This Summer, I interned at Ideba Marketing for the second time. Although there definitely was an adjustment period at the beginning, this summer went very smoothly. With the experience I gained last year, I found a great rhythm in my work. Last summer, I often felt stress and pressure to produce the highest quality work as quickly as possible. Although my standards have definitely not lowered, in fact, they have risen, I feel far less stress now because I have a stronger foundation to work from.
This past April, another Intern, Sara Kate Jacobs, and I organized a Women’s Leadership event for Ideba. We handled everything, from planning conversation topics to picking out the dessert. Over several months of communicating with one out of the three event planners the restaurant went through in the time we worked on it, the day finally came.
Earlier that day, we visited with the Ideba team and were reminded of how great the people in the company are. Each person brings a unique perspective to the table, yet they work together seamlessly.
That night was especially enlightening for me as a young woman just starting to enter the workforce. Listening to these established women who had so many insights, experiences, and pieces of advice to share was both beneficial and perspective-changing. The keynote speaker, Anastasia Messmore, a lifelong pilot who faces frequent discrimination in her male-dominated field, shared how resilience has been essential to her success, especially as someone whose expertise should speak for itself.
Ideba has been a fascinating company to work for and observe for the past two summers. Before coming into this, I never expected to be surrounded by so many people who are not only talented but also genuinely willing to help, no matter the inconvenience. I have learned an immense amount about how businesses operate, but just as importantly, I’ve learned how I want to operate in the business world: with equal parts kindness and grit.
As I begin this new chapter and head into my first year of college, I’ll carry with me the understanding that top-tier work is essential, but that offering support and working as a team go hand in hand with building excellence.
Madeline Randa – Research Intern
