“I am most excited to meet and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds and to learn from their unique life experiences,” he said.
Senior business administration major Roderick Porter recently accepted a highly competitive summer brand marketing internship with L’Oréal’s CeraVe team in New York City.
“L’Oréal’s mission to ‘create the beauty that moves the world’ resonates with me, both intellectually and personally, as it reflects the values that have shaped my identity,” said Porter.
This summer, he will be joining the CeraVe team to learn from top marketing professionals and fellow interns with similar goals. For Porter, the most exciting part about this internship is the opportunity to learn from others.
It wasn’t easy for Porter to land an internship with L’Oréal’s CeraVe team, but he put in the work and spent time reflecting on how his goals and life story align with the brand’s values.
“To prepare for the interview and hiring process, I focused on understanding the core identity of L’Oréal Groupe and identifying the common thread across its brands. I also spent time in self-reflection to better understand my own story and how to express my passion for marketing,” Porter expressed. “For anyone pursuing a similar role, I recommend speaking from a place of authenticity and personal connection. Genuine, honest communication makes a real impact. If something doesn’t reflect who you are, it’s best to leave it out.”
Porter also emphasized the importance of networking and how building a strong online community helped him gain the confidence to pursue this opportunity.
“Networking gave me the confidence to speak with professionals in the field and better understand the daily realities of the job. While it didn’t directly influence my ability to secure the role, building a strong LinkedIn presence and sharing my academic and professional accomplishments was worthwhile,” he said.
Porter views his summer internship with CeraVe as a stepping stone toward his long-term goal of becoming a brand strategist. He sees this opportunity as a way to build upon his marketing skills and experience.
“I have always seen myself as a future brand strategist, and I strongly believe this digital marketing role with CeraVe at L’Oréal will help me learn how ot apply research to informed and effective decision making,” he explained.
As Porter is soon to begin his final semester at Ship this fall, he is thrilled to continue to see what opportunities are in store for him and expressed gratitude toward those who have helped him every step of the way.
“Shout-out to my family at home – I love them all more than they know. I want to thank my Mom, Dad and sister for setting an example and paving the way for me,” he said. “A special thanks to my friends and family at Ship, they mean the world to me and inspire me every day to grow and improve.”
Porter also credits Ship’s Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) and the Frederick Douglass Institute for shaping his experience at the university. As he prepares to graduate in December, Porter continues to seek out opportunities that support his future career goals.
]
