My internship at Peixoto Swimwear Company


Name: Kayla Lowery

Major: Marketing

Where you interned: I did my spring 2017 internship at Peixoto Swimwear Company as a marketing intern.

What projects did you work on? It is a start-up company, so my job was to help come up with different marketing strategies and campaigns to gain a consistent audience.

How did your internship connect back to your coursework? My main job was to be creative and think outside the box. The course that helped me the most was consumer behavior, where you learn how your decisions are influenced by marketing and how to make subtle, yet impactful, impressions.

What was the coolest thing about your internship or that happened during your internship? There were many cool parts to my internship. It was located in the heart of Little Haiti so there were always fun and interesting places to eat! I had the best work environment and learned so much about retail. The best part was when I had the pleasure of going to Miami SoHo House for a business brunch where I met Patricia Fields, head stylist of Sex and the City. It was an amazing opportunity and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

What did you like most about your experience? The hands-on experience. I learned almost every aspect of the business.

What did you learn about yourself? I learned that a ceiling is only a limitation if you stay inside the building.

How did the position increase your professional confidence? I came, I saw and I flourished. I came without knowing much about the industry of swimwear. I also had a big fear of failing without even trying. I saw what it takes to run a business, manage time and remain calm under pressure. I flourished after I put in hard work and stayed focused on my current mission. These are skills I can apply in any situation.

How did you expand your professional network? Communicating my desires got me far. I met so many amazing people along my journey.

How did it help you prove yourself in the “real-world?” I became more personable and understanding. Working in fashion, you meet a lot of interesting characters so you must be adaptable.

How did you get your internship? FIU has an online portal for business majors. I was able to submit my resume via this portal to this company and it was magic ever since!

What advice do you have for those beginning the internship process? Utilize FIU! We pay so much money to be here, we should take advantage of every opportunity. Go talk to the advisors and network with students. Florida International University has so many opportunities within.