Spring Break
Summer Stories - Jacqueline Beato, Harrah's
MBA '09, OH
Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: News
Work wasn't the only thing maintaining my engagement. The culture at Harrah's Joliet was a perfect fit for me. Employees were friendly, but quick-witted. There was plenty of friendly banter, and people went out of their way to help folks in any way they could. I was also allowed to participate in various training and development courses, such as a two-day diversity workshop and an online Microsoft Access database course. Harrah's takes employee development very seriously, and I felt fortunate to participate in these training seminars as an intern.
Harrah's also takes fun very seriously. After all, it is an entertainment company. During my ten week stay I engaged in more than my fair share of entertaining activities. I attempted to dunk members of management during an employee celebration (all the executives took a turn sitting in a dunk tank filled with ice cold water to raise money for charity). I participated in an employee softball tournament held on a professional baseball field. I applauded and laughed during an employee karaoke contest. I attended a luncheon where Harrah's Joliet was awarded one of "Chicago's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For," as well as an elite award for Employee Engagement. I attended the annual Human Rights Campaign Gala in Chicago, for which Harrah's is a sponsor, where I saw the performance of a scene from Cirque du Soleil's Zumanity. I handed out playing cards and beads prior to watching a Toby Keith concert. I was treated like VIP at the grand opening of Horseshoe Hammond's new barge (another Harrah's property), where I saw Bette Midler perform. And most importantly, I had fun - lots of it.
One of my favorite things about working at a Harrah's property was the ability to break away from the computer and catapult into an environment where people were having a good time. During my summer, I made it a point to limit the time I spent locked in my office on the computer or the phone. While those moments were very necessary for the success of many of my projects, much of the learning I had took place outside of the four walls of my office. I constantly walked the floor or the offices asking for feedback from long-time employees. I took breaks on certain days of the week to help with promotions and get a feel for what the execution of many of my promotional ideas involved. I entered scores during a slot tournament and dawned promotional gear during a prize giveaway. I had frontline employees read promotional copy I created and asked them what they would pay for the stated services. I constantly asked questions, and I received support from every employee I interacted with. The employee dining room, whose buffet-style dining is to blame for the added pounds on my waste line, was a great place to relax and interact with employees from all areas of the property. The communal dining helped me cement relationships, as well as forge new ones.
Harrah's also takes fun very seriously. After all, it is an entertainment company. During my ten week stay I engaged in more than my fair share of entertaining activities. I attempted to dunk members of management during an employee celebration (all the executives took a turn sitting in a dunk tank filled with ice cold water to raise money for charity). I participated in an employee softball tournament held on a professional baseball field. I applauded and laughed during an employee karaoke contest. I attended a luncheon where Harrah's Joliet was awarded one of "Chicago's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For," as well as an elite award for Employee Engagement. I attended the annual Human Rights Campaign Gala in Chicago, for which Harrah's is a sponsor, where I saw the performance of a scene from Cirque du Soleil's Zumanity. I handed out playing cards and beads prior to watching a Toby Keith concert. I was treated like VIP at the grand opening of Horseshoe Hammond's new barge (another Harrah's property), where I saw Bette Midler perform. And most importantly, I had fun - lots of it.
One of my favorite things about working at a Harrah's property was the ability to break away from the computer and catapult into an environment where people were having a good time. During my summer, I made it a point to limit the time I spent locked in my office on the computer or the phone. While those moments were very necessary for the success of many of my projects, much of the learning I had took place outside of the four walls of my office. I constantly walked the floor or the offices asking for feedback from long-time employees. I took breaks on certain days of the week to help with promotions and get a feel for what the execution of many of my promotional ideas involved. I entered scores during a slot tournament and dawned promotional gear during a prize giveaway. I had frontline employees read promotional copy I created and asked them what they would pay for the stated services. I constantly asked questions, and I received support from every employee I interacted with. The employee dining room, whose buffet-style dining is to blame for the added pounds on my waste line, was a great place to relax and interact with employees from all areas of the property. The communal dining helped me cement relationships, as well as forge new ones.
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