Iron Mountain Early Careers Team wins 2026 Campus Forward Awards

Recently, the Early Careers team was named a winner of the 2026 Campus Forward Awards, receiving global recognition in three key categories: Excellence in Recruitment Strategies, Innovation in Action, and Excellence in Candidate Experience.

This recognition places us alongside top Fortune 1000 companies and reflects a strategic shift in how we find and develop early talent. In a landscape where students navigate overlapping timelines and competitive offers, we chose to rethink the campus experience from the ground up.

Building with intention

The modern intern market requires more than just a standard hiring cycle; it demands speed, care, and partnership. To address this, Daniela Rendon, Early Careers Program Manager, led a comprehensive revamp of our campus recruitment model. The goal was simple: ensure candidates feel supported while enabling our business leaders to hire with confidence.

"Early Careers is often someone’s first experience with Iron Mountain," Daniela shared. "In a competitive market, how we show up matters. We focused on building a process that is efficient, thoughtful, and invested in candidate care, while making it easier for leaders to engage."

This year, the team prioritized lifting the U.S. Internship Program to serve as a benchmark for future global initiatives. By introducing AI-enabled tools and strengthening coordination across teams, we’re building a sustainable ecosystem rather than just a seasonal program.

A long-term investment in leadership

Strategic growth is only possible with strong internal advocacy. Ron Lambertson, Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition, has been a vital champion of this vision. Serving as the executive sponsor for Iron Mountain’s Early Careers employee resource group (ERG), Ron ensures that emerging talent has the visibility and community they need to thrive.

"At Iron Mountain, we are investing in our future leaders and giving them the tools and experiences to be successful in the corporate environment," Ron said. "We are reimagining our program and building something different—focusing on community, empowerment, and creating moments that matter."

He noted that the program also empowers current business leaders to think differently about team building, encouraging them to champion the fresh intelligence and diverse perspectives that early career professionals bring to the table.

Execution on the ground

The success of these strategies relies on the people who bridge the gap between high-level planning and daily interaction. Jasmine Rutberg, an HR Rotational Program Generalist and an early career professional herself, played a critical role in executing this year’s recruiting efforts.

"I’m passionate about providing thoughtful candidate care and ensuring every candidate feels supported throughout the process," Jasmine explained. "Getting to meet and work with so many bright, driven people has been a highlight, and I always keep an open mind about where a candidate might thrive, even if that ends up being a different role than they originally applied for."

Partnering for success

The revamped approach has earned praise from hiring managers across the company who have seen the benefits of clear communication and realistic timelines.

Lisa LaRosa, Program Director of Digital Operations Support, highlighted the depth of the partnership. "The team asked the right questions and listened to understand our priorities, to set up everyone involved in the internship program for success," she said.

Looking toward summer 2026

As we prepare for the Summer 2026 season, we’re eager to welcome a new cohort of interns across the United States as well as our growing team in India. Our spring recruiting efforts will continue through the early months of the year to ensure a high-quality experience for every applicant.

This award is more than a celebration of past success; it is a signal of our commitment to protecting and elevating the power of our people's work at every stage of their career journey.