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Maggie Mixon, an AUP senior, works as听an intern at the Paris-based luxury听travel company, Secret Journeys. She explains how she combined her twin passions of journalism and business strategy 鈥� while uncovering听little-known secrets听of听the City of Light.听

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How did you find out about Secret Journeys?听

It was thanks to AUP鈥檚 Jobs and Internships database! I knew I wanted to work in business development or sales. One day, I had three interviews 鈥� two with software companies, and one with Secret Journeys.听I met Phillippe, now my boss, in a caf茅, and from the get-go we were on the same page.听I鈥檓 really interested in journalism and the news, and Phillipe听used to work听at the听New York Times.听We talked for two hours! Within a week I signed a contract.听

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What drew you to the internship?听

It offers a whole new way of looking at travel.听We specialize in privatizing spaces for a luxury travel experience.听Our former clients include Michelle Obama!听Anyone can take a tour of a museum, but our journeys go beyond that. We take a specific angle 鈥� say, the women of Versailles 鈥� and we听customize听the narrative to fit with your interests.听We pair the museum鈥檚 guides with our own听storytellers, who are often听lauded journalists. We aim to open a secret door 鈥� to introduce clients to curators and directors, behind the scenes. It鈥檚 about structuring the best day听we can, so clients see Paris in a less touristic light.听听

What do your responsibilities look like?听

I don鈥檛 have an average day 鈥� it varies from week to week. I meet with Paris-based travel agencies, hotel concierges, museum representatives, restaurants 鈥� any potential players who听can help set up an event. I usually help run a couple of events a week. Then there is the background work 鈥� writing tasks for the storytellers, updating the website听and social media, or calling magazines.听My classes in strategic management, literary journalism and international business prepared me well 鈥� especially when it came to working with people with varied cultural backgrounds, managing their different norms and expectations.听

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What does听studying听in Paris mean to you?听

It really is unique. I now see a classroom on every corner.听I鈥檝e learned so many things听beyond my studies 鈥� about art history, music or gastronomy. Studying in Paris means a holistic education. In my internship, as well as all the business aspects, I鈥檝e learned so much about culture.听听My internship was also like a crash听course in journalism from award-winning journalists.听I always loved to write, but I didn鈥檛 realize I would learn so much about it going into business.听

Has your internship听affected your听plans?听

Definitely! I听always knew I want to work in business strategy, but now I've听figured听out听how I can听marry听that听passion听with听news听and听journalism.听Right now, I鈥檓 applying for jobs in Paris in business development and partnership management. I鈥檓 open when it comes to industry, but,听ideally,听I鈥檇 like to continue working in media. Ultimately, I鈥檇 love to be involved in building a successful publication.听