Indiana University's Kelley School of Business has prepared its students to enter the business world since its first business class in 1830. By encouraging students to explore different business avenues, they experience the business world in all its intricacies. Hailey, a social media specialist and intern at REGIONAL federal credit union has become an example of what it means to be well-rounded. She continues to grow her knowledge of marketing and social media.
"Kelley School of Business wants their graduates to be very well-rounded," Hailey said. "I don't just take marketing and analytic classes. I take a finance class, accounting classes, all these classes that cover different aspects of a business."
Hailey will start her junior year at Indiana University this fall as a double major in Marketing and Business Analytics and a minor in Psychology. But as summer break is in full swing, she has spent the past few months interning with REGIONAL federal credit union.
"I run the credit union's social media accounts, creating and scheduling posts, tracking the data behind the accounts," Hailey said. "I keep our social media up to date, and I post the important information and events members should know, along with more creative things that keep our social media fun and interesting."
Her time with REGIONAL has been vital as she learns the ins and outs of marketing. According to Hailey, REGIONAL has been the perfect environment for her to learn.
"In this most recent spring semester, I took my very first marketing class, which was just an introduction to marketing," she said. "So, I didn't have much experience or exposure to marketing from a schooling perspective yet. It just covered the basics of marketing, and it didn't cover a lot of the more modern parts of marketing, which is always changing and requires you to keep up with those changes. That's why this internship has been so valuable to me; I've been able to learn more and apply that learning to a more modern business environment."
"I've gotten to see a lot of the elements of digital and social media marketing, which is growing and changing every day," she continued. "Once my junior year starts, and I begin taking more of the core classes Kelley offers, I'll be able to apply everything that I have learned here to my classes."
Hailey is considered a Gen Z individual, so she has the advantage of having previous social media knowledge just from her own experience growing up in the digital age.
"Being submerged in the digital age my entire life set me up well to succeed in this particular internship at REGIONAL," Hailey said. "I've had a Facebook account early on and I have used Instagram since it came out. I truly understand how it works, but I never saw it from the business perspective. It has been nice to analyze and create these modes of communication and outreach from a business standpoint."
Hailey feels very fortunate to work with REGIONAL federal credit union for her first internship, where the environment is a positive and supportive one.
"I was nervous at first because it was my first real internship, my first real job," she said. "But it's been so much fun, and the team has been so nice and helpful as I continue to learn."
Hailey is from Munster but lived in Michigan before moving back to Munster for high school. She started at Indiana University in 2019, where the majority of her friends went as well.
"We moved as a crew," Hailey said. "It's nice to have them there with me because it feels like I have a bit of home with me."
Family is vital to Hailey. She has one sister who is almost two years old, and though the age difference is huge, she loves being her big sister and watching her grow.
Hailey loves to read, watch TV and movies, and hang out with her family and friends. She is currently learning how to golf, something she always wanted to do but never got the chance until she began working for REGIONAL federal credit union.
"I can only say I'm learning how to golf, not that I know how to golf," she said with a laugh. "I got the push I needed to learn when I started at REGIONAL.
For more information about REGIONAL federal credit union, visit their website at https://www.regionalfcu.org/.
