When Jemma Friis-Smith left South Africa to pursue her Master’s in Management at Hult London, she didn’t expect her journey to involve so much juggling. But with determination, grit, and an unstoppable work ethic, she managed to balance full-time studies, a live-in nanny role, and a highly competitive internship at Red Bull.

We sat down with Jemma to talk about finding her path, her Red Bull internship experience, and the lessons she’s learned from going all-in. 

Q: How did you land the internship at Red Bull?

Jemma: Funnily enough, it started with a conversation in class. Someone behind me mentioned they were applying to Red Bull, and two weeks later I came across a LinkedIn post for an internship. I hadn’t even considered internships—I was focused on grad schemes—but I applied on a whim.

It turned into a structured process: a HireVue interview, an assessment, and finally a 20-minute presentation pitching Red Bull in a new market. I built the pitch using everything I’d learned at Hult—customer profiling, presentation structure, even sustainable marketing strategies. A few days later, I got the call. I burst into tears and rang my mom. It felt like all the hard work had paid off. 

Q: What kind of work did you do at Red Bull?

Jemma: I joined the Booker Wholesale team and got to work on several projects. One was creating a one-pager for retailers that don’t yet stock Red Bull—a practical tool used across the business. I also joined events where the F1 Red Bull car made an appearance, and we handed out samples.

What really stood out to me were the cross-department inductions. I got a front-row seat to the inner workings of Red Bull—supply chain, marketing, finance, HR. For someone who’s studied theory in class, seeing it in action was amazing.  

Q: How did the Hult curriculum help you stand out?

Jemma: The presentation I delivered in my interview—honestly, I couldn’t have done that without Hult. From ideation and branding to sustainability and customer segmentation, the curriculum prepared me to think like a professional.

Also, because my master’s was so broad, I understood the full business landscape during my onboarding at Red Bull. While others were unfamiliar with basic finance or supply chain terms, I’dalready covered them in class. That foundation gave me real confidence. 

Q: And how did you manage it all—nannying, studying, and interning?

Jemma: It was intense! There were weeks when I was nannying in the morning, working at Red Bull during the day, and back with the kids in the evening. Then I’d take Fridays off for weekend modules. It pushed me to the limit, but it taught me so much about organization, time management, and resilience. 

Q: What was your biggest takeaway from this whole experience?

Jemma:  Getting out of your comfort zone is essential. I came to London alone. I didn’t know anyone. But by being proactive—whether that was applying for internships, talking to advisors, or just asking for opportunities at Red Bull—I created my own path. 

Also: trust the process. Don’t panic. Take it hour by hour. Things do fall into place

Q: Any advice for other Hult students looking for internships? 

Jemma: Be a chaser. Get out of your comfort zone. Use LinkedIn. Reach out to people. Nothing will land in your lap, you have to make it happen.

And don’t be afraid of rejection. I applied for over 50 grad roles and didn’t get a single one. This internship came from one spontaneous application—and it changed everything. 

Jemma’s story is a powerful reminder that hustle, heart, and a bit of Hult prep can take you further than you think. Today, she’s just wrapped up her internship at Red Bull and secured a full-time role at Revolut. What’s next? Knowing Jemma, it’s just the beginning. 

 

Find out how you can start your journey at Hult with the Master’s in Management.