Pepsico program offers students a real-life marketing challenge
A group of Rutgers Business School students were given a taste of what it takes to bring a new product to market as part of a special program sponsored by PepsiCo.
Over the course of the second semester, 25 marketing students had the opportunity to visit a PepsiCo manufacturing plant in Valhalla, N.Y. and participate in intense conversations with professionals about the creative process and brand-building.
The students also put their collaboration and marketing skills to the test in sessions where they worked together to develop potential names and new product launch plans. The program culminated with the students making their presentations to a group of PepsiCo executives.
Brittany Allen, a senior marketing student, said the program was an example of how Rutgers Business School serves as a bridge, connecting students to companies that can provide students with real- world experiences and insights.
"It's not every day that students are invited to work on a national brand,” Allen said. "I thought to myself, this is an opportunity to see what I am capable of doing.”
The program was more than an exercise. PepsiCo is hoping the work of the students will help to influence the future of the company’s Sierra Mist brand.
"It was exciting, overwhelming and humbling to work on a national brand such as Sierra Mist,” Allen said. "I discovered new ways of thinking by working on a diverse team and by attending a variety of learning sessions and workshops."
Robert Kurland, associate dean of undergraduate student and academic services at Rutgers Business School in Newark, said the program provided the students with a unique opportunity to get real-world experience and it also helped to show off the talent Rutgers produces. "They worked with a fantastic group of students,” Kurland said.
PepsiCo tapped into one of the strengths of Rutgers Business School and Rutgers University – Newark, Kurland said.
"One of the reasons they wanted to come to RBS was because of our diversity,” he said. "In launching the new product, they wanted to get feedback from a very diverse group."
The following students participated in the program: Aziz Sebbar, Bansri Shah, Brittany Allen, Chinedu Onyema, Christopher Cuenca, Corey Applewhite, Diandra Barreto, Firas Marshan, Jean Perez, Jenifer Perez, Kiera McBride, Lauren Bradshaw, Mansi Desai, Meera Patel, Nadirah Durr, Robert Iturralde, Ron Marita, Sara Kittaneh, Shamil Javed, Shivam Patel, Shpresa Jessica Minarolli, Taniya Dudani, Tiffany Martin, Vanessa Torres and Yaling Chan.
