University of Minnesota Athletics
Summer Off Campus: Kortney Luedloff
8/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
University of Minnesota junior rower Kortney Luedloff is one of the many Gopher student-athletes who have unique experiences during their summer away from campus.
Luedloff, a management information systems major in the Carlson School of Management from Waconia, Minn., worked as a technology consulting analyst for Accenture in Minneapolis.
How did you get set up with the job?
I went through the fall recruiting season at Carlson knowing that I wanted to do consulting this summer, ideally in the technology space. I attended the career and internship fair in September, where I was able to learn about the various consulting companies that I could potentially work for. I found that I most closely aligned with the people that I met from Accenture and followed their recruiting and interviewing process until I was fortunate enough to be offered a summer internship in November.
What did you do to keep in shape/training over the summer?
I've found that it is important for me to have performance events to keep me fueled. For the first half of the summer, I trained with the University of Minnesota Development Camp for Club Nationals in Cincinnati, Ohio. I loved the opportunity to get out in small boats (pairs and fours) with my teammates and to bring some medals home from that trip. Since then, I've been focusing on running and lifting. This weekend, I ran in the Great River Ragnar relay and I'll be spending the last few weeks of summer preparing for the fall distance season.
Was there anything you've learned as a rower that you were able to apply to the professional work?
Absolutely. I've learned so many soft skills during my time on the rowing team that transfer directly to my professional life. I've found that being coachable, working with other people, and managing my time effectively are the most important skills that have shown up this summer. Overall, rowing has taught me that it takes serious time and dedication to learn something new, and that with the right people on your team, hard work and a little patience usually ends with success.
What was the highlight of your experience, both professionally and personally?
I loved the All Access Accenture conference in Chicago. The company brought non rising senior interns together to the Chicago office to network and learn about the company. While we were there, they took us on a skyline dinner cruise on Lake Michigan at sunset. I loved the experience of traveling for work, meeting interns from across the nation, and hearing more about the company.
Did you do anything fun outside of work that stands out?
This was my first summer spent away from my hometown, and I really took the opportunity to get out and explore as much as possible. I tried new restaurants, tubed down the Apple River, spent time on Lake Minnetonka, went to the Wisconsin Dells, and made new friends. It was great to have the time to get out to do as many fun things as possible.
Anything else you'd like to add about your experience?
I have been so fortunate to spend my summers preparing for my career with incredible companies in and around the Twin Cities. There are so many opportunities in the area, and being part of the Gopher athletics family has given me a really unique set of skills that companies are looking to hire. I am forever grateful to Minnesota Rowing for all of the experiences I've had in the first half of my collegiate life and I'm looking forward to whatever the next two years will bring.
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