Kennesaw State student gains hands-on finance experience through tax internship at Mohawk Industries

For Jacob Jicha, numbers tell a story—and this summer, he’s learning to read and write that story in the language of finance.

Jacob, a student at Kennesaw State University, is interning at Mohawk Industries as a Tax Intern. In this role, he supports the finance team with financial analysis, reporting, budgeting, and forecasting. His internship culminates in a presentation of key takeaways and insights to fellow interns and company stakeholders—an opportunity to reflect on his growth and contributions.

“I found this opportunity through an on-campus job fair,” Jacob said. “KSU gave me the resources to be successful and the space to hone my craft.”

Jacob credits his development to the collaborative learning communities at KSU, where he sharpened his communication and teamwork skills. One of his most influential mentors was Ian Falcone, his business law professor. “Conversations after class with him sparked my interest in business and gave me the confidence to pursue my degree,” Jacob said.

The KSU environment, he explained, offered a balance of challenge and support. “It gave me a safe space to fail and succeed—without feeling unrealistic,” he said.

A defining moment in Jacob’s journey was receiving his first internship offer. “It transformed my experience,” he said. “It was the moment I realized that everything I’ve been working toward is paying off.”