Career Connections:
Marianna Giallourakis '24
A connection within the CDS community leads to an eight-week internship and a chance to put classroom learning into action.
For Marianna Giallourakis ’24, her path from Carrollwood Day School to a summer internship began with a connection close to home.
Now a marketing major at the University of South Florida, Marianna was looking for a summer internship where she could put her skills to work. That opportunity came through the CDS community when Brandan Teague, current CDS Trustee, parent, and owner of Teague & Associates, reached out with an opportunity to join his company as a summer intern.
Brandan was looking for a marketing intern who could help with a rebrand of the company’s website. For eight weeks, Marianna worked full-time in the office, helping develop a more modern look and feel for the website. She created design mockups and helped develop employee bios that highlighted both professional roles and personal interests.
The experience gave Marianna an opportunity to see how skills she is developing in the classroom could translate into a professional setting.
“My internship with Brandan was an incredible learning experience. It gave me the opportunity to gain real-world experience, develop new skills, and see how the things I learned could be applied in a professional setting. I’m really grateful for the opportunity because Brandan as well as his team were very supportive, knowledgeable, and willing to let me learn through hands-on experience. It was an experience that helped me grow both professionally and personally.”
During her sophomore year, Marianna completed a project focused on rebranding a company, using Dunkin’ Donuts as her subject and developing advertising designed to connect with younger generations. A public speaking course she took during her freshman year also prepared her for an unexpected part of her internship: presenting her ideas to the company.
“Throughout the internship, Marianna was punctual, thoughtful, intelligent, detailed, thorough, kind, and patient. She brought a level of professionalism and maturity that far exceeded what we typically expect from a student intern,” Brandan said. “She worked directly with our team and our Director of Operations and quickly became a valued part of the process.”
For Marianna, the internship was about more than building a website. It was an opportunity to step into a professional environment, share her ideas and grow more confident in her abilities.
That confidence has also shaped the work she pursues outside the classroom. Marianna recently started her own podcast, an idea that began with a friend before she connected with two members of her college's podcast club. What started as conversations about random topics eventually inspired her to create something more intentional.
Her podcast now explores three areas that are meaningful to her: music, mental health and Bible study.
Taking another leap, Marianna reached out to Guytano, a band she had listened to since ninth grade, and invited them to join her podcast. After preparing a studio space and connecting with the band, she spoke with a member about everything from how he got started in music and how the band came together to the process of writing lyrics and the stories behind specific songs.
For Marianna, those experiences reflect the growth she experienced at CDS.
“My experience as a student at CDS was incredibly meaningful. CDS gave me the opportunity to grow not only academically, but also personally. I really appreciated the sense of community and the relationships I built with my classmates, teachers, and staff. Looking back, CDS was a place where I felt supported and encouraged to explore my interests, take on new challenges, and become more confident in myself.”
That sense of community remains one of her favorite parts of her CDS experience. She remembers cheering at football games, serving as yearbook editor during her senior year and publishing a book as part of a junior-year class project. She also fondly remembers Patriot Buddies and the opportunity to build a relationship with a first-grade student during her senior year.
“Whether we were doing activities, playing games, or simply hanging out, it was always something I looked forward to. It was really special to build that connection with my buddy and see how excited they were each time we got to be together.”
Today, those experiences continue to influence how Marianna approaches new opportunities. From rebranding a company website to creating a podcast and stepping into professional presentations, she is putting her education into action and continuing to find her voice.
“CDS shaped and molded me into the IB learner,” Marianna said.
And through Career Connections, the relationships built within the CDS community are helping that learning continue well beyond graduation.
Brandan saw the potential in a young marketing student and opened the door to a meaningful professional experience. Marianna brought her creativity, preparation and perspective to the opportunity. Together, they created a connection that benefited both the alumna and the business.
“Beyond the skills she brought to the table, Marianna was eager to learn and genuinely engaged in the experience. She gained valuable exposure to the professional environment, while we benefited tremendously from her creativity, attention to detail, and perspective,” Brandan said.
“We were incredibly fortunate to have her with us this summer, and we are excited to see the final website come together as it works its way through our compliance process. CDS should be proud of the young professionals it is preparing for the real world.”
We love sharing our alumni achievements with the CDS community. If you are a CDS Alumni and would like to share your accomplishments, please contact our Alumni Engagement Coordinator, Carli (Gauthier) Mianne '16 at cmianne@cdspatriots.org and let us know what you have been up to since leaving CDS. We look forward to hearing from you!