Our thirteenth summer of the DOORS Internship Program is underway! Through virtual workshops, our interns work on goal setting, networking, personal branding, and communication within their fields. We invited our interns to share their experiences this summer.

Meet Oliver Straw! Oliver was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, but moved overseas, living in several countries before settling in Melbourne, Australia, where he spent the majority of his childhood and high school years. Oliver recently graduated from West Virginia University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and, most recently, his MBA.

What does your internship with Leggett entail?

As a Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) intern at Leggett, my role extends beyond traditional forecasting and analysis. I work closely with the Precision Hydraulic Cylinders (PHC) team, gaining deeper insight into our accounts, customers, suppliers, and overall financial performance. I support the team wherever needed and look forward to taking on increasing responsibility throughout the internship.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned so far during your time at Leggett?

One of the most impactful lessons I’ve learned so far is the importance of clear communication and team alignment. In a large organization with many moving parts, observing how senior leaders communicate has shown me how critical it is to be clear, direct, and inclusive in business conversations. I look forward to continuing to learn throughout my internship.

What are your goals through your internship?

The DOORS program offers a wide range of valuable opportunities. My primary goal is to absorb as much knowledge as possible from those around me while building meaningful, long-lasting relationships with colleagues and fellow interns. I also aim to consistently add value to my team by being a reliable and dependable contributor.

What has been your favorite part of your internship at Leggett?

Having the chance to meet and interact with a variety of people is what makes this experience so special. With so many different backgrounds, career paths, and experiences, I feel that networking and building those relationships will be extremely valuable.

How will you apply your experience this summer to your career?

This internship is helping me better understand what I want to achieve in my career and how I want to approach it. The practical skills and insights I gain from working with experienced leaders will help position me to make meaningful contributions to a business and positively impact team performance in the future.

Please join us in wishing Oliver well!

Our thirteenth summer of the DOORS Internship Program is underway! Through virtual workshops, our interns work on goal-setting, networking, personal branding, and communication within their fields. We invited our interns to share their experiences this summer.

Meet Danielle Farrell from Orlando, Florida. Danielle is a rising junior at the University of Florida, majoring in Media Management and Strategy with a minor in Public Relations.

What does your internship with Leggett entail?

I assist with corporate communications and help manage digital communications for our individual business units.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned so far during your time at Leggett?

Every day, I’m faced with something new I haven’t done before, and I’ve learned not to be afraid to ask questions because there’s always more to learn.

What are your goals through your internship?

I’m hoping to gain valuable hands-on experience in the communications industry so I can start shaping how I want to approach my career. I also want to grow as a professional and continue building my networking skills by working with such experienced individuals.

What has been your favorite part of your internship at Leggett?

My favorite part of my internship so far has been the chance to be creative. My supervisors, Alex Lazarchik and Leslie LauBach, have been great about giving me the right balance of independence while also providing the guidance I need to succeed. I also think my experience with the Doors Program and the internship showcase could become another favorite part of my time here.

How will you apply your experience this summer to your career?

I already have ideas for how I’ll apply my experience from this summer to my future career, even after just four weeks at Leggett. I’ve gained a wide range of valuable communication skills and a growing sense of confidence that I know will be incredibly useful in both my academic journey and my professional future.

Please join us in wishing Danielle well!

Each July, we celebrate the impact of the DOORS Internship Program at Leggett & Platt and the talented students helping shape our future.

Through DOORS, students gain hands-on experience in areas like Engineering, Communications, Financial Planning & Analysis, Accounting, and more. They tackle meaningful work, build new skills, and explore potential career paths while contributing to real projects across the business.

Throughout the summer, interns also invest in their professional growth. They hear weekly from guest speakers across the organization on a range of development topics and participate in our Executive Speaker Series, where they learn directly from our executive team and ask questions.

This summer, we proudly welcomed 20 interns from universities across five countries, three business units, and twelve functions. Our interns bring fresh ideas, strong ambition, and a drive to learn that strengthens our teams.

Follow along all month as we spotlight our interns, share their stories, and showcase the impact they make across the organization!