Colgate-Palmolive: Reimagining A Healthier Future Through Educational Pathways

For Colgate-Palmolive, reimagining a healthier future for all includes creating educational pathways for students  to discover careers at the New York-based company. Since the early 1990s, the company has partnered with Prep for Prep to identify high-potential students for its long-standing high school internship program, offering paid, hands-on experience across business functions such as marketing, data and analytics, artificial intelligence, information technology, legal, finance, and more.

“Each summer, we hire 10 high school students to work with one of 10 managers on projects that are important  to our business,” says Danny Fried, Senior Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility at Colgate-Palmolive. “We believe that healthier, brighter futures start with education. We see clear alignment between our purpose and Prep for Prep’s mission to develop future leaders by creating access to first-rate educational and professional advancement opportunities.” 

Through the Colgate-Palmolive internship program, students gain firsthand exposure to the professional world, developing skills, confidence, and clarity about their future career goals. Matched with both mentors  and managers, interns work on projects that have tangible impact, from conducting market research and analyzing data to contributing to campaigns that help sell  Colgate-Palmolive’s essential health and hygiene products. “They contribute meaningfully by bringing fresh and diverse perspectives, tenacity, and drive to their teams, supporting a dynamic where the learning truly works both ways,” says Danny. 

Colgate-Palmolive managers continue to be inspired  by Prep for Prep interns’ professionalism and curiosity to learn about working at a global company. “Prep for Prep interns consistently impress us by demonstrating executive poise, professional maturity, and intellectual curiosity,” Danny says. “Their digital fluency and Gen Z perspective bring valuable insights as our company engages consumers both now and in the future.” 

A highlight of the summer is the interns’ lunch with Colgate-Palmolive senior leaders, including Chairman, President and CEO Noel Wallace. “Interns really appreciate the time they spend with Noel and the chance to ask him about our business, purpose, and culture,” Danny notes. “What truly stands out is their preparation. Prep for Prep interns come equipped with thoughtful, insightful questions, ideas, and comments.” 

The partnership continues to deepen. “Hiring Prep for Prep interns delivers a significant, positive business impact across our organization,” says Danny. “We are excited to continue supporting and strengthening this program to ensure students continue to gain valuable experience, and we can Make More Smiles while continuing to support Prep for Prep students as they advance in their lives and careers.”

 

When Avery Baker (P9 XXXII/ Exeter, RIT) joined Colgate-Palmolive through Prep for Prep’s Student Internship Program, it was his first professional experience—and  a defining one. Over six weeks, Avery supported the company’s Global Analytics & Insights team, compiling thousands of lines of company data and analyzing ad performance metrics. “It really was marketing mixed modeling and media effectiveness,” Avery recalls. “I didn’t know anything about the field … but that didn’t matter. They got me up to speed.” 

Avery had the opportunity to share the work he did during the summer with his peers and Colgate’s Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Diana Schildhouse, with whom he still keeps in touch. Beyond his projects, Avery joined other Prep for Prep interns at Colgate’s Piscataway R&D center and met senior leaders, including CEO Noel Wallace, CFO Stan Sutula, and CHRO Sally Massey. A chat with the company’s Chief Information Security Officer linked directly to his growing interest in cybersecurity. 

Avery says that being a sponge—taking in all he was exposed to—helped him be successful. That mindset now guides his work as a cybersecurity major at RIT, where  he applies the same habits of precision, adaptability, and self-reflection to his coursework and future internships. 

“SIP offers a lot,” says Avery, reflecting on his experience in the program. “It’s not just about getting an internship. It’s about figuring out what it is that you want to do  and getting a more holistic image of who you are, your interests, and what drives you.”

Read more about the Student Internship Program and other Prep for Prep programs in our 2025 Annual Report.