Opportunities of Olympic Proportions

Peter Costanzo '14 

by Christine Baksi

NBC Sports must be a big fan of Peter Costanzo ’14. The network has selected the international business & management (IB&M) major from Short Hills, N.J., for an impressive third internship. Throughout NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Costanzo will be headquartered at the epicenter of sports broadcasting: a new, state-of-the-art, 300,000-square-foot broadcasting and production facility in Stamford, Conn. And after cutting his teeth as an NBC Sports intern during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and as an affiliate marketing intern with NBCUniversal last summer, he's eager to return to the intense, behind-the-scenes action that only a full-scale offensive can tackle. 

“It takes an army to put together a production of this magnitude,” says Costanzo. He credits rigorous IB&M courses with fostering career-readiness and Red Devils baseball and Dickinson’s Sports Network with building his sense of teamwork, camaraderie and trust, which he says are all critical skills in television production. 

“Peter is making the most of his internships with NBC by using them as opportunities to explore the changing dynamics of business in this social-media era,” says his advisor, Helen Takacs, assistant professor of IB&M. “He is experiencing first-hand the changes in the sports-broadcasting industry and incorporating these experiences into his academic program.”  

Major: International Business & Management 

Minor: Economics 

Clubs and organizations: Varsity baseball, Career Center Student Advisory Board, Community Association Board, Ski & Snowboard Club (treasurer) and Tritons. More recently, I have been involved with the launch of Dickinson’s Red Devils Sports Network, where I serve as a videographer, producer and commentator for campus sporting events.

Proudest accomplishment: Being part of the most-watched television event in U.S. history while interning for NBC at the 2012 London Olympics. At the time, I thought it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I made sure to take in every moment. Little did I know I would be back at NBC two years later to work on the Sochi Olympics. 

Favorite class: My senior seminar, International Business Policy and Strategy, the capstone course in the IB&M major. The highlight was a team project assessing Colgate-Palmolive’s corporate sustainability strategy, which culminated with a presentation of our recommendations to the company.  

As a kid, I wanted to be … A professional baseball player. 

Favorite book: Walter Isaacson’s biography on Steve Jobs, who wasn’t afraid to overstep boundaries and take risks to get to where he wanted to be. He had the courage to follow his heart and intuition.

Favorite movie: Forrest Gump. I love the story and the life lessons portrayed throughout the movie. The overarching theme of dealing with obstacles and uncertainties in life is something everyone can relate to. Tom Hanks is one of my favorite actors.

Biggest influence: My parents. They instilled in me the values of compassion, hard work and the importance of being true to myself.  I am thankful for the love and support they have given me. 

Favorite professor: Professor Takacs, my mentor, professor and IB&M advisor.  She is as passionate about her students as she is about the courses she teaches. Her door is always open to listen, assist with course material or provide advice.  

Most important thing I’ve learned so far: Working effectively as part of a team. 

Post-Dickinson plans: I have always had a love of sports and a desire to work in the media and entertainment industry. The positive internship experiences at NBCUniversal have reinforced my desire to pursue a career in this direction. 

What Dickinson has given me: Aside from a well-rounded liberal-arts education, Dickinson has opened my eyes to the importance of sustainability and taking on a more active role as a global citizen. Dickinson also has helped me to sharpen my critical thinking and communication skills, which will benefit me in today’s competitive job market. 

Favorite place on campus: Morgan Field, where I enjoy throwing around a baseball with friends. I also enjoy hanging out on the Adirondack chairs.

Favorite Dining Hall food: The grilled cheese sandwiches.

Lesser-known talents: Cooking and woodworking. I can create something new every time. 

If I could have dinner with anyone (living or dead), it would be … Steven Spielberg, because I have long admired his filmmaking.  He has created some of the most memorable movies of all time.

On the value of networking: The key to successful networking is to stay in touch, be genuine and make it a two-way relationship. It’s a great opportunity to obtain one-on-one career advice and insight and gather information about specific professional roles and responsibilities, and it may lead to interest in another career path never previously considered. Alumni are a great resource, as they are more than willing to share their career stories with undergraduates. They also can be a source for other referrals. 

On the Career Center: It’s one of the best resources on campus! Besides obtaining my NBC London Olympic internship through the Career Center, I have taken advantage of just about every opportunity offered by them, including career advice, resume- and cover-letter review, mock interviews, career fairs and networking events. As an IB&M major, I have attended two finance networking events in New York City, which included corporate onsite visits and alumni receptions. I have also participated in the Career Center’s Internship Notation Program, which helped me to better define my career goals and to receive transcript recognition for my internships. With advice and assistance from my career advisor, Amity Fox, I am better prepared for my transition into the workforce.  

Read more internship success stories 

Getting Way Way Ahead
Willa Davis '15 spends the summer in L.A. internship with a film production company. 

Going Viral
Katri Thiele '15 spends the summer studying giant viruses in Switzerland.

Lessons of an Intern
Michael DeVivo '15 shares lessons learned and experience gained through his summer internship with JPMorgan Chase. 

That Dickinson Connection
Alumni-led internships provide invaluable experiences.