Summer Internship Spotlight: Pieter DeGroot (B’23): Washington Nationals

Each year, Georgetown McDonough students spend their summers in Washington, D.C., across the nation, and around the world working in corporate, nonprofit, and government organizations. Meet a few of our graduate and undergraduate students in our 2022 Summer Internship Spotlight series.

Tell us about your summer internship.

This summer, I had the opportunity to work with the Washington Nationals Baseball Club in their finance and purchasing departments. I think this internship provided the best of both worlds. I was able to gain exposure to both the operational and financial sides of the sports industry. On the purchasing side, my main task was to manage purchases placed by MLB staff, Nationals employees, and players. On the financial side, I was looking at retail and concession game day transactions. Specifically, I was providing financial data and pinpointing mismatches between the payment system and their books to properly close out the month. When I was not in the office, I would catch a game, play golf, or go to the gym. 

How did your internship relate to your professional or personal interests?

As a student-athlete at Georgetown, I was looking to break into the sports industry this summer. I wanted to blend my love for sports and entertainment with a financial and/or operational internship, and I think this role provided that opportunity. Further, I got a great taste of what it is like to not only be in a professional in-person setting but also what it means to be in the front office of a major league sports team. 

How did you find the internship?

I found the internship through networking. I didn’t have much luck going through Handshake or LinkedIn, so I started reaching out and making connections. Eventually, one of my connections put me in touch with the Nationals organization, and the rest is history. 

What’s the most interesting or impactful thing you worked on during your internship?

One of the most rewarding things that I worked on this summer was on the purchasing side. In managing purchases, I saw the tangible results of our team’s hard work. It gave us a sense of pride to be a part of a team win because we felt like we contributed a small part.

What did a typical day look like?

A typical day would start with a small project team meeting to discuss any concerns or shortcomings. Then, the conversation would flow into the current status of any projects or tasks given by other team members. Once a week, we would have an all-hands meeting to discuss what’s going on in the organization, specific department responsibilities, and important dates. The rest of my day would consist of working on specific projects from other team members and any ad hoc tasks handed to me throughout the day. 

What advice do you have for other students? 

I have two pieces of advice. First, reach out to as many people as you can. Networking is priceless. You will be surprised at how many people are willing to help point you in the right direction. Second, learn from the experience of others. This is how you excel in any environment. Rather than commit to the mistake yourself, learn from others’ mistakes and adjust accordingly.