On The Job: Drew Petty, BS '28
Drew Petty, BS ’28, is applying the skills he built at Saint Joseph’s University, from Excel to creative thinking, to succeed and build meaningful connections during his fall co-op with PepsiCo.
Drew Petty, BS ’28, a food marketing major, is spending his fall semester with PepsiCo. The skills he's learned at St. Joe's have translated to his co-op, where he has built important relationships and exposed his creative talents. Fundamental skills learned at SJU, such as Excel competency, are being showcased every day for him.
The Role:
Foodservice Sales Management Co-op, PepsiCo
Describe your internship in three emojis:
💻 (laptop)
🥤 (soda)
👂 (listening)
The Day-to-Day:
Most days contain some Teams meetings, with people from all over the U.S., as PepsiCo is split into the North, South, East and West. My main role includes menu optimization, digital marketing, visual updates for presentation and Excel competency work.
It’s 10 a.m. on a workday. What are you up to?
At 10 a.m, I have already sent out my daily log report on Savvy, so I am either working on a visual for an upcoming meeting, or sifting through Excel sheets for valuable information for the sales team. Since it’s early on in my tenure, this can change as time goes on.
Go-to snack or drink that gets you through the day:
Small bag of Cheez-Its. Not the healthiest, but can’t go wrong with a classic. For a drink, I just stick to a coffee in the morning and water all day.
It’s not about the grades you make, but the hands you shake.
Drew Petty, BS ’28
My “I nailed it” moment:
On a project where I was creating a visual on an NFL theme, I had made jerseys for PepsiCo to go along with the presentation. Turns out, one of my superiors was trying to do that already, but was having no luck. Having someone praise your work, and knowing that an idea you had may become a real thing was pretty cool.
Favorite part of your role:
My favorite part of my role is the flexibility. While being able to have a quick chat with my roommates, I can also get tasks done without someone over my shoulder, as they have trust in me to complete my tasks accurately and efficiently. I also can take a break for an hour, where I like to get outside and take a rest from electronics.
Fit check:
Q-Zip on virtual days, and golf attire on route rides. Nothing too special, but presentable.
Tips for the next intern:
Know what you want out of the industry before you enter, that way you can ask to be placed in certain positions, and you ask the right questions. Being able to focus on one area of the workplace is super beneficial.
Fun/interesting collaborations, celebrity/influencers meets?
Being on the marketing team has been cool to see what product innovations are coming for 2026, as well as what celebrities are producing upcoming commercials, such as TikTokers and athletes.