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‘Crushing it in the real world': Internship leads to first full-time job at Live Nation

The flexible curriculum in Corporate Communication allowed Emily Rodriguez to hone her professional skills while taking courses outside of the major that were relevant to her career goals.
"I've never been more prepared for something in my life." — Emily Rodriguez

Just one day before Emily Rodriguez graduated from Penn State Abington, she learned that her dream internship at Live Nation, the world’s largest live entertainment company, would become her dream first job as a regional marketing coordinator. 

Emily prepared for this opportunity for years – a passionate concertgoer, she maintained a list in her phone of the nearly 200 shows she attended, starting with her parents in elementary school. She was determined to work in the live music industry.

At Abington, she chose the Corporate Communication major, which honed her professional skills. The curriculum also offered the flexibility to enroll in classes that focused on her love of the music business with classes such as music entrepreneurship, the science of music, and the history of rock. 

"The great professors I had prepared me and made me feel confident in myself. I always wanted to work in the concert business, and in college I learned to adapt and make connections, which is essential for success in this business," Emily said.

Through several rounds of interviews at Live Nation for the required internship, Emily’s coursework and her clear passion for the industry distinguished her from other candidates. She was brought on board and focused on developing Spotify campaigns and writing scripts for the Spotify Bands in Town feature while immersing herself in meetings and connecting with the staff. 

“There were less than 10 people in the Philadelphia marketing office at the time, so it was an easygoing environment. I was able to sit down with everyone and learn from them,” she said. 

During her first summer as a Live Nation employee, Emily was responsible for the design aesthetic for the multi-day Peach Festival, which featured bands such as Ween and Goose that year. 

“I’ve never been more prepared for something in my life. I was so excited to go out and use what I learned,” she said. 

John Pachence, who teaches music performance and entrepreneurship courses at Abington, said Emily is “crushing it in the real world. She loves Corporate Communication and music. We would chat about the music business after every class,” he said. 

Emily knew Abington was the place for her “the second I toured the campus. It was close to home, which was perfect since I was trying to find an internship in Philadelphia. I also wanted small classes since I came from a smaller high school."

"I wanted to make a mark and find connections with professors and with other students, and I feel like I accomplished that. I loved Abington so much that I almost didn’t want college to end," she said.