Iona University Interns Thrive at HEINEKEN® USA Under Leadership of Fellow Gael and CEO Maggie Timoney ’89, ’92MBA, ’23H

September 13, 2024

Iona Students Learn Outside The Lines

White Plains, N.Y. – Six Iona University students embarked on a transformative internship experience at HEINEKEN® USA this summer, putting their classroom knowledge into practice with a top global brand.  

Serving under the leadership of Iona alumna and HEINEKEN® USA CEO Maggie Timoney ’89, ’92MBA, ’23H, the Gaels worked alongside interns from colleges across the country, describing the opportunity as deeply life changing.

“The environment at HEINEKEN® is all about cultivating growth and creating a community, so there was always someone who was willing to help you and give you advice,” said Johanna Piedra Mogrovejo ’24, ’25MBA, who earned a bachelor’s in marketing and economics and is now pursuing her MBA. “Something I will always keep with me from this internship is the confidence I gained. It was an incredible experience.”

A Role Model and Advocate

From a first-generation college student to the first woman to lead a major U.S. beer company, Timoney’s career is one that continues to inspire students across campus.

Often crediting Iona with shaping her leadership skills, she is now paying it forward by creating a pathway for the next generation to thrive.

“Iona was a pivotal time that helped shape me into the person I am today,” Timoney said. “Reflecting on my time there, I would not change a thing. Iona became my home and has a special place in my heart.”

Timoney’s Iona story is rooted in a journey that began across the Atlantic in Ireland. Recruited from her hometown of Ballina, County Mayo, to play basketball, Timoney quickly made her mark both on and off the court, setting the stage for her remarkable career. Today, her dedication to Iona continues to pave the way for fellow Gaels.

In addition to serving as a member of Iona’s Board of Trustees since 2015, Timoney also actively engages with students both on campus and beyond, offering career advice, speaking at events and in this case, facilitating remarkable internships.

“At HEINEKEN®, we want to make sure that our interns flourish, that they thrive, and that they have access to senior leadership. It’s a two-way street—they learn from us and we learn from them,” she said.

Internship Highlights

During her internship, Mogrovejo specifically conducted competitive analysis for the Dos Equis® brand. She said Iona prepared her for this opportunity through both classroom experiences and corporate trips to professional settings. Her time at HEINEKEN® USA further developed both her skillset and her mindset.

“When I first came in, I was nervous and I didn’t know where I would fit in,” she said. “But after everyone genuinely being so helpful, I am more willing to put myself out there.”

Alex Lim ’25, an information systems and data analytics major, described his internship as an eye-opening experience that connected classroom learning with real-world application. He also emphasized the importance of corporate culture at HEINEKEN® USA, where everyone made him feel welcome and included.

“The people in and around my team all went above and beyond to make me feel part of the company and to take me along with them to their meetings and projects so that I could learn outside the scope they initially had set up for me,” said Lim. “This internship exposed me to real-world problems that forced me to adapt, improvise and think quickly on my feet.”

Juan Ibarra ’25, a business administration major, first learned about the internship opportunity while attending Iona’s Career Fair. 
He praised the professional yet community atmosphere at HEINEKEN® USA, where team collaboration was not only encouraged but celebrated. He particularly appreciated the mentorship he received from his colleagues.

“It's hard to pinpoint exactly what I liked most about the experience because I really felt like I struck gold with this internship,” he said.

As a student, Ibarra also gave thanks to his professors, saying they have had a tremendously positive impact on his journey thus far.

“I've taken advice and learned valuable lessons from each class and professor, which has made me feel well prepared. I find their experience to be equally as valuable as their teachings,” he said. “Overall, my Iona experience has been incredibly positive. I feel that the University has provided me with a strong foundation and valuable opportunities.”

Megan Josephs ’23BBA, ’24MBA, ’25MA interned on the brand team, focusing on HEINEKEN® Silver. She especially enjoyed that her work made an impact, saying her professors prepared her well by focusing on project-based learning.

“I got to work on really exciting projects that the company can actually apply to their business in real time,” Josephs said. “I used all the skills I learned in the classroom and was able to apply them in real life.”

Josephs echoed the sentiment that the community at HEINEKEN® USA helped to set the internship experience apart. She highlighted the importance of networking and building relationships, which she believes will be crucial as she pursues her next steps.

“Having a community at work to learn from and connect with was a great experience. I made connections that will last a lifetime,” said Josephs, a member of Iona’s swimming and diving team. “I also love going to a school where I know so many people. The alumni networking and the professors who have real-world experience have been invaluable in my journey.”

ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.