Jacob Remington: Expanding the borders of the WMU experience

Hiking mountains and traveling through small towns in Italy is where Jacob Remington has found himself while studying food marketing and interning for a Fortune 500 company. The fourth generation Bronco is majoring in food and consumer package goods marketing and has taken advantage of every opportunity for success during his time at the Haworth College of Business. His current internship abroad with the Kellogg Company is a well-earned opportunity for Jacob. His ability to learn new skills and accept the unknown is aiding him as he embarks on this unique study abroad adventure.

Jacob found his niche in food marketing after making the switch from engineering to his current major. Fortunately, he had been taking classes for a general business minor, so changing his major was swift and manageable. “After speaking with both Dr.  Zondag and Dr. Zwanka, I knew that food marketing was going to be the perfect fit for me. What I love most about the program is that it is so versatile based on the individual skill set you possess.”

Jacob’s international internship with Kellogg was presented to him after attending the Food Marketing Career Night at WMU. There, he spoke to professionals on the category management team about the available internship positions.  Jacob is taking classes and working as a business solutions student support intern. Some of his responsibilities center around analyzing and communicating trends in data across various product categories at Kellogg. He has taken on 18 credits and is working 20 hours per week while still taking advantage of all the sights and attractions Italy has to offer. One highlight of his experience so far was a leadership initiative for excellence, which was an intense two-and-a-half-day camp to work on public speaking and leadership skills. Alongside his work schedule, he has traveled to Venice, Verona, Asolo, Bassano del Grappa, hiked up Mount Grappa, and traveled to Prague in the Czech Republic. 

The study abroad and internship experience has tested his time management and work prioritization skills, but has been very rewarding. “I have already learned an incredible amount of technical and analytical skills that I did not possess previously, and the opportunities for growth and education are there for the taking. I also am looking forward to stepping into leadership positions within Kellogg even as an intern, conducting projects and tasks that benefit the category management team.”

This hard-working Bronco has learned from his experiences and wants to encourage his peers to find ways to challenge themselves. He urges students to work hard and be comfortable enough to accept the unknown. “These are steps towards being a better version of yourself and a constant learner. Dealing with and overcoming discomfort proves that you can tackle difficult obstacles, and that sense of accomplishment can be something to strive for.”