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!

Our twelfth 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 Caroline Schaaf from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Caroline is a rising junior at the University of Tampa, majoring in Marketing.

What does your internship with Leggett entail?

I am working as a Sales Operations Intern for Work Furniture at Genesis Seating, where I collaborate with the sales team and assist with both supply chain and marketing efforts.

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

One of the most valuable things I have learned is how to maintain positive customer relationships. In sales, there is often a heavy focus on gaining new accounts; however, strengthening and growing current accounts should receive the same amount of attention.

What are your goals through your internship?

I aim to build on my experience and knowledge of the sales process. I’m excited to bring creative ideas to the table for improving our procedures and exploring new channels to boost our market reach.

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

My favorite part of this internship has been the exposure to a diverse range of customers and the opportunity to engage with their companies. From meetings and plant tours to service opportunities, Leggett has taught me to be the voice of the customer and helped me immerse myself in the sales industry.

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

During this internship, I have applied the skills and knowledge gained from my classes. Now, I am acquiring real-world experience, which will enable me to contribute more confidently to class discussions and navigate the corporate world effectively.

Please join us in wishing Caroline well!

Our twelfth 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 Devin Peavler from Joplin, Missouri. Devin recently graduated from Missouri Southern State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and an Associate of Science in Information Technology. He plans to pursue a master’s degree to continue growing both professionally and academically.

What does your internship with Leggett entail?

I’m the IT Developer Intern on the Windows Development Team, which is responsible for creating and maintaining hundreds of applications. I’ve been able to help with a wide range of tasks, including webpage feature updates, database changes, training AI models for document data extraction, and many others.

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

The most valuable thing I’ve learned so far is the importance of teamwork. Most problems you work on will need input and collaboration from others, often outside your own team. I think it is especially important early in your career because those daily interactions and questions you ask help to grow your skills and figure out how to bring more value to the people around you.

What are your goals through your internship?

I hope to continue getting hands-on experience with a variety of technologies and become more confident working in a team setting. I want to learn how to contribute in meaningful ways and build the kind of skills that will prepare me for a full-time role, whether that’s at L&P or somewhere else.

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

Getting to know my team, both professionally and personally, and seeing how the work I do actually helps people. I also really enjoyed the branch tour. It was awesome to see all the different products we make, how they’re built, and just how big of an impact L&P has around the world.

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

This internship has shown me what a great company culture looks like. Everyone’s been so open and helpful. It’s helped me understand what kind of work environment I want to be part of in the future and which ones to avoid. It has also taught me how to work with different kinds of people and adapt to their styles, which I know will be valuable wherever I go next.

Join us in wishing Devin well!

Our twelfth 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 Taelor Harden from Tallahassee, Florida! Taelor is a rising senior at Florida A&M University.

What does your internship with Leggett entail?

My internship focuses on HR operations and talent management. I rotate through departments like Talent Development, Global Mobility, and Social Media & Communications, contributing to key projects that enhance the overall internship experience. 

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

The most valuable thing I have learned so far is to be eager about learning, to strive for excellence, and to ask questions and utilize my peers. 

What are your goals through your internship?

My ultimate achievement is to conclude my internship by being more knowledgeable about this field of work while also leaving a lasting impression on those around me. My goal is to utilize the exposure I am receiving to contribute meaningfully to the internship experience. 

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

My favorite part thus far has been the people I’ve met and the connections I have made. 

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

This summer has sharpened my ability to think strategically, communicate effectively, and approach challenges with a people-first mindset. I plan to apply these skills by taking on more leadership roles on campus and refining how I collaborate within teams.

Please join us in wishing Taelor well!

Our twelfth 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 David Steel from Kansas City, MO. David is a rising senior at Missouri State University studying Mechanical Engineering.

What does your internship with Leggett entail?

I’m a product development intern in the bedding department, focusing on Research & Development (R&D).

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

There are several things that I’ve learned, which I consider equally valuable. I’ve learned about important career advice from Leggett leaders during the Doors presentations, what processes are used in product development to help customers, and how to draft using SolidWorks to ensure drawings are optimally understandable.

What are your goals through your internship?

My goal is to say yes to as much as possible and gain exposure wherever I can. The more I’ve said yes, the more unique projects I’ve been able to work on, which have ranged from drafting designs to fluids calculations, Excel automation, and finite element analysis evaluations.

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

My favorite part about Leggett is how every project in the bedding department is unique, with changes in barrel diameter, out-of-pocket height, coil zoning, or any number of factors. Every day is a new day, and there’s always new information to learn and collaborate on.

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

My experience at Leggett will have given me a better perspective on drafting, problem-solving, and R&D processing, which will help my heat exchanger research documentation, Formula SAE team’s design process, and preparation for my future career.

Please join us in wishing David well!

Our twelfth 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 Tamanna Chowdhury from New York City. Tamanna is a rising senior at Columbia University, majoring in climate system science with a minor in statistics.

What does your internship with Leggett entail?

At Leggett, I’m working with the Sustainability team, assisting with data analysis related to energy, water, and waste, as well as supporting specific projects assigned by my supervisor and the broader team.

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

One thing I’ve already learned is how welcoming and supportive the environment at Leggett is and that everyone is willing to go the extra mile to help you succeed.

What are your goals through your internship?

Through this internship, I hope to grow both technically and professionally. I’m eager to deepen my understanding of sustainability reporting, team dynamics, and how large companies integrate ESG goals into their operations.

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

My favorite part of the internship has been hearing from the speakers. Their insights on professional development have been incredibly valuable and have already given me tools I can carry forward.

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

I plan to apply what I learn this summer to my senior thesis and coursework in the fall. In the long term, I hope to pursue a career focused on sustainability solutions, and this experience is helping lay the foundation for me to do just that.

Please join us in wishing Tamanna well!

July is all about celebrating the DOORS Internship Program here at Leggett & Platt!

DOORS opens pathways for students to gain real-world experience across departments like Talent Management, Engineering, Accounting, and more. Through the program, students grow as professionals, contribute meaningful work, and build lifelong connections.

This year, we’re proud to host 16 interns from universities across the U.S., including Florida A&M, Brandeis, and Columbia University.

Ginna Gonzalez, who oversees DOORS and College Programs at L&P, shares, “Choose a company that lets you grow in every direction: up, around, down, across, and where your journey forward doesn’t require starting over. Take Leggett for example – we have a global footprint where tenure is treasured, benefits are preserved, and every arrow points toward a new and exciting venture of growth at any stage in your journey. From local roots to worldwide reach, opportunity has no borders here.“

 Stay tuned all month as we spotlight the talent behind the program!