Article From Intern to Full-time Teammate: An Interview With Brock Jacobs
By Laila Hachem / 15 Aug 2023 / Topics: Culture & careers
As Brock started his marketing internship at Insight’s 360 intern program, he had no idea it would lead to a fulfilling career in HR.
Brock began at Insight as an eCommerce Merchandising Intern with no foresight that he would leave the program with a job on the DLOD (Diversity, Leadership and Organizational Development) team. During his internship, he was under the marketing umbrella where he worked on email campaigns and the insight.com storefront.
What did you imagine as a career after college, and what do you actually do?
I always thought after college I would get a job in marketing, maybe social media marketing. I always had a love for social media, and I studied digital marketing in college, so that would have bridged my education and interests. I had a marketing role during the internship program, but it wasn’t attuned to my personality. I craved working in a team — the independent work didn’t draw me in.
I do facilitation for the most part now on the DLOD team, specifically the Aspiring Leadership program. I’m responsible for helping deliver any of our workshops that we have for our teammates. I lead workshops such as growth mindset, DISC, personal brand, emotional intelligence and other topics that focus on developing our teammates into leaders.
I am still learning, but I am given the space to get experience under my belt. If you told me two years ago I would be working in HR, I wouldn’t have believed you. Definitely a different path than I expected in college.
What initially attracted you to the Insight 360 Internship program?
I’m not from Arizona, I’m from Arkansas. I really wanted to get the experience of leaving home and spreading my wings. I always thought I wanted to move out once I graduated, but I never really knew for sure. I knew Insight would be a new experience. Plus, I’d get to see a new area of the country.
I was interested in Insight when first applying due to its placement in the industry. After going past the application and submitting it, I dug deeper. I started to do a lot of research into Insight, who they were, their values and their culture. It really meant a lot to me. The teammate resource group we have, Insight Stands Out, is for our LGBTQ+ teammates. As a gay person myself, that means a lot to me to have a company that really supports their teammates from all levels.
Why did you choose to start your career at Insight?
I stayed at Insight because of the culture and the people. I mean, you really can’t get it anywhere else. I was starting to apply for jobs during my internship but was hopeful and wanted to stay at Insight. But I had to get a job regardless. It was a struggle to find a job that I was passionate about or excited me the way Insight did. I wanted to stay and develop myself; I couldn’t see myself anywhere else.
What’s the best part about working at Insight?
Tons of companies will say that they have great culture, right? I mean it when I say Insight’s culture is great. I have yet to meet someone that says otherwise. The warmth and support are unparalleled. If you ask any employee why they like Insight, my bet is they will say the culture. It’s the number one thing.
Once you see the culture and soak in it, you see how it’s not in other places and how truly special Insight is.
Even as an intern, my perspective was always valued and taken into account. Everyone gives you a fair shot. You’re never treated as a temporary employee. When you ask me why Insight, I would probably say it’s the first time in my life that I felt connected to something bigger than just myself.
“When you ask me why Insight, I would probably say it’s the first time in my life that I felt connected to something bigger than just myself.”
What’s the coolest or most rewarding project you’ve worked on at Insight?
There are a ton of projects, in fact too many to mention. I think the Aspiring Leadership program has been the most rewarding project I’ve worked on. This program is for individual contributors with an interest in leadership and puts them on track for a career in leadership.
I love working with so many talented individuals that I wouldn’t be able to meet otherwise. I’ve met people in IT, legal, marketing and so many fields that are much different from mine. You get so much thought diversity; it’s cool to see the different angles of people’s minds. Watching people grow in their careers means a lot to me.
What are the characteristics of a person who would thrive at Insight?
Be a team player, have a growth mindset and support those around you. Insight is a place where anyone can go to any team and receive support from them. Being a team player not only for your team but for everyone is huge. Are you going to get a message from all 13,000 employees asking for help? No. Chances are you won’t even get a lot of people outside your department, but being open to supporting them is huge.
Also, start viewing feedback and failures as opportunities for growth. That mindset shift from failure to opportunity is monumental. If you don’t wonder how you can grow from a setback, you remain stagnant.
What advice would you give an intern or someone early in their career?
First, it’s OK to explore. You may get a job and realize it’s not fit for you. You can go through the whole process of applying, start getting excited for the role and realize months into the job you don’t like it. It’s really about what you do after — seeing which skills you have and what you truly enjoy — to find a job that hones in on your strengths.
In my internship, I was in a marketing role that was not for me. After studying marketing for the past three years, it was a hard pill to swallow.
I then opened my mind to other opportunities and vocalized my interest. Nobody will know what you want until you tell them, and the worst that you can get told is no. Even if you get told no, your initiative will be remembered. By exploring the opportunities I had, I found a job I love.
Second, bring a growth mindset. See each day as an opportunity to learn and develop. Remember, Michael Jordan didn’t become the best basketball player overnight; even he missed a few shots. Don’t sweat over small mistakes — learn and move on. Know what you want out of your internship before you start and use this as an opportunity to secure your future. Understand the steps to building the career you want. Any skills can be taught but something like that can’t.
“Remember, Michael Jordan didn’t become the best basketball player overnight; even he missed a few shots. Don’t sweat over small mistakes — learn and move on.”
Insight is about encouraging teammates and clients to ‘be ambitious.’ What’s the most ambitious thing you’ve accomplished?
The most ambitious thing that I accomplished was moving to Arizona for my internship. I think that being in-office for me personally really changed my internship experience since I’m a social in-person kind of guy. At the time the 360 program was completely remote. I knew I wanted the in-office experience, so I asked if I could go in person, and they let me. I think making that leap, after never leaving home before, was big.
I moved 18-and-a-half hours across the country not knowing a single person. It was the first time I had left home by myself. That jump was the most ambitious thing I had done up to that point.
Preparing for this interview was a real reflective moment for me. I had the opportunity to think about all the growth I have done in the past year.
Let ambition grow. Discover roles at Insight.
Laila Hachem
Summer Marketing Content Intern 2023, Insight
