This summer, Kelley students have had internships across the world – from Ireland, to Chile and here at home in Indianapolis.
Graduate accounting student Tingna Xu, MSA’18, found a unique opportunity this summer as a finance intern at CMG Worldwide, which is located in Indianapolis.
CMG represents world-renowned celebrities’ intellectual property rights, like their names, images, copyrights, estates and assets; celebrities include Neil Armstrong, James Dean, Jackie Robinson, Ella Fitzgerald and Amelia Earhart, to name a few.
The company’s main goal? To protect its “clients’ legacies by keeping the public’s memory of them alive for years to come.”
“I have looked forward to going to work each and every day,” said Tingna. “My main responsibilities have included reviewing and analyzing active licenses and royalties reports in the financial system. It’s also been exciting to be involved in a strategic planning project with the team, as I help them work on a plan to operate in Asian markets, like Japan and China, where I’m from.”
Tingna says she’s learned a lot in just a couple months with the company – explaining that nearly every industry is involved in some capacity with the intellectual property of a CMG client.
“I had no idea about intellectual property and intangible property, like brands, pictures and, even, the client’s words,” said Tingna. “For example, if anyone wants to use an image of a client in a commercial way, they need to work with us to clear the rights. And it’s not only people. We also represent the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Canter’s Deli regarding trademarks and licensing matters.”
“The company is very creative,” Tingna adds. “It’s really proactive about working on the Asian market and identifying new business opportunities. It’s rare for an entry-level intern to have this kind of experience.”
Tingna found the internship first by applying through Kelley Indianapolis Career Services, and then, she spoke with a company representative at a World Intellectual Property Day event held at CMG. From there, Tingna went through the interview process and was hired for a summer internship.
“To find an internship, you have to trust yourself and know your value. It can be challenging, but if it’s something you’re interested in, see if there’s an opportunity there. Find a good fit for both you and the company.”
Tingna says she decided to pursue the Kelley MSA because she’s always had a passion for accounting, and even after her undergraduate degree, she wanted to learn more.
“I want to become a CPA, and I truly wanted to continue to learn,” said Tingna. “Kelley has been a great program for me – it’s flexible, and the professors are intelligent and have been very approachable and friendly.”