The Sharp Internship Experience: One Student's Journey of Growth and Discovery

At Sharp Electronics Corporation USA, internships are about more than gaining hands-on experience. They provide students with the opportunity to build professional skills, explore new interests, collaborate with experienced mentors, and grow in confidence as they take on real-world projects. Whether working in marketing, sales, technology, finance, or other business functions, Sharp interns are encouraged to contribute meaningful ideas while developing the skills that will help shape their future careers.

For marketing intern Leonora Kleinmann, what began as an opportunity to gain industry experience became a transformative year of personal and professional growth. Through a wide range of projects, collaboration with colleagues across the organization, and experiences both inside and outside the classroom, she discovered valuable lessons about communication, confidence, teamwork, and continuous learning.

In the following Q&A, Leonora reflects on her internship at Sharp, sharing insights into the challenges she faced, the skills she developed, and the experiences that shaped her first year as a marketing professional.

(Pictured: Leonora - 3rd from left -  shares a moment with fellow interns Lily Pampolina, Riley Hiller and Olivia Flynn.)

What can you learn in a year in an internship with Sharp?

For me, the answer has been much more than I expected. I had the unique opportunity to intern for close to a year before joining the summer internship program. And the experience was great. Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to see what marketing looks like in a large company by working on projects across social media, flyer design, blog writing, and other areas of marketing, while also learning from the people around me.

I started my internship as a sophomore at Ramapo College. I thought the biggest part of an internship would be gaining marketing experience. While that has definitely been a major part of my experience, I have learned that it is also about learning how to work with others, communicate, take feedback, step outside of your comfort zone, and continue growing.

How has your internship helped build confidence?

When I first started, I was extremely nervous and was not always comfortable sharing my ideas or speaking up. I would sometimes hesitate to ask questions or give my opinion. But over time, I became more comfortable because of the supportive environment at Sharp. I was surrounded by people who encouraged me to speak up, try new things, and push myself to become better. Whether it was speaking in meetings, giving presentations, asking questions, or taking on something I had never done before, I slowly became more comfortable doing it.

The more I did these things, the more comfortable I became taking on new challenges. I also noticed that this confidence started to carry over into my life outside of work, whether giving presentations in my classes or leading the clubs I’m involved in at school. I became more comfortable putting myself out there and trying things that I may have hesitated to do before.

Having a supportive environment where I could ask questions, share my ideas, and learn from the people around me made a big difference in how comfortable I became. I learned that I did not need to know everything before speaking up. Being an intern is about learning as you go, and I have learned that it is okay to ask questions, make mistakes, and keep improving.

What have you learned about working with others during your internship?

One of the most valuable parts of my internship has been the opportunity to work with people who think and approach things differently than I do. Getting the chance to hear how other people come up with ideas and look at different situations has challenged me to think beyond what I already know.

I especially notice this during meetings. Being in meeting rooms has become one of my favorite parts of my internship because I get to hear so many different ideas and perspectives. Listening to everyone share their thoughts challenges me to reflect on my own ideas and come up with something I might not have thought of before. I love when someone says something I would never have thought of because it makes me look at the idea in a completely different way.

Sometimes I leave a meeting with a new idea, sometimes I leave thinking about a different perspective, and sometimes I leave thinking about something I can improve in myself. That is one of my favorite parts of my internship because I feel like I leave every meeting having learned something new.

Tell me about the summer internship program. What have you learned from your fellow interns during the summer?

This summer, 11 new interns joined Sharp for the summer internship program. Meeting all of these new interns brought back a lot of memories from the very start of my internship, when I was the new person trying to figure everything out.

As I talked to each of the interns and asked what they were nervous about, I realized that many of the things they were feeling were the same as what I felt when I first started. Some were nervous about giving presentations, making a mistake in their work, or not knowing when to ask for help. Hearing them talk about their experiences reminded me of what it felt like to be in their position a year ago. Many of their insights were great. To learn more, watch this video of testimonials by Sharp’s summer interns.

Getting to know them also made me reflect on how much I had changed since I first started. I could relate to some of what they were experiencing, but I also realized that I had become much more comfortable in the workplace than I had been when I first arrived.

It was interesting being on the other side of the experience. When I first started, I was the one trying to figure everything out and learn what it was like to be an intern. Now, I was able to share some of what I had learned with people who were just starting their own internship journey. Being able to share what I had learned with them made me realize how much more comfortable I had become since my first day at Sharp.

Looking back at your year with Sharp, what are some of your biggest takeaways?

Looking back on my first year at Sharp, I can say this internship experience has been truly transformative for me. I have grown not only in my marketing skills, but also in the way I communicate, think, and approach different situations. From the projects I have worked on to the people who have guided me along the way, I have had many opportunities to challenge myself, learn something new, and become more confident in who I am.

One of the biggest takeaways from this experience is that there is always something new to learn. Sometimes it comes from trying something new, making a mistake, hearing someone else's perspective, or even just having a simple conversation.

When I think about the person who first walked into Sharp a year ago and where I am now, I can see how much I have changed. I am especially grateful to everyone at Sharp who has taken the time to guide me, answer my questions, listen to my ideas, and push me to become better. Looking back on my first year, I am proud of how far I have come, grateful to the people who have helped me along the way, and excited about all that lies ahead of me at Sharp.