Whitman Student Combines Creativity and Analytics Through Global Communications Group Internship

For Abigail Seigel ‘26, a double major in finance and marketing management, this summer’s internship with Publicis Media has been a chance to see how two seemingly different disciplines can come together in one role.  

Seigel is a product marketing intern at Publicis Media’s New York City office. Publicis Media operates under Publicis Groupe, the world’s largest communications group, with more than 100,000 employees worldwide.  

“I always thought I would have to choose between marketing or finance,” says Seigel, a rising senior at the Whitman School of Management. “Now I see that combining creativity with data analysis is what makes this role so exciting.”  

Landing the internship took perseverance. While studying abroad in Barcelona, Seigel kept an eye out for roles at Publicis Groupe and applied to several, including her dream position in product marketing. Balancing her coursework and late-night interviews abroad taught her valuable lessons about prioritizing her future.  

“I went through several rounds of interviews,” she says. “By the time I got the offer, I had built such a connection with the company and the people. It felt very natural.”  

At Publicis Media, Seigel supports her team across various projects. Her work includes running data and competitive analyses, editing video content and helping translate complex data into actionable marketing strategies. The internship has allowed her to see how creative campaigns are shaped by data-driven insights.  

“Working on my first big data analysis was one of the most rewarding moments,” she says. “It was the first time I realized I was using what I learned at Whitman to help a real-world team. That was an ‘it all clicked’ moment for me.”  

Seigel credits her Whitman coursework with helping her step into the role prepared. She points to BUA 345: Business Analytics for Management decisions, and MAR 356: Marketing Research, as two classes that had a major impact.  

“At first, I thought I would never be a data person,” she says. “But those courses helped me understand how to produce and forecast data, analyze it and then use marketing to communicate effectively. Now I do that every day.”  

Seigel also highlights the value of Whitman’s well-rounded academic environment. “The IMPRESS program and presentation-heavy classes pushed me to grow and develop both individually and as a collaborator,” she says. “I have gained so much confidence speaking in front of large groups and working as part of a team.”  

Her experience at Publicis Media has also helped shape her future career plans.  

“This internship opened my eyes to a new side of marketing,” she says. “I love that I get to work with both creative ideas and numbers. After graduation, I definitely want to pursue a career in this space.”  

By Bo BenYehuda