For many MBA interns, the summer's work culminates in a big, make-or-break final presentation to company execs. It's a chance to show off the work you've done, bask in some c-level exposure and leave a lasting (and hopefully positive) impression. My final presentation was Friday. And I'm not going to lie, it was a pretty nerve-wracking experience. In the weeks prior, I'd met with employees throughout the firm, fine-tuned business and marketing plans for a new product concept and slaved over dozens of PowerPoint slides. By the time Friday rolled around, I thought I was ready. I'd done five run-throughs, practiced with the projector and clicker and written out my talking points. It still didn't quell my nerves. I think I literally shook as I walked to the front of the boardroom to deliver my presentation ... and then, 45 minutes later, it was done. And the relief set in. While I wasn't sure I handled the Q&A part of my presentation as well as I could have. It was done. I'd achieved one more milestone in my MBA journey.
To celebrate, I went home, poured myself a generous glass of wine and got ready for a weekend that, when compared with my Friday, could only be restful and relaxing.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Plantlife
My office plant is dying.
Okay fine, maybe it's not dying. But, if it's browning leaves are any indication, it's suffering. This plant, or actually this basket of assorted plants, was given to me by my boss as a way to liven up my otherwise sterile office. As a result, its deteriorating state is of great concern. I mean, it's a bad sign when you let the office plant die, right? Doesn't exactly scream "Hire me, I'm responsible!"
Sigh.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Dinners with Nick
Every week, usually on Mondays at about 6, my 16-year-old brother Nick and I meet for dinner. The meals aren't lengthy and they won't continue forever -- we're both in DC this summer as interns -- but they've provided a great way for Nick and I to build a relationship. See, my brother and I haven't always been close. In fact, with 11 years between us, this summer is the first time we've spent concentrated, one-on-one time together. But when Sunday nights like these roll around and I'm staring another 5-days of work in the face, my weekly dinner with Nick is something I look forward to. It serves as a nice reminder of who I am and where I'm from at a time when I'm introducing myself to both a new career and a new city. It's also great to see how much Nick's grown up. When he was a toddler and I was a teenager, he was sometimes mistaken for my child (yes, this is strange). Now, I often wonder if he's confused with my college friends.
Another perk? Because neither he nor I know DC well, we've used the dinners as excuses to get out and explore the city together. A couple weeks ago, we had Thai food in Dupont, last week, it was Mediterranean food in Woodley Park and tomorrow, we'll meet for pizza in Chinatown. Over plates of pad thai and baskets of pita, we chat about work (he's interning with a member of Congress, something I did 10 years ago), family and friends. We laugh. And sometimes, I forget all the years between us.
Another perk? Because neither he nor I know DC well, we've used the dinners as excuses to get out and explore the city together. A couple weeks ago, we had Thai food in Dupont, last week, it was Mediterranean food in Woodley Park and tomorrow, we'll meet for pizza in Chinatown. Over plates of pad thai and baskets of pita, we chat about work (he's interning with a member of Congress, something I did 10 years ago), family and friends. We laugh. And sometimes, I forget all the years between us.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Work: The Half-Way Point
While it seems like just yesterday I was sweating through first-day-of-work jitters, a second glance at my Outlook calendar confirms it: I'm half-way through my summer internship. My final presentation is a mere three weeks away. And my stay in DC ends in just over a month. I guess that means it's time for an update ... and this time, I'll try and stick to what I've learned on the job.
First, there's definitely something to be said for being part of a well-established MBA internship program. For decades, the company I work for has hired its next generation of managers from its pool of summer interns. As a result, the internship program emphasizes real world experience, impactful projects and significant company exposure. Each week, my fellow interns and I have lunch with at least two or three executives. Casual and intimate (there are only 5 MBA interns), these lunches give us the opportunity to learn about a variety of departments, introduce ourselves and share our impressions of the company and the industry. It's been great.
Second, "impactful projects" = real responsibility. And this is particularly true when you're in an industry like media, which is under significant pressure to change. One of the projects I'm working on involves taking a new program from concept to launch. I realized pretty quickly that the figures I keyed into my spreadsheets represented not only real dollars, but real risk: the risk of trying new things at a time when resources are scarce and the need for innovation is palpable.
Third, you can learn a lot about a place from the way people approach their jobs. One of the things I appreciate most about the firm I work for is the enthusiasm people have for the product and its legacy. There's a real sense of pride that comes through when executives talk about their commitment to journalism. And that pride trickles down throughout the organization.
First, there's definitely something to be said for being part of a well-established MBA internship program. For decades, the company I work for has hired its next generation of managers from its pool of summer interns. As a result, the internship program emphasizes real world experience, impactful projects and significant company exposure. Each week, my fellow interns and I have lunch with at least two or three executives. Casual and intimate (there are only 5 MBA interns), these lunches give us the opportunity to learn about a variety of departments, introduce ourselves and share our impressions of the company and the industry. It's been great.
Second, "impactful projects" = real responsibility. And this is particularly true when you're in an industry like media, which is under significant pressure to change. One of the projects I'm working on involves taking a new program from concept to launch. I realized pretty quickly that the figures I keyed into my spreadsheets represented not only real dollars, but real risk: the risk of trying new things at a time when resources are scarce and the need for innovation is palpable.
Third, you can learn a lot about a place from the way people approach their jobs. One of the things I appreciate most about the firm I work for is the enthusiasm people have for the product and its legacy. There's a real sense of pride that comes through when executives talk about their commitment to journalism. And that pride trickles down throughout the organization.
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