Reflecting on my Senior Marketing Capstone Experience

This semester, I completed my Senior Year Marketing Capstone, where my group developed a marketing strategy for Marathon Fuel. Each capstone group was assigned a different region and my team focused on the Mid-Continent region of the United States.

Our project encompassed a wide range of elements, including TV advertisements, community involvement, social media strategy, sustainability and budgeting. We were also tasked with contributing to the national marketing plan for Marathon, integrating all these components.

On Tuesday morning, we presented our project at the Ohio Northern Inn at 9 a.m. I woke up early, dressed in my professional suit and practiced my slides a few times to ensure I was prepared. After mingling, having breakfast and being introduced to our clients by our professor, my group—representing the Mid-Continent region—was the first to present. We spoke confidently, drawing on months of research and collaboration to showcase our marketing strategy. In the end, I felt proud of our work and how well we came together as a team to complete the capstone.

Once all the groups presented, we received feedback from our clients. We were pleased to hear multiple positive comments, with one client noting that an idea we pitched aligned closely with one of their upcoming collaborations. They also praised our graphics, an area I had primarily handled, which was incredibly rewarding. After the feedback session and a brief case study, we sat down to lunch with our clients. This gave us an opportunity to ask questions about applying for jobs, reaching out to potential employers and insights into the marketing industry.

While I enjoyed completing the capstone and collaborating with my group, I am relieved it’s over. It was a stressful few months, but I am confident that the knowledge and skills I gained through this project will help prepare me for my future career in marketing.