If you had told me at the beginning of this year that I would have an internship in Hasbro’s treasury department, I would be excited, but also a little confused. After all, I had never been someone deeply involved in the world of gaming or entertainment, however the more I learned about Hasbro, the more I began to admire the company. Whether it be the bold new steps it was taking to expand through the acquisition of eOne, serving global communities with their philanthropic efforts or the simple fact that Hasbro wants to bring joy to those around the world; there is just so much to like about Hasbro.

Of course, as with all things in 2020, this year’s internship is far from normal, as I have been working from home since my internship started about a month and a half ago. While this setup could easily have been a disruption, I’ve been able to learn and bond so much with Hasbro employees and the treasury team in particular, that I feel I’m getting just as much out of this type of internship as I would have in person.

In general, my days interning in treasury consist of keeping the company’s financial forecasts up to date, helping wrap up the eOne acquisition by opening and closing the necessary markets, and keeping tabs on the – currently rather hectic – foreign exchange rates. I would never be able to do this on my own, and I’ve been lucky to have members of the treasury team to offer their assistance whenever I require it. With both the treasury team and Hasbro employees in general, I’ve encountered people who love to have fun and joke around while at the same time working hard to make sure the job is done right.

My work with the treasury group has been great, but there has been much more to my experience than just working in that department. One of the things that makes the Hasbro internship so great is that you get to learn from people across the entire company, even if your work does not overlap too much with certain other groups. For example, in the past week I was able to take part in a leadership round table with Hasbro President and Chief Operating Officer John Frascotti, as well as observe a presentation led by members of the animatronics team about how they develop their products.

Since the beginning of my internship I’ve learned a lot more about foreign exchange rates and how greatly that can impact the ability of a large company like Hasbro to effectively manage its cash, and in turn, operate its business. For any incoming interns, my main piece of advice would be straightforward: ask questions. In all likelihood, you’ll be asked to do things you’re unfamiliar with during your internship, and while it may be intimidating at first, knowing your team is there for you and welcoming of your questions is something small that can make your internship an even greater experience.

Charlie Roberts

College of the Holy Cross