Lara Elia Yong, a graduating senior at Babson University, has been our intern for the past year, covering all aspects of our growing social media presence. Before graduation day, we spoke with her about her past year at Compass Marketing.
What was your biggest surprise when starting this internship?
One of my biggest surprises was just how important Search Engine Optimization(SEO) is for a company’s website. Over the past few months, I have been working closely with the team to update the SEO for Compass’ website. It turned out to be much more work than I anticipated, but the experience has been incredibly rewarding. I had the opportunity to collaborate with an SEO expert and, through that collaboration, I learned a great deal about how Google operates, how people conduct searches, and what factors contribute to a webpage's performance.
Another thing that really stood out to me is that people don't engage with content the way we often assume they do. It’s not always necessary to come up with brand-new ideas. Instead, it’s often about repackaging and simplifying existing ones to make them more digestible. This shift in mindset has fundamentally changed how I approach marketing: it’s about clarity, not clutter.
Are you going to keep working in marketing?
Honestly, I’ve been toying with the idea of pivoting into something more retail-focused, but this internship reminded me how passionate I am about brand strategy. I love thinking about how companies can position themselves, standout, and grow, and I want to keep pursuing that.
Exploring SEO and email marketing has provided me within sight into areas of the industry that I hadn’t fully considered before, reigniting my passion for marketing. I truly admire how Compass helps brands discover new products and venture into untapped markets. This kind of curiosity-driven work is precisely what I hope to pursue more in the future.
I am open to job opportunities in both sectors! Here is my resume, if my skills match with what you are looking for, please reach out.
What’s your advice to students looking to work in marketing?
1. Learn how to leverage AI and stay curious about new tools.
There are so many emerging platforms and technologies that can make you work smarter and your output more impactful. Being tech-savvy is a huge asset, whether you create graphics, write content, or analyze performance.
2. Be creative and solution-oriented.
Marketing is all about connecting with people. Try things that feel fresh and fun, and don’t be afraid to pitch an idea just because it’s different. Some of the best results come from taking creative risks.
3. Speak up.
Your ideas matter, even as an intern. I’ve learned that the more you put yourself out there, the more confident you become. Say what you’re thinking. You might just spark the next big idea.
We congratulate Lara on her graduation from Babson and are grateful for the time she spent with us. Throughout the year, she successfully balanced her academics while managing the Compass social media calendar and handling business development responsibilities. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
Annette is skilled at identifying growth opportunities and successfully guiding products from concept to launch. At Compass, she advises leading brands and category disruptors in the health & wellness, personal care and digital health sectors.
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