A Transformational Academic and Professional Study Abroad Experience

By Karla Paulino ‘27

When I was looking through all the study abroad programs, the two that stood out to me were through CEA CAPA, where I could study abroad and intern in London or Dublin. London particularly caught my eye because it is a hub for businesses, and I wanted to strengthen my connection with the city because I lived there when I was younger. I believe that studying abroad is important for academic and personal growth and great for those looking for meaningful cultural experiences. I jumped at the opportunity to study and intern abroad, not only adding to my marketing knowledge in a new classroom setting but also providing hands-on experience in an internship industry I have no experience in. Over two months, I assisted with the preparations of the Raindance Film Festival, immersed myself in rigorous coursework and had meaningful cultural experiences that helped me build relationships to understand global marketing and business on a profound level.

A Dynamic Marketing Internship with Raindance Film Festival

The Raindance company, founded by Elliot Grove in 1992, seeks to support the film industry and future filmmakers mainly through the creation of independent films. The Raindance Film Festival is regarded as the UK’s largest independent film festival and has been running for 34 years. Raindance is a source of inspiration and motivation for a lot of young filmmakers to follow their passion for creating films. The vision that Raindance produces is what made this experience a truly enjoyable one for me. The office was small, yet lively and full of creative energy. Most in-person employees worked in the same room as the CEO for the preparations for the festival, which is not commonly seen in US offices. Because of this welcoming atmosphere, I was able to adapt quickly and felt comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas and learning from them.

My core responsibilities for my marketing/hospitality internship were to assist various departments, providing me with hands-on experience preparing and delivering events, marketing, hospitality and production for the festival. My main contribution to the Raindance Film Festival was researching and creating marketing captions for several films and shorts programs dedicated to their social media platforms. I also organized programming files such as stills and trailers for marketing deliverables, taught some of my coworkers Excel functions to facilitate hospitality processes, and created an internal document that detailed each film in the programming. Closer to the festival, I assisted in the creation of three newsletters customized for each day of the festival and hosted one-on-one filmmaker/director interviews. I also took the lead on videography for a full day of interviews, including operating a professional video camera. One of the main highlights of my internship was hosting a Q&A session in the Vue cinema for the film “Lucky Weekend,” which premiered at the festival.

Overall, this internship experience taught me that marketing roles don’t necessarily need to be stagnant office work and that passion and work can coexist and thrive. Perfection cannot be curated without the effort of past attempts.

Academics: Learning Global Marketing in Real Time

Classes in London operated differently than those I had previously experienced. I took two courses: International Business Marketing and Global Internship.

The International Business Marketing course explored international marketing strategies through case studies, presentations, a 15-page research paper, a guest speaker and a site visit to brand activation agency KHWS. The three-hour class format encouraged discussion and practical application of marketing concepts.

The Global Internship course focused on reflection and professional development through assignments on cultural intelligence, resume building, mock interviews, career readiness and internship experiences.

Overall, these classes greatly improved my understanding of cultural intelligence, international and intercultural marketing communication and its strategies and assisted in my journey to reflect on my experiences throughout the program.

Exploring London’s Culture and Building Community

In London, I quickly adapted to the city’s efficient public transportation and strong commitment to sustainability, which made daily life and travel convenient while deepening my appreciation for the culture. Exploring the city with other students helped build lasting friendships and made London feel like home.

CEA CAPA enriched my experience through excursions to Stonehenge, Bath, Cambridge, and a tour of London. Another highlight was London’s theatre scene. After seeing The Phantom of the Opera during CEA CAPA’s theater night, my friends and I made attending shows a summer tradition. By the end of the program, I had seen 11 productions, including Hadestown, Les Misérables, Moulin Rouge, Beetlejuice, The Play That Goes Wrong and Ride the Cyclone.

Representing UNC Charlotte Abroad

Not only did CEA CAPA host events for the program, but UNC Charlotte did as well. Erika Ayon, Becca Sergel, and I were the three Belk College students who participated in the London Study Abroad Internship program and were invited to several events hosted by UNC Charlotte. Those events were: an internship site visit; a luncheon with CEA CAPA and UNC Charlotte staff; class observations by Associate Dean Natasha Randle and Lesley Harris for our final projects; the Alumni Networking Dinner; and professional photos around London landmarks. At the closing ceremony of the program, I received an internship award recognizing my dedication. It was an honor that made the experience even more meaningful.

A Journey of Growth

In conclusion, my study abroad and internship experience in London was professionally, academically, and personally transformative. I had so many new experiences, from adapting to a new culture, embracing new sustainability practices, building relationships with students from across the U.S., to gaining hands-on marketing and hospitality experience at the Raindance Film Festival. Every opportunity contributed to my growth. The combination of interactive coursework, cultural excursions, and meaningful internship duties strengthened my cultural intelligence, communication, adaptability and confidence in an international work environment.

Most importantly, this experience reinforced my passion for global marketing and demonstrated that meaningful work is driven by collaboration, creativity and a willingness to embrace new perspectives. It is an experience that has broadened my worldview and will continue to shape both my academic and professional journey.