This project will immerse students in the world of public speaking and event planning. Interns will work on developing and implementing a CRM management and outreach strategy to help connect public speakers with event planners. Students will apply marketing, communication, and CRM concepts from the classroom to a real-world initiative while working alongside an experienced entrepreneur in the public speaking industry.

🎯 Learning Objectives:

By the end of this internship project, students will be able to:

• Understand and apply CRM (Customer Relationship Management) best practices
• Conduct and interpret market research related to event planners and sponsorships
• Develop a professional outreach strategy to generate leads
• Craft messaging and content tailored for different outreach channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, email, etc.)
• Create a reporting structure for client updates and outreach effectiveness

📦 Project Deliverables:

1. CRM Audit & Recommendations

• Evaluate current CRM structure and recommend improvements
• Create an updated system for logging interactions and tracking outreach

1. Outreach Strategy Plan

• Identify and segment 3 ideal event planner audiences
• Develop tailored outreach messages for email, LinkedIn, and Instagram

1. 50-Event Planner Outreach Campaign

• Launch a campaign to contact 50 event planners using the strategy above
• Track engagement and responses in the CRM

1. Sponsorship Research Brief

• Identify 10 potential sponsors aligned with speaker topics
• Provide a written proposal template for sponsorship outreach

1. Final Presentation

• Present findings, results, and recommendations for future improvements
• Submit a written summary of CRM processes, templates, and campaign performance

OUTCOMES AND DELIVERABLES:

✅ Email Management:

• Check and respond to emails promptly (Mon–Fri)
• Keep inbox organized and escalate important items quickly

✅ Outreach to Event Planners:

• Contact at least 50 event or meeting planners daily to explore speaking opportunities
• Track communication and follow-up

✅ CRM Updates:

• Log all calls, emails, and new leads in the CRM system
• Update status whenever someone books a call or reaches out

✅ Sales Call Scheduling:

• Proactively book discovery/sales calls via LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Email, etc.
• Find creative ways to connect with leads and convert interest into meetings

✅ Sponsorship Search:

• Research and pitch to potential sponsors
• Offer exposure opportunities (shoutouts, email and social media blasts, etc.) in exchange for sponsoring speaker appearances

✅ Client Zoom Support:

• Hold Zoom meetings with clients to answer questions or gather updates
• Ensure a warm, professional experience for each client

✅ Weekly Client Updates:

• Send Friday update emails to all clients summarizing outreach, leads, and progress