Featured Story: Jamal Affo

Turning Communication and Networking Into a Tech Sales Opportunity

Jamal Affo, an Advertising major at the University of Georgia (Class of 2027), recently secured a Tech Sales Internship with LexisNexis — an early milestone for a student pursuing a career in consultative sales and business development.

Drawn to LexisNexis for its focus on innovation, mentorship, and data-driven decision-making, Jamal saw the internship as an opportunity to learn consultative selling while making a real-world impact for clients. Like many early-career professionals, he had the drive and foundational skills but needed structure, mentorship, and a repeatable process to compete effectively in a highly selective internship environment.

Background

Jamal entered the internship search balancing academic responsibilities, extracurricular commitments, and the challenge of breaking into competitive programs. While he possessed strong communication skills and natural curiosity, he recognized that success would require more intentional networking, refined positioning, and consistent preparation.

Throughout the process, he leaned into relationship-focused networking, asking thoughtful questions, following up consistently, and demonstrating a genuine interest in learning from professionals’ experiences. This approach helped him build meaningful connections rather than transactional interactions, ultimately opening doors to interview opportunities.

Champion Objective Process

Intentional Networking & Mentorship

Jamal shifted toward relationship-driven outreach, focusing on learning from professionals in tech sales and building connections over time. This helped him earn referrals, gain insight into the industry, and create opportunities to compete.

Resume Refinement & Storytelling

Through resume refinement, Jamal improved how he communicated transferable skills, including communication, listening, and consultative thinking. This allowed him to present his experience with greater clarity and confidence.

Mock Interviews & Communication Frameworks

Mock interviews helped Jamal structure his responses, improve clarity, and approach interviews as professional conversations rather than evaluations. His communication skills — particularly listening, asking thoughtful questions, and following up professionally — became a differentiator.

Long-Term Career Pathing

Structured career discussions helped Jamal understand how early tech sales exposure connects to broader opportunities in consultative sales, business development, and client-facing leadership roles. This encouraged him to focus on transferable skills and long-term growth, not just a single internship.

Results

• Secured a Tech Sales Internship with LexisNexis
• Strengthened resume and professional storytelling
• Built a relationship-driven networking strategy
• Improved interview performance through structured preparation
• Developed clarity around long-term consultative sales career goals
• Increased confidence competing in selective internship programs

Reflection

Jamal describes the process as a period of growth in resilience, adaptability, and confidence. By staying consistent, open to feedback, and intentional in his approach, he transitioned from uncertainty to a structured, repeatable strategy for career development.

He also emphasized the value of mentorship and preparation, noting that repetition and feedback were critical to becoming comfortable in interviews. With a clearer understanding of how short-term roles connect to long-term goals, Jamal now approaches opportunities with greater focus and purpose.

“Being part of Champion Objective means having a community that holds me accountable, pushes me to grow, and supports my long-term goals. It represents access to guidance, structure, and people who genuinely want to see me succeed, both professionally and personally.”