Sodexo Builds Future Leaders through its Internship Program
By Jennifer Heth, Senior Recruiter

Tyler Boyd, Sodexo Intern

Summer internship season is in full swing and across the U.S. thousands of college students are learning what it’s like to work in the real world. At Sodexo, the intern experience reaches far beyond making copies and running for coffee. Sodexo interns like Tyler Boyd have the opportunity to work on projects that are relevant to today’s workplace. Boyd states that one of his assignments is to look for cost-effective ways to go green. “I am currently looking for eco-friendly materials and greener options to replace non-biodegradable and non-sustainable items. I am responsible for finding the alternative products, determining the cost effectiveness of the new products and then presenting the information to my superiors,” says Boyd.

Sodexo interns participate in a structured 10-week, 400-hour program called “Sodexo Future Leaders Internship Program.” This program promotes leadership skills, professional development and strategic engagement. One of the more unique aspects of the Sodexo Future Leaders Internship Program is its Managers Engaging Nurturing & Training Our Recruits (MENTOR) initiative. As part of the internship program, each intern is teamed up with a middle or senior-level manager who acts as his or her mentor.

Jennifer Tschilar, Senior Recruiter with Sodexo, decided to become a mentor because of her desire to give advice to students by passing on her own knowledge and experiences. Tschilar is mentoring David Vasquez, a Food Service Management intern who will be a college senior in the fall. Tschilar and Vasquez speak at least once a week to discuss what Vasquez has been working on, to review progress he has made towards his goals and to provide education about Sodexo programs such as its Network Groups and STOP Hunger Program. Tschilar states that “[David’s] dedication to the internship and to creating a root in the ground for his future career just impresses me so much. The fact that I get to mentor him and pass on what I have been through in my career is exciting.”

Through the Future Leaders Internship Program, Sodexo hopes to not only provide a beneficial internship experience for its interns, but to also provide them with employment opportunities after graduation. “Interning is a great way for students to learn about the company and build connections within the organization before they ever graduate,” says Michelle Thomas, Senior Manager of Diversity Recruiting for Sodexo.