All Roads Lead to… Monster Energy?
Advertising management senior uses global experience and confidence to shape brand identity via internship
By: Gage Foust
Before coming to Michigan State University, Devin Finnane knew he loved connecting with people. Growing up in northern California, he was the kid always trying to sell something or chase attention, whether that meant pitching ideas to friends or cracking jokes to get attention.
“I’ve always been outgoing,” he said. “Advertising just made sense. It’s creative, fast and people-focused.”
He started at MSU as a marketing major but quickly realized the analytical side wasn’t for him. Switching to advertising management gave him what he wanted: the storytelling and creativity that comes from understanding people. That curiosity and hands-on approach carried him overseas in summer 2025 for the Department of Advertising and Public Relation’s “Advertising a la Mediterranean” program visiting Rome and France. His classes at the American University of Rome examined how brands shift meaning across cultures, a topic that immediately captured his attention.
“Foot Locker is seen as luxury wear in Italy, McDonald’s promotes freshness, and Starbucks is more of a treat than a routine,” he said.
Outside of class, he spent weekends exploring new cities, observing how people interacted with advertising, and chatting with locals about the brands or perspectives, stating, “that experience made me more fearless about approaching strangers and starting a conversation,” – something that’s translated well into his current internship with Monster Energy on MSU’s campus.
Each month, he receives product cases to distribute, organizes events, collects feedback and crafts social media content aimed at the MSU community. His first event, at a student DJ night, exceeded expectations, giving him usable metrics and content for future campaigns.
“In the moment, I’m just trying to figure out what students respond to the most,” he said. “It’s part instinct, part strategy.”
Finnane says confidence is just as important as experience when going into advertising.
“A lot of internships come down to energy and curiosity,” he said. “Be eager, reach out and talk to people. One good conversation can change everything.”
Both experiences have taught him how to connect quickly and read an audience, skills that can’t be learned from a textbook. He says he believes internships aren’t just about proving what you know but showing that you’re willing to learn.
“If you’re confident, even without all the answers, people notice,” said Finnane.
For more information on Finnane’s ADPR education abroad trip, visit Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/adv_ala_med/ or the website here: https://comartsci.msu.edu/education-abroad.
