Internship spotlight: MBA student Joe Bloomfield, Milwaukee Tool

MBA student Joe Bloomfield worked as a product management intern for Milwaukee Tool this summer.

Tell us about your internship — where did you work and what did the position entail?

As a former football student-athlete and alumnus, it was an honor to represent KU this summer in Brookfield, Wisconsin, during a marketing internship with Milwaukee Tool, an industry-leading manufacturer of power and hand tools, outdoor power equipment, jobsite lighting, and accessories targeted towards the core trades. As a product management intern, I worked on a cross-functional team dedicated to delivering creative, data-driven solutions throughout various stages of the new product development process.

How did you get connected with this opportunity?

I discovered this opportunity through the combined efforts of the on-campus recruiting of Techtronic Industries (TTI), the parent company of Milwaukee Tool, and KU Business Career Services. After speaking with TTI one afternoon in the atrium of Capitol Federal Hall, we stayed in touch through several interviews, and eventually I was introduced to the hiring managers with Milwaukee Tool. I felt extremely prepared during the recruiting process by taking advantage of the abundant resources offered through the KU b-school, such as resume consultations, mock interviews and the career fairs held throughout the year.

What were your favorite parts of ‪the internship experience?

As an automotive and DIY enthusiast, I felt at home surrounded by the latest-and-greatest innovations in tool and battery technology. However, my favorite part of the internship was the opportunity to make an impact to the organization through meaningful and challenging projects. My capstone project involved the development of a comprehensive commercialization plan for a new product, which proved to be a crash-course in navigating a fast-paced and rapidly growing corporate environment. Many of the key proposals from my different projects throughout the internship have since been implemented and will continue to add value for years to come. I’m extremely excited to announce that I’ve accepted a full-time offer from Milwaukee Tool and will to return to their marketing department upon completion of the MBA program at KU.

How do you feel like you benefited from the position?

The summer marketing internship program at Milwaukee Tool developed leadership and project management skills in a fast-paced environment, while providing hands-on experience driving innovation and strategic direction for a large multinational corporation. The exposure to various stages of the product life cycle offered the opportunity to explore a number of different career paths throughout the marketing and supply chain departments. Most importantly, I felt that this internship gave me a chance to get my foot in the door for a future career at an innovative, global organization with an incredible company culture.

How did you feel like the internship related to the MBA program, whether it was being able to apply skills you’ve learned or bringing new experiences into the classroom?

The first year in the program developed the operational, financial, and managerial skills required to succeed as a global manager, while the summer internship provided a professional environment to apply our academic experiences in a meaningful way. After gaining direct industry experience, I am more confident in the relevance of our course curriculum and its application to the real-world. Only a few weeks into the fall semester, my experience has led to more effective classroom contributions and a greater understanding of strategic business concepts in a dynamic, global market.