Finding his calling: Aurelio Sanchez discovers product marketing at L’Oréal

When RCB senior Aurelio Sanchez set out for his summer internship in New York City, he knew the experience would be a challenge. He didn’t know just how transformative it would become for his career aspirations, confidence, and outlook on the future.

Aurelio applied for the highly competitive internship through LinkedIn, where more than 40,000 students submitted applications. Out of that extraordinary pool, he was one of only 200 selected nationwide to participate in L’Oréal’s summer internship program. The opportunity placed him at the heart of the beauty industry, working with one of the world’s most recognizable brands.

Aurelio spent his summer with L’Oréal’s Maybelline Brand, working closely with the eye product team on everything from product packaging to campaign planning. His responsibilities included monitoring weekly business reports, supporting product development discussions, and contributing to the go-to market strategy for Great Lash mascara. The experience gave him an insider’s view of the complexity of global marketing.

“I was working with people across sales, analytics, brand activation, and partnerships,” he said. “It showed me how important communication is. If you don’t have the answer, there’s always someone who does, you just have to reach out.”

Alongside the technical marketing skills, Aurelio emphasized two major takeaways: time management and communication. Learning to juggle deadlines while maintaining balance was an eye-opener. “When you’re passionate about a project, you want to give it your all, but sometimes you have to step back and find balance,” he explained. Tools like Google Calendar and Notion became his go-to resources for staying on track.

The internship also highlighted the leadership side of marketing. Proactively checking in with managers, scheduling coffee chats, and networking across teams taught Aurelio that strong communication is just as critical as creativity.

For Aurelio, the experience reaffirmed his passion for product marketing and campaign planning. While he had previously explored digital and social media marketing through internships at Inspira Health and other organizations, his time at Maybelline helped him recognize that his strengths lie in creative strategy and product development.

“Marketing is so broad. It’s not just digital or campaigns. This internship helped me realize where I thrive, which is on the creative and strategic side,” he said. “Seeing ideas go from concept to product, even if it takes years, was exciting.”

The road to this internship was not without sacrifice. Aurelio commuted from his home in Bridgeton to Rowan, often balancing a packed schedule while serving as an active member of the American Marketing Association and other campus initiatives. By the time he turned 20, he had already completed multiple internships across industries, from casinos to healthcare.

Reflecting on his rapid academic and professional journey, Aurelio credits Rowan for preparing him to dream big while staying grounded. “Every day is an opportunity to become a greater version of yourself,” he said. “Even if you don’t have everything figured out, if you have a dream and work for it, anything’s possible.”

As he approaches graduation, Aurelio remains open-minded but focused on pursuing a role in product marketing. Whether in cosmetics or another industry, he hopes to leverage his creativity, strategic thinking, and drive to bring new ideas to life.

“I’m just excited to see what’s next,” he shared. “This internship confirmed that product marketing is my calling. I want to be part of shaping ideas that eventually make it into people’s hands.”