Chaifetz Student Will Arras Set to Begin New Career with L’Oréal

Will Arras, a senior at the Chaifetz School of Business majoring in international business, will begin working for L’Oréal USA full time in September 2023. 

Over the summer, Arras worked in New York City as an intern for L’Oréal Cosmetic Company. The internship was his first-time visiting New York City, and it was an incredibly immersive business experience.  

“Working at a Fortune 500 company in New York City was beyond my wildest dreams,” Arras said.  

The interview process was competitive with more than 40,000 applicants. After earning the internship, Arras said he relied heavily on principles he learned from his time at Chaifetz.

“There were times at the beginning of my internship when I did not understand what was being asked of me, which was troubling as feeling lost is never easy," Arras said. "However, one thing I could always rely on whenever I felt lost is the skills I have learned through the Chaifetz School of Business. Whether it be communication practices or conducting marketing research, the tools I learned helped me navigate through the confusion to reach company objectives”. 

Arras also credits his professors at the Chaifetz School for supporting him throughout and after the hiring process.  

“There are a lot of great professors in our business school that truly care about their students, and I’m very grateful that I have gotten to learn from these incredible business leaders," Arras said. "Professors like Mamoun Benmamoun and Rob Boyle have truly shaped me into the business professional I am today. They have inspired me to be the best version of myself and have supported me throughout my L’Oréal journey.”  

Arras worked with a company called SkinCeuticals, a high-end science-based skincare corporation. Throughout the summer, he worked on the Global Marketing and Product Development team to create a product that will be launched in the United States in 2025 and globally in 2027.  

“My entire project was created from the ground up. I got to see my vision come to life, which is a unique opportunity that many do not get to experience,” Arras said. Through research on target markets, marketing strategies, and product development, Arras was at the forefront of the project. 

After a successful 11-week internship, Arras has accepted a full-time position and will begin work in September 2023. Arras’s education in international business and marketing helped him create a product that is parallel to the brand’s identity. 

“In marketing, we learned a lot about how products need to fit the identity of the company," Arras said. "Understanding that I needed to do the same due diligence when creating a new product was crucial for the project’s success. Additionally, I learned in the Chaifetz School about the risks of cannibalization and how new products should be complementary to the products already being offered”. 

His time abroad also helped him become a more holistic business leader during his internship.  

“By being at SLU-Madrid, I get to learn about the perspectives of people all throughout the world and really grow my interpersonal skills,” Arras said. 

Arras encourages his fellow students to use the resources SLU has to offer to make connections and earn internships.  

“If you’re interested in a particular business, I recommend reaching out to the people in that industry. SLU has a database of Alumni who work in companies across the world and using this database has really helped me widen my connections,” Arras said. 

Learn More About International Business at the Chaifetz School

Founded in 1910, the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University has shaped the future of industry for more than a century. As one of the oldest business schools west of the Mississippi, the Chaifetz School has built a reputation as a leader in business education committed to innovation, inclusion and impact and recognized with eight undergraduate and graduate programs nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report.