recognizes their respective contributions to Driven Brands and gives them the opportunity to share lessons from their internship experiences and what they’ve learned about what it takes to be ‘driven’ in work and life.
We appreciate their effort and enthusiasm this summer, and we wish them luck in their future endeavors.
Thank you for joining us at Driven Brands this summer!
Keerthana Allam, IT – Data Analytics Intern
Hometown: Hyderabad, India
College/University and Major: University at Buffalo, master's in Data Science
Your favorite road trip/destination story: Trip to the southern tip of India with my former colleagues.
Favorite lesson learned during your internship: As an intern, I've learned not to be afraid to approach other colleagues with my questions. I've embraced curiosity and discovered that everyone has valuable insights to share. This experience has taught me the importance of seeking help and learning from those around me.
What have you learned about what it means to be 'Driven'?: For me, being driven means pouring my enthusiasm into every task, actively seeking out opportunities to contribute, and fully embracing responsibility for my projects. It's about pushing myself to exceed expectations and being proud of the impact I make.
Sabrina Caruso, Corporate FP&A Intern
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
College/University and Major: Furman University, Mathematics-Economics
Favorite road trip/destination story: My favorite road trip was when my family and I moved from Long Island, New York, to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2021! We had a car full of belongings and were moving on to a new chapter of our lives.
Favorite lesson learned during my internship: The importance of soft skills! I have learned that a soft skill such as effective communication is valuable whether working on a project, collaborating with team members, and having conversations on a daily basis! Adaptability is another big soft skill I have noticed on a daily basis, and the ability to stay flexible throughout the weeks.
What have you learned about what it means to be ‘Driven’?: Being driven means having a strong sense of determination to achieve your goals. For example, everyone throughout this internship has emphasized the importance of creating smart-goals and staying focused on them, and that is a big factor I will take away with me for the future. I believe being driven also means having perseverance and passion – both of which are values that come from dedication and commitment.
Logan Gillespie, Treasury Intern
Hometown: Fort Mill, SC
College/University and Major: Clemson, Finance & Accounting
Your favorite road trip/destination story: My favorite trip I’ve been on was to southern France.
Favorite lesson learned during your internship: My favorite lesson that I have learned from this internship is listen to the advice that applies to you and use it.
What have you learned about what it means to be 'Driven'? Being driven involves striving to exceed expectations and collaborating effectively with your team.
Kai Leckszas, ATI Marketing Intern
Hometown: Washington DC
College/University and major: Georgetown University, Marketing
Favorite destination story: My favorite destination story is one that I have actually done six times in my life. In middle school and high school, my baseball team would travel to the Dominican Republic before our spring seasons as a mission/baseball trip. We would do numerous community service projects and run baseball camps for the local players there. We would also do huge giveaways of gear and other necessities for the sport. We played many games against good competition from around the area as well, making the well-rounded trips unforgettable.
Favorite lesson learned during internship: I have learned a lot of this being a student-athlete at Georgetown, but my internship has only taught me more. The use of time is crucial. You have to make the most out of any time that you have. Playing baseball in Maine this summer has definitely introduced some challenges when it comes to how much time I can spend on certain things. Cutting time out to make sure everything is done with full effort is a skill and lesson that I have learned throughout college, and especially during my internship. Time management is not only helpful for taking care of your important responsibilities, but also making sure you have time for yourself to focus on anything else you wish to spend time on.
What have you learned about what it means to be ‘Driven’?: I have learned that to be driven means to approach everything with 100% effort. Whether it be through a task, project, or even communication with coworkers, attacking everything and giving your best work will lead to a lot of success in whatever you do.
Mio Mori, Income Tax Intern
Hometown: Cary, North Carolina
College/University and Major: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Accounting Favorite road trip/destination story: My favorite road trip was when my family and I went to Atlanta. We got good food on the way and spent some time with family friends when we got there.
Favorite lesson learned during your internship: Ask questions. Not only will it help you produce better results, but it shows that you care.
What have you learned about what it means to be ‘Driven’: One of the values listed on Driven Brands’ website is inclusivity, highlighting the importance of teamwork. During my time as an intern, I could tell that the company truly lives up to this. From reporting any progress to discussing responses received from other parties related to the work, almost all the work people do involves communication with others in some shape or form. This communication allows everyone to be on the same page and be included/involved, thus promoting teamwork.
Hemantha Lakshmi Anusha Namagiri, IT Project Management Intern
Hometown: India
College/University and Major: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Computer Science
Your favorite road trip/destination story: One of my favorite road trips was exploring the scenic routes around Portland, Oregon. The lush greenery, breathtaking waterfalls like Multnomah Falls, and the Vibrant city culture made it an unforgettable experience. Favorite lesson learned during your internship: During my internship, I learned the importance of collaboration and communication in achieving team goals. Working closely with different departments has shown me how vital teamwork is to a company’s success.
What have you learned about what it means to be 'Driven'?: Being driven means constantly striving for excellence and never settling for mediocrity. It involves setting ambitious goals, working hard to achieve them, and always seeking opportunities for growth and improvement.
Emma Pope, Maaco Corporate Marketing Intern
Hometown: Rock Hill, SC
College/University and Major: Western Carolina University, double major in Business Management and Marketing
Favorite road trip/destination story: My favorite road trip story is when my friends and I went to the beach together. We did car karaoke the whole time and made some amazing memories.
Favorite lesson learned during your internship: To fake it until you make it. Being in a new role comes with unknowns, but even 20 years from now, you may be taking on a new task. Be confident that you can overcome it.
What have you learned about what it means to be 'Driven'?: Through this internship, I learned that being driven means tackling new obstacles with patience but also determination. No task is too small, and no problem is too difficult. There is always room to learn more.
Drew Svonovec, Corporate FP&A Intern
Hometown: Waxhaw, North Carolina
College/University and Major: NC State, Finance
Your favorite road trip/destination story: I visited Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, my sophomore year with a group of my friends and had a great time visiting all the shops and Dollywood.
Favorite lesson learned during your internship: How important things like a positive attitude, open mind, and effective communication are. When I first came here, I was expecting to primarily learn “hard skills” like programming with Excel, constructing formulas, etc. It was when I started to ask my coworkers for advice moving forward, they all mentioned the importance of the team and how important it is to be a part of a good team.
What have you learned about what it means to be 'Driven'?: Being driven to me means a person should put their best foot forward. This consists of maintaining level headedness in all situations, a “glass half full” attitude, and an open-minded attitude to complete tasks, even if these tasks are outside of one’s profession.