The Value of a Balata Internship

It is not with every company that students just walk into a summer internship and immediately feel a sense of community, but as the three interns that just ended their more-than-70-day streak at Balata Data, we can say that we were fortunate enough to have this experience.

Our background could not have been more different; Erick is a bartender at Superica, Sophia is an Atlanta-born undergraduate attending Auburn, and Clay is an out-of-stater with aspirations in the entertainment industry. When we stepped into Balata HQ just a few months ago, we could never have imagined how productive our time would be for our future careers or how inviting the staff would be to us.

Though, sure, we hit the occasional mail run, Team Balata was superb at offering us career-ready skills for when we graduate.  

Clay Hale

Before my time at Balata, I would have never considered myself social media-savvy, or any kind of tech-savvy, for that matter. At Ole Miss, I usually had to ask one of my friends how to do miscellaneous tasks on my computer because I wasn’t proficient enough in my tech abilities.

Surely, the irony can be seen, then, in me spending my summer at Balata on the marketing team.  

The tools and skills that I will take with me from this experience into a career in the entertainment world are far more than one might initially think. Over the course of my time at Balata, I have helped push our LinkedIn toward an impressive 9,000 followers, which is around 1,000 new followers added over the duration of my internship.

On our LinkedIn, I wrote, designed, and published a bi-weekly newsletter, as well as scripted, filmed, and edited weekly videos. These tasks were in addition to daily posts where I had the opportunity to display Balata’s outstanding company culture.

Not all my learned skills were digital; I helped orchestrate a few company-wide events, including a sold out Tecovas-partnered event in Dallas, Texas and an office day of volunteering, for which I designed company t-shirts from scratch.

More important than all of that, perhaps, this experience connected me to an office environment with a company culture I hope to work in for the rest of my professional career. My supervisor, the incredibly talented Olivia Peets, spared me nothing from this experience; she taught me countless Canva skills and offered me a glimpse into what a marketing career could look like in my future.  

I think the most valuable tool she equipped me with, however, was the ability to find deeper confidence in the work that I do. Though there were many opportunities to learn, it never seemed like Olivia deemed me unable to complete a task effectively, and her belief in me and my abilities is, by far, the biggest takeaway that I will walk away with summer.

Sophia Mador

Coming into my internship at Balata, I knew I wanted to gain real-world sales experience, but I had no idea just how much I would learn in such a short amount of time. Before this summer, I had never worked in technology sales, so stepping into the world of data centers, third-party maintenance, hardware sourcing, and everything in between was completely new to me.  

Throughout my internship, I had the opportunity to work directly with the sales team, research prospective customers, build outreach campaigns, schedule meetings, and help create new business opportunities. One of my favorite parts of the experience was seeing how every conversation had the potential to turn into something much bigger. It taught me that persistence, preparation, and building genuine relationships are just as important as knowing the products you’re selling.

What surprised me most, though, wasn’t just how much I learned but how much I looked forward to coming into the office every day. I knew I’d be challenged and learn something new, but I also knew I’d spend the day laughing with my coworkers and being surrounded by people who genuinely cared about one another. The culture at Balata made it easy to enjoy coming to work, and I am so thankful for that!

Beyond the technical knowledge and sales skills, this internship gave me confidence in myself. I became much more comfortable picking up the phone, introducing myself to new people, and stepping outside of my comfort zone. I learned that rejection is simply part of the process, and that resilience, consistency, and a positive attitude can take you farther than you might expect.

As I head back to Auburn for my senior year, I’ll be taking far more than sales experience with me. I’ll leave with new friendships, incredible mentors, and confidence in my abilities that I know will stay with me throughout my career. I couldn’t be more grateful to Daniel Kedme, who graciously trusted me with this incredible opportunity from the start, and John Hunt, who patiently taught me everything from scratch. And lastly, I want to say “thank you” to everyone at Balata for believing in me, investing in me, and making this summer such an unforgettable experience.

Erick Varela

I didn't know what to expect as I started my time at Balata; technology sales wasn't exactly the path I imagined for myself. I started working when I was 13, painting apartments every weekend and every school break I had. Over the years, people around me kept pointing me toward sales, telling me it was where I belonged. I didn't have any experience in tech, but a few friends already in the industry convinced me it was worth pursuing. Balata opened its doors to me, and along with it, opened my eyes to the world of technological solutions.

Stepping into a sales role this summer, I quickly found myself on the front lines prospecting, researching, and reaching out to potential customers. One of the moments that stuck with me most was learning how to identify real opportunities simply by building relationships with people. It wasn't about pushing a product; it was about listening, asking the right questions, and figuring out where we could actually help. That lesson alone changed how I think about sales.

What surprised me most was how interesting this industry turned out to be. I came in knowing next to nothing about data centers, hardware sourcing, or third-party maintenance, and now I can talk about all of it with confidence. It's a space I never expected to find myself excited about, but I genuinely do.

None of this would have meant as much without the people who invested in me along the way. John Hunt, my direct boss, took the time to teach me everything from the ground up and never made me feel like a question was too small to ask. And Daniel Kedme believed in me from day one, trusting me with real responsibility and giving me the opportunity to prove myself. I owe so much of this summer to both of them and to the rest of the team at Balata who welcomed me with open arms.

I'm taking a lot more than sales experience with me, as I head back to school. I have a clearer sense of the career I want to build, and I plan to keep progressing in this field long after this internship ends. I'm incredibly grateful to Balata and to everyone who took the time to help me grow over this summer.