Summer Career Institute Provides Key Career Insights

September 24, 2026

Author: Mark Schmeltzer and Christa Rooks

After exploring career opportunities through our Summer Career Institute, our young people are beginning the new school year with fresh perspectives on their futures and the many paths available to them after graduation.

Through job site visits, networking opportunities, and conversations with professionals across a wide range of industries, participants gained valuable insights to help guide their next steps.

A lesson that surfaced repeatedly was that career success is rarely a straight line. Instead, it often requires curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to keep learning while discovering and developing personal strengths and interests.

In July, several of our young people visited the downtown offices Publicis Groupe, the largest communications group in the world. From the moment they arrived, they were encouraged to think differently about careers, preparation, and success.

During a panel discussion, titled “From Curiosity to Career,” Publicis employees from various disciplines and stages of their careers shared experiences that led them to their current roles. While their paths were different, they shared a common theme: none had followed a predictable route.

Some panelists spoke about growing up with limited resources or being the first in their families to attend college. Others described childhood ambitions of becoming veterinarians, doctors, or artists before ultimately finding their place in advertising. Their stories highlighted the value of adaptability, continuous learning, and building meaningful relationships along the way. They gave valuable advice that will benefit our young people particularly as they start out in their careers.

Ethan Tran, a commerce intern at Spark Foundry and returning college student at Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business, spoke candidly about overcoming the pressure to appear perfect.

“I didn’t want to ask any questions because I didn’t want to seem like I wasn’t capable enough to do the work,” he said. “But it was obviously something I had to overcome.”

The advice throughout the discussion was practical, encouraging, and honest. Several panelists described navigating imposter syndrome early in their careers while supporting major brands and high-profile clients.

“Your background is your background,” said Adriane Anthony, Vice President, Analytics. “It makes you who you are, but it should never make you feel like you shouldn’t be there.”

She added: “You have to remember: you’re there for a reason. You made it.”

The conversation also explored personal values and the importance of trusting yourself when making career decisions. Ariel Sims, Senior Vice President, PMX Social Partnerships, emphasized the importance of staying aligned with your beliefs and priorities throughout your professional life.

“You have to bet on yourself and understand that if something doesn’t serve you anymore, it’s okay to move on,” said Sims.

Senior Producer Colleen Capola encouraged participants to embrace unexpected opportunities, even when they feel intimidated. Early in her photography and print advertising career, she stepped in to produce radio spots when a colleague experienced a family emergency.

“I’ve never done a radio spot before,” Capola said. “I had no idea how to do it.”

Though initially overwhelmed, Capoloa rose to the challenge and produced an outstanding product. From that first success, she went on to produce recorded advertising content for the company.

Panelists also spoke openly about their challenging experiences with layoffs, job loss, and professional setbacks. Rather than viewing closed doors as failures, they encouraged youth to see them as opportunities for growth and redirection.

As Alecia Page, Director, Inclusive Partnerships and Programs and the panel’s moderator summarized: “Rejection is redirection.”

The discussion also touched on education and the many forms it can take. The moderator encouraged youth to explore career interests through free online resources.

“Sit in on some of those YouTube lectures to see what interests you, and maybe start to pursue it,” Page said.

“But as you’re planning, it’s a really important question: How do you get from college into that first career opportunity?”

Our young people also posed several thoughtful questions before joining Publicis staff for lunch and informal networking.

The following week, our young people also got an up-close and fascinating look into healthcare careers during a visit to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Divided into groups, participants rotated through three areas of the hospital: the Simulation Lab, Central Sterile Supply, and the Mansueto Innovation Institute.

Our young men began in Central Sterile Supply, where they donned medical coveralls, booties, and hair coverings before entering the department. There, they saw the critical behind-the-scenes work that supports patient care. Staff members demonstrated how surgical instruments and medical equipment are cleaned, disinfected, sterilized, and prepared for reuse. Youth also learned about inventory management, quality assurance testing, and the careful assembly of surgical instrument trays.

The group then visited the Mansueto Innovation Institute, where Northwestern employees work together to develop new technologies and tools designed to improve patient outcomes. In addition to serving Northwestern healthcare professionals, the institute hosts startup and technology companies whose innovations are helping shape the future of medicine. The visit provided an eye-opening look at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile, our young women spent time in Northwestern’s Simulation Lab, part of the Feinberg School of Medicine. The state-of-the-art facility allows medical professionals and students to practice procedures and navigate realistic patient scenarios in a safe learning environment. The experience offered participants a firsthand look at the training, technology, and teamwork that underpin modern healthcare.

We are grateful to the teams at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Publicis Groupe for taking the time out of their workday to share their experiences and insights with our young people. And we thank all of the organizations who opened their doors to our youth this summer, including Richard J. Daley College, IWBE, ABCO, LiUNA, Google, the Chicago White Sox, and Rome’s Joy.

The Summer Career Institute gave our young people opportunities to see what is possible when they remain open to new experiences and opportunities. As they return to the classroom this fall, they carry with them not only a deeper understanding of potential career paths, but also valuable lessons about confidence, resilience, and lifelong learning.