EDITOR’S NOTE: Once again this summer, Front Row’s Intern Chronicles series showcases some of ESPN’s summer interns. For more information on ESPN Internships, visit the ESPN Careers site.
On July 27, the 78 young men and women who make up the Bristol, New York, and Los Angeles ESPN summer intern groups gathered at the company’s headquarters in Connecticut for the annual symposium.
The three groups were elated to meet the other people they have shared the 10-week experience with and see what coordinators had planned for the day.
The morning started with an icebreaker, followed by a visit from fan favorites Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic. The stars of Mike & Mike spoke about their journeys from college to ESPN and how the evolution of technology is changing their jobs.
After the pair’s presentation, Raina Kelley, the managing editor of The Undefeated, talked about how the discussion of race, culture, and sports brought her into this position at ESPN and why those three elements are so important to what goes on at the company.
After lunch was served, the interns got a chance for roundtable discussions with recruiters from all branches of ESPN. The group listened to ESPN’s new Vice President, Talent Acquisition, Tracey Pass, talk about what is important to know when pursuing jobs.
However, the highlight of the day had to be the group conversation with ESPN President & Co-Chairman Disney Media Networks, John Skipper. He answered interns’ questions about the growth of certain sports, how he runs a progressive company, and why he jokes about UNC being the “real” Carolina (hint: He’s an alum).
President Skipper was more than approachable and attentive to what the every person in the room had to say. The talk with the millennials ended with, of course, a selfie with Skipper before the New York City and Los Angeles interns were escorted on a much-deserved tour of the Bristol campus.
Shannon Donohue produced the video.
