Mikaela Andarowski: From Marketing Student to Marketing Professional

What does it take to move from the classroom to real-world marketing? For Mikaela Andarowski , it has meant hands-on client work, brand-new skills like Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and a team that treats interns like marketers from day one.

Mikaela is a Watertown, Connecticut native and a recent graduate of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, where she double majored in Marketing and Management. This summer she joined the Develomark Summer 2026 Cohort to experience the interactive, client-facing side of marketing that a lecture hall can't fully teach.

 ▶ Watch Mikaela's full testimonial: Mikaela's Develomark Cohort Experience

Why Mikaela Joined the Develomark Cohort

Like many new graduates, Mikaela knew marketing in theory but wanted to practice it in the real world. "What I hope to gain from the cohort program is the more interactive part of marketing," she says. From her first weeks, that meant diving into SEO and AEO — concepts she wasn't taught in school — and getting comfortable working directly with clients.

Just as important was the team around her. Mikaela says she was most excited about learning from everyone at Develomark and finding new areas where she could grow, improve, and take on more responsibility.

Learning to Communicate with Real Clients

One of Mikaela's biggest early lessons was client communication. "It's different than talking to one of your co-workers," she explains. Learning how to gather client insight, ask the right questions, and turn a conversation into a marketing plan gave her skills that reach far beyond any single project.

She also learned why content matters. Blogs, she discovered, "really bring out a good part of a website" — helping businesses show up in search and get found by the right customers. That's why so much of her work has centered on writing blogs for real Connecticut clients.

Her Favorite Project: Handyman Express

Mikaela's favorite project so far has been working with Handyman Express . The cohort met the owner in person for an in-office meeting, where Mikaela learned about his business, his services, and the story behind the company.

That firsthand insight became the foundation for content designed to help Handyman Express reach more customers across the Connecticut towns it serves — exactly the kind of local visibility that matters most to a growing service business.

Turning Local Insights into Connecticut Content

By pairing what she learned in the meeting with SEO and AEO best practices, Mikaela helped create content built for how real people search today — including the AI tools and answer engines that increasingly shape how local businesses get discovered.

The Tools Behind the Work

Along the way, Mikaela has gone hands-on with the platforms Develomark uses every day, including Duda for website builds, Claude for AI-assisted work, SplashDash for customer insights, and Google Analytics for measuring what's working.

Leading Media on the Lion's Den Project

Next up for Mikaela and the team is Lion's Den , a local coffee shop. Mikaela is taking the lead on media direction — planning the shots, visuals, and assets the website needs to showcase Lion's Den's products and help customers know exactly what to expect before they walk in.

It's a true team effort. As Mikaela puts it, everyone in the cohort has a different part to play, so they get to work together and learn from one another — the same collaborative build her teammates describe in their own spotlights, like Annalise Cook and Jillian Shea.

Learning from Mentors and Teammates

Mikaela credits the Develomark team for making the experience so valuable, noting how each person plays a different role and brings something new to learn from. Working alongside mentors Ava and Ruan on clients and content has meant there's always someone to ask questions and grow with.

Start Your Own Marketing Journey

Mikaela's story is a snapshot of what the Develomark Cohort is built for: real clients, real skills, and real growth. If you're a student or recent graduate ready to turn your marketing degree into hands-on experience, we'd love to meet you.

Learn more about the Develomark Cohort program and apply today.