My Casey's Internship Experience

Casey’s has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. If my DNA was analyzed, I’m sure Casey’s breakfast pizza would at least be a portion of it, given the sheer amount I've consumed even from a young age. Growing up in a small Midwestern town, I was always near a Casey’s, which quickly became a cornerstone of our community, offering essential services and a convenient one-stop shop for all our needs.

When I was offered the chance to intern at Casey’s last November, I eagerly accepted. Ironically, I thought my role as a Product/Business Analyst Intern would focus on marketing analytics. However, I soon discovered that the position was with the Technology Planning team, firmly situated in the IT department.

Initially, I had some reservations about my experience at Casey’s. I feared I would feel like an imposter, be a burden to my team, and struggle to understand the technical jargon. Despite these concerns, I was also excited for the opportunity to truly engross myself in an environment alien to me to fully soak in as much information as I could. I was also eagerly looking forward to my first steps into a corporate setting, curious to see how it would differ from my previous experiences in terms of culture and organizational dynamics.

After a meeting with my team leads in early April, I felt the beginnings of comfort in my new environment as I got my first chance to hear about some of the areas of interest I'd be getting the chance to dig into. The plan was for me to split equal times between each department of Technology Planning: Product Agility, Portfolio Management, Enterprise Project Management, Governance, Risk, & Compliance, and Asset Management. While this changed due to some organizational reordering, I still was able to split time between departments, building bases of knowledge for multiple areas of IT.

On my first day, I was immediately put to work, assisting in day-to-day monitoring and registering of hardware assets. The process was a bit confusing, and slightly tedious, but it gave me the first inklings that this internship could be incredibly impactful for me. Throughout the next few weeks, with intern events strategically sprinkled in, I began to feel comfortable (and confident) in this new environment, even as I took on projects I would never have been confident taking on previously.

My responsibilities included monitoring terms and completing entitlement reviews, rolling out Casey’s new generative AI instance and its data privacy policy, revamping vendor risk analysis and privacy reviews, refreshing hardware for grocery drivers, conducting in-depth analyses of current PMOs, and coordinating off-site logistics. The highlight of my experience at Casey’s was coordinating the inaugural Data & Technology Awards, which gave me the opportunity to recognize and applaud the coworkers who supported me throughout this process.

Some intern events provided a more contextual overview of Casey’s operations. One particularly insightful event was the store immersion, where groups of interns were placed at various Casey’s locations around the Des Moines area to assist team members. My team was placed near Camp Dodge, and we spent most of our time stocking the freezer shelves. This experience was a moment of reflection for me, as it bridged the gap I sometimes felt between the corporate office and the store. Given how integral the C-stores are to Casey’s operations, it was empowering to know that our four hours of work supported the store’s team members and reduced their strain in maintaining operations while providing intentional customer service.

Simultaneously, interns were tasked with a cooperative final project: creating a product or service to enhance the Casey’s brand. After considering several ideas, my team decided on a private label frozen pizza to extend Casey’s popular pizza into a grocery item. Our team, composed of three other interns with expertise in various disciplines, collaborated effectively to deliver a well-rounded presentation to C-Suite members and our teams during the final week of the internship.

In reflection, I feel it’s fair to say that this internship has been life-changing. As someone who grew up with Casey’s, it’s incredibly powerful and rewarding to have interned at Casey’s, knowing that my work impacted the communities in Casey’s footprint that were just like my own community. This connection made my contributions feel even more meaningful and personal.

I’m incredibly proud of the development I’ve undergone during my time here at Casey’s. The growth I’ve experienced can largely be attributed to the exceptional mentors I’ve had the privilege to work with, such as Kelly Bucher and Daniel Ansong. Their guidance and support have been instrumental in my professional and personal development. My team here has also been a tremendous motivator, pushing me to immerse myself fully in the content and to challenge myself continuously. For this, I am deeply grateful.

Additionally, I want to express my gratitude to my fellow interns. They have demonstrated the true capacity and drive of our generation to bring about positive change in the business atmosphere. Working alongside such passionate and driven individuals has been inspiring and has reinforced my belief in the power of collaboration and innovation.

Opportunities like internships are ultimately what you make of them. By putting myself in uncomfortable situations, such as reaching out for shadowing experiences or asking questions with the intent to learn, I was able to shape an experience at Casey’s that I am proud to have had. These moments of stepping out of my comfort zone were crucial in forming the enriching and transformative experience I had here.

In conclusion, this internship as a Technology Planning intern at Casey's has been a journey of growth, learning, and meaningful connections, and I am immensely grateful for the opportunity.

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