Interning inside the ivy: A student's summer with the Chicago Cubs

Imagine walking through the iconic red marquee of Wrigley Field to enjoy the slow-paced tradition of America’s pastime on a sunny summer afternoon. As you sip a drink and enjoy a box of popcorn amid the field’s iconic ivy-covered, brick outfield wall and original hand-turned scoreboard, you can’t help but feel the camaraderie with fellow fans as you sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

For rising third-year student Elisabeth Christina Kearney, the historic field known as “The Friendly Confines” for its welcoming atmosphere, intimate setting and unique charm, is a comforting sight when she arrives for work each day as the internal communications intern for the Chicago Cubs.

“My cubicle overlooks the field, and on game days it is amazing to be able to glimpse part of a game while I work,” says Kearney, a marketing and sport industry dual-degree major. “It fills my bucket as a person who’s very sappy about sports. I really like people and teams that care about their history.”

Her interest in sports, sports management and sports history comes from her family.

“The people around me love sports and the passion of athletes and are always cheering them on,” she says. “While I was a cheerleader for six years and a wrestler my last two years of high school, I needed to learn the business side behind sports to truly fall in love.”

While she enjoys all sports, she admits that baseball has been a little harder for her to wrap her head around.

“Baseball is a much slower sport, and I like things that are a little bit more physical and faster paced,” Kearney says. “Traditional sporting is really immortalized in baseball ― there’s no kiss cam, screen or loudness meter here at the Cubs. You can come in your suit or shorts and be what you want to be when you’re watching a game. I’ve really come to like the vibe ― since it takes a while to play, you can just settle in, talk to other people and just have a good time.”

She says it’s also really cool to connect with the players she grew up watching, like shortstop Dansby Swanson.

“I’m from Georgia and I remember when he was a big name playing for the Atlanta Braves,” Kearney says. "I remember people going crazy for him when I was in middle school and high school, and it’s kind of crazy to know that I’ve basically become co-workers with him.”

As far as the business behind baseball, Kearney says, “To understand any business, you have to understand who works there.” At the Cubs, she’s found that everyone is treated with respect and every person ― from full-time to seasonal workers ― is integral to the team’s brand.

This respect helps Kearney in her communications role find ways to showcase Cubs employees and inform staff ― from the concession stand worker to the executive vice president ― about things happening behind the scenes. She coordinates the employee newsletter Cubs News, sends employee email blasts and creates employee surveys.

She’s also working on four other projects: interpreting employee surveys regarding new initiatives into visuals and messages for club executives; coordinating with human resources to highlight young talent and the organization as an employer of choice; assisting with the club’s social media accounts; and planning and implementing a Cubs all-staff meeting.

But her internship isn’t just about the Cubs. She also brainstorms ways to promote other Wrigley Field events.

“I’ve been a part of think tanks about Wrigley as a whole entity and ways that Wrigley can be pitched to new people,” she says. “I help provide a new voice in producing strategies for different events the park holds like concerts and corporate galas to receptions, ballpark buyouts, Pride and Juneteenth.”

One unique event she assisted with was the U.S. Travel Association’s international inbound travel trade show. The Cubs, a premier sponsor, hosted the first event of the conference ― the Press Brunch – at Wrigley Field for international media during a home game.

“A lot of high-profile people were part of the event, including Chicago Cubs Chairman of the Board Tom Ricketts, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Cubs players,” she says. “I played an instrumental role in ensuring things went smoothly by taking care of any of the VIPs’ needs.”

The Cubs’ “Lunch and Learns” for interns helped her become comfortable communicating with those VIPs. While meeting and learning about the personal and professional backgrounds of Cubs managers and vice presidents, she also learned about decorum, asking appropriate questions of executives and the power of networking.

“Coffee chats with different employees ― from player development to marketing and law ― are encouraged,” she says. “I’m not sure what area I want to end up in after graduation ― marketing, player development, management or somewhere else. For the sports industry it’s important to know people and get connected, so it’s a bonus when I see a coach or the head of player development whose jobs I’m interested in and I can just reach out and set up a meeting with them.”

The internship has not only taught her more about baseball and potential careers, but it has allowed her to learn more about herself.

“At any level, sports teach you so many things about yourself, other people and working in a collaborative environment,” she says. “The way you do anything is the way you do everything. I’m pushing myself to come up with more creative and unique solutions to issues. I keep considering what makes me the candidate of choice that will go above and beyond.”

And when she thinks about her most cherished moment so far with the Cubs, it all comes back to the experience of watching a game.

“My favorite memory is my first baseball game ever at Wrigley Field during the Cubs’ intern outing,” Kearney says. “While sitting in VIP seats with all the other interns, it was surreal to think that I was actually working here. As I began linking arms with those around me and singing ‘Take Me Out the Ball Game,’ I thought, ‘The Cubs’ magic is real. They are a team of believers ― you can be down and out but come out the other side.’”