Business Student's Marketing Internship Leads Into Zoom Age

The boom of Zoom Video Communications during COVID-19 has turned into an advantage for business major Amaya Viera ’22, who is working remotely as a marketing intern for a company whose military-grade technology is designed to cancel background noise that filters into Zoom conversations.

“My latest project was to create a new advertisement for the Boom headset with Zoom video conferencing. The advertisement was emailed to multiple businesses,” Amaya says. “I am currently conducting research on potential markets to expand the headsets for home customers.  I will also be working on creating a video about the Boom headsets in order to reach different consumers.”

The internship, Amaya’s second in two years at Dominican, validates her conviction that the University was the right fit for her after graduating from Santa Clara High School. After touring the campus, she was inspired to join Dominican because of the endless amounts of opportunities that the Barowsky School of Business has to offer. The one-on-one support Dominican provides students – something almost impossible to find at other bigger schools – influenced her decision.

“From the start of my freshmen year, Dominican has been preparing me for the corporate world,” says Amaya, a first-generation student who is first in her family to attend college. “After taking the Business Communications class, I learned the key fundamentals of work development: how to create my resume, how to effectively present myself in an interview, how to make a professional business presentation and many other important business concepts. This class was key in preparing me for internship opportunities.”

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Last summer Amaya was a contract compliance intern working under the Social Responsibility Division at the Port of Oakland. One of her responsibilities included reviewing small businesses to ensure they were following policies and procedures in order to be compliant under the Non-Discrimination and Small Local Business Utilization Policy.

When Amaya returned to campus for her sophomore year in the fall, she connected with Daniel Cassidy, Assistant Dean for Academic Progress and External Affairs, and Courtney Budesa, who is Director of Internships and Professional Development. She is also an Integrative Coach.

Courtney helped Amaya improve her resume and last October led her to an internship opportunity at Ume Voice, an electronics manufacturer based in Petaluma that specializes in headsets. She contacted Adythia Padala, CEO of Ume Voice, and arranged for Amaya to interview there.

“Courtney has been supportive and helpful in finding internships that fit my career goals,” Amaya says. “These internship programs have allowed me to explore the many opportunities that are out there in the field of business. I have been able to learn about my personal weaknesses and strengths through the process."

At Ume Voice, Amaya’s primary responsibility as a marketing intern is to assist in marketing operations under the supervision of the CEO and Corporate Sales and Business Development. The highlight of her internship was participating in a marketing show exhibit that was held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco prior to the shelter-in-place order. Amaya continues to intern for Ume Voice from home. She is also finishing her studies for her sophomore year. One of her current classes, “Exploring the World of Business,” has provided even more insight into different opportunities in business.

“There have been guest speakers from a variety of backgrounds who have come to Dominican and have shared their experiences,” Amaya says. “These events are eye-opening and have helped me figure out my future goals.”

Ideally, Amaya would like to work for a company that is socially responsible and in tune with her passion. She believes BSB will lead her in that direction.

“The Barowsky School of Business staff have been very supportive and helpful with my journey at Dominican,” Amaya says. “Courtney, Daniel, and the other staff members have made my transition easy at Dominican. They give me the encouragement I need and know they are playing a key role in my academic work. The support system is incredible and I appreciate the time and effort that is dedicated to me.”