Intern Spotlight: Meet Alexus Kelly, Program Management Intern at Box

It’s Box internship season, and we’re so excited to be joined by university students from all over the globe! Interns at Box are encouraged and empowered to drive their own projects, ask questions, come up with solutions and own the results.To give you a closer look, we’re featuring a Q&A with one of our current Box interns, Alexus Kelly!

First things first, tell us about yourself!

My name is Alexus Kelly, and I’m currently a Senior Marketing Major at San Jose State University! This summer, I’m a Program Management Intern which has allowed me to see a different side of marketing. Some of my hobbies are gardening, talking with other people, and basketball. So if anybody wants their shot blocked, you have to go through me!

How did you hear about Box, and why did you decide to intern here?

I actually heard about Box through Handshake. One of the campus recruiters, Sabrina Degon, reached out to me about applying for the Box Business Fellowship program. It sounded like a cool program that would help me with my career development and give me more insight into my career. Throughout the fellowship, I learned all about the Box’s culture, and gained a ton of advice. It showed me that Box truly values the next generation of students and our new ideas! I came to appreciate the culture at Box and realized that this was a place I’d want to intern at. I believe in the product Box sells, because collaboration is one of humankind’s greatest assets! I’ve also always wanted to be a part of the tech industry, so that was the sprinkle on top. 

What has been your favorite experience during Box’s internship so far?

My favorite experiences have been seeing one of my trackers, or other projects I’ve been working on, actually go live where other people are using it. I do a little happy dance! It’s a great feeling to  actually contribute to the company. They’re not just giving me “busy work,” but are telling me how I can really help Box and create an impact. Other people within the company are able to use the tools that I create for them, and also, once things go live, consumers get to see how I aided the company. I really appreciate the fact that I can actually make long-lasting contributions, even after my internship ends. 

Can you tell us more about your position, and what the Marketing team is responsible for?

I’m a Program Management Intern, and it’s actually a realm of Marketing that not a lot of people are aware of. I had never heard of this position before working at Box, and once I started interning here I enjoyed it a lot! My team is in charge of making sure that Box’s marketing assets are delivered on time. We host meetings to make sure everyone is on the same page, our messaging is consistent, and that it’s in line with what the brand team and our stakeholders envisioned.

What types of summer projects are you working on, and what have you learned so far?

I’m currently working on BoxWorks, and I’m in charge of the execution of certain BoxWorks assets. I’ve also been syncing with our vendors to maintain our internal comms across the company. Another major project that I’ve helped on is the Box Sign launch, in which I’ve uploaded all of our community updates to our Box Sign website. This involved working across brand, legal and social, so there was a lot of coordination involved. With these projects, I’ve learned about the importance of communication, updating stakeholders, making sure I have a clear understanding of the product, and asking questions! I’ve also learned that it’s important to have strong deadlines leading up to launch. 

How have you stayed engaged with your Program Management team, even as a remote intern?

Honestly, working remotely was one of my biggest concerns going into the internship. I was nervous that my work wouldn’t be as appreciated or seen as compared to in-person. However, after the first week, all that worry had dissipated. My manager and I would always chat over Slack and have weekly Zoom meetings, which helped me feel more in touch and connected. I feel that even if we were in the office, I wouldn’t feel any closer to my colleagues. Boxers are great at maintaining open lines of communication with the help of Slack. Our meetings weren’t just about work, but were also times to be personal with my team. This helped me appreciate the company culture and getting to know more people on my team! 

What advice would you give future interns?

My advice would be to ask a lot of questions! As interns, we’re sometimes nervous to ask “dumb” questions, but the truth is that people here are very supportive. So I would say ask as many questions as you can, and be ready to learn. By asking questions, you’ll get more chances to contribute within the company. Also, network! Contact as many people as you can, and talk to people in different organizations other than your own, because the organization you’re in now might not be the same one you end up in! 

Interested in applying for the Box Intern Program? Check out our career site and apply now!