Catherine McDonald ’27, a business analytics and real estate double major, spent her summer at Five Below’s headquarters in Philadelphia, learning how data drives operations at a national retail chain. 

As a workforce planning and store operations intern, McDonald joined a team responsible for optimizing functions across more than 1,800 stores. Her work focused on analyzing first-quarter data to identify areas for improvement and presenting her findings in a way that could support strategic decisions.  

“My team can hopefully use this project to make real operational decisions,” McDonald says. “I’m learning something new every day.”  

The internship opportunity didn’t come through a formal campus channel. Instead, McDonald took initiative, scouring LinkedIn and local company websites and reaching out to a family friend at Five Below. That outreach led to a series of interviews and ultimately the role. 

“My advice would be that your network is much larger than you realize,” she says. “Whether it be extended family, teachers from high school or neighbors, someone is likely to have a connection you didn’t even know about.”  

McDonald’s work was hands-on from the start. During intern orientation, she toured one of the company’s New Jersey distribution centers and later spent a day working at her local Five Below store. The dual exposure gave her a complete view of the company’s supply chain.  

“It felt rewarding to think about the actual impact my team has on the stores,” she says. 

At Whitman, McDonald had already laid the foundation for her success. She credits Professor Kivanc Avreneli’s course, BUA 345: Business Analytics for Management Decisions, with giving her both the technical skills and mindset needed for real-world analytics.  

“That class taught me how to think like an analyst,” she says. “Software might change, but the mindset stays the same — how to present data clearly, ensure accuracy and tailor findings to your audience.”  

Outside the classroom, McDonald participated in Whitman’s Design Your Future career readiness workshop, which she says played a key role in her internship search. The program gave her practical tools like LinkedIn optimization, networking strategies and mock interview practice. She also worked closely with career advisors Christine Waby and Emily Shaughnessy to prepare for opportunities like this one.  

Now, after a summer immersed in data analysis and company culture, McDonald feels more confident in her path.  

“My internship has solidified my goal of becoming a business analyst by showing me how data-driven decisions directly impact real-world outcomes,” she says. 

Working at a company she grew up shopping at made the experience even more meaningful. McDonald says the positive energy at Five Below, from the rooftop workspace to meeting CEO Winnie Park, reflects the brand’s motto: “Let Go and Have Fun.”  

“I’m so grateful to be part of a company that’s thriving and growing,” she says. “It’s been an incredible experience, and Whitman helped me get here.”