Isabelle Zoeckler ’17 is mastering the ability to use past experiences as a stepping stone to future success.

“During each of my internships, I’ve been able to build my skills,” says the fifth-year student in Clark’s Master’s in Professional Communications Program. “My biggest take-away from my collective internship experience is to understand how my work fits into a bigger picture.”

About Isabelle Zoeckler ’17

Major: Cultural studies and communication
Minor: Sociology
Graduate program: Professional Communications
Hometown: Madison, Conn.

This summer, she interned in the marketing department at Public Consulting Group, a management consulting firm founded by Bill Mosakowski ’76.

“PCG is closely linked to Clark and the mindset we have for creating positive change,” she says. The community of alumni employees — who number more than 50, serving public-sector education, health, human services and other government clients — “demonstrates the good work done across practice areas.”

Zoeckler laid the foundation for these connections with a LEEP project at Ivy Child International, a Worcester nonprofit fostering social change leadership by providing mindfulness education to children.“The opportunity allowed me to learn really valuable lessons about social media marketing and event planning,” she says, noting she also practices the principle.

A study-abroad internship at Little Bird yoga studio and café in Dublin, Ireland, helped hone her social media marketing, writing and editing skills, while keeping mindfulness at the forefront.

Zoeckler’s planning on taking the lessons learned at PCG further.

“Working in PCG’s corporate setting allowed me to understand what it means to be a part of a professional team,” she says. “This experience will be essential when I am applying for jobs in marketing this year.”

Zoeckler credits Clark’s unique perspective on education and interdisciplinary approach with helping build her journey and philosophy.

“I’ve become much more independent over the past four years, and that has impacted my ability to succeed,” she says. “It has allowed me to pursue opportunities outside of my comfort zone, and prove to myself and others what I am capable of.”