STEP Description
During this past summer, I was able to intern at Levin Consulting, a technology consulting firm, through the Cleveland Hillel Summer Internship Program. In addition to performing everyday tasks such as technology product research, analysis, and comparisons with competition to clients, my main project this summer was organizing Tech Connect Live. Tech Connect Live(TCL) was a multivendor sales event in Chicago that was created by Levin Consulting. I worked alongside my supervisor to design floor layouts, signage, and schedules, auditing expenses corresponding to the event, and directly with the hotel and guests from different companies to assure proper execution of the event and satisfaction of its attendees. Not only did I help organize it, but I flew out to Chicago with my company at the end of my internship and saw all the work that I had done over the past few months become a reality.
Transformation
I believe that like most students who participate in any internship, I realized that there are certain aspects of one’s area of studies that one absolutely loves and other parts that one might not be as fond of. Through this internship, I have learned the value of having in-person communication with co-workers and clients. I am someone who loves being immersed into a project filled with people from different backgrounds and perspectives. I found that when I am put in these groups, my mind opens up to different perspectives that I never would have considered a possibility.
During my internship, I found that I lacked that essential communication and groupwork. Many companies are still adjusting to business after Covid-19, including mine so I was able to understand maybe why the groupwork and in-person communication was not what I was expecting. Most meetings were conducted via zoom and communication was mostly through email chains. Business practices have changed, and I needed to adapt to this new form in my internship. But what I learned about myself is that in my future career and job search, I need to be a part of a work environment that values and puts first team collaboration and having face to face meetings and contact. I find that I can engage better with those when there is an office space and I meet people in real life. In addition, my internship allowed me to see just how much a city can offer. Because my internship was also connected to the Cleveland Hillel Summer Internship Program, myself and a group of other Jewish college students who were interning in the Cleveland area had immersion days. These days consisted of visiting different historical sites like the Karamu house as well as going to city hall and seeing just how much Cleveland does to provide for its people. That also solidified my want of living in a metropolitan city like Cleveland, where there is a diverse population and many different activities to enjoy from. That is one of the best ways I can gather worldly knowledge that I can bring into the workplace and that is what I did during my internship this past summer.
Events, Interactions, Relationships, & Activities During the Project
My internship at Levin Consulting was more than I could have imagined. As an intern, I was able to go on my first work trip and I met people who instilled new ideas into my head. My boss who also happens to be the owner of the company taught me a lot about people in business. Whenever I had activities outside of my internship such as the immersion days, he would tell me to go out and meet people and to bring back the names of two of them as well as three facts about the person. Obviously, he was not interested in the people I brought back, but he was interested to see how it helped me formulate connections with people. It allowed me to branch out and meet new people. I had a purpose of learning about those around me which led me to have deep conversations and form strong bonds, especially with the other interns in my same program.
The most essential event that I experienced during the internship in my opinion was Tech Connect Live in Chicago. With this being my big project over the summer, seeing what I had worked on all summer, become a reality was nothing other than amazing. How many interns can say that they worked on a whole show and then flew to a different city to not only witness but participate in the result. I don’t think many can. This trip solidified my love of connecting with others as well as believe and have confidence in myself and my abilities. I know what I am capable of and to know not only that I can execute such a big project but know what works for me and how to improve for future projects is a big accomplishment, especially when I have not entered the workforce yet.
And finally, this internship made me realize that at the end of the day we are all humans. Growing up, one always thinks of businesspeople as these professionals that eat, sleep, work and repeat but that’s not the case. My coworkers were people who had families, outside activities, and most importantly made mistakes just like I did as an intern. My work environment was forgiving and understanding. They encouraged me to ask questions and make mistakes because that was the best way to learn, and they were right. I was never afraid to ask why or what my day-to-day tasks were working towards. What was that bigger picture. I had to push and ask in order to create that group cohesiveness that I desired. And it taught me that not everything will be given to you and that you should be finding ways to make your environment as possible, not expecting everything to fall into place.
Why Is The Change Significant
I believe that any experience one goes through is knowledge that one didn’t have before. I learned this belief from my grandfather who was the son of Holocaust survivors. He has always said, “the one thing that someone can’t take away from you, is your knowledge.” I live by that statement. Knowledge is power and so is change. Experiences allow me to learn and adapt to my environment. I am able to absorb new ways of living and am lucky enough to see how the teaching from my personal, academic, and professional goals can overlap and intertwine with each other. Each experience in my life, whether it be positive or negative, is an experience and knowledge that I did not have before, and no one can take that away from me. In fact, I am able to grow and help others with that very knowledge.
With that being said, here is the knowledge that I have acquired through my internship at Levin Consulting, and I share it with you; It is okay and sometimes encouraged to mess up when you’re an intern. Build your confidence up now, because no one can and will believe in you more than yourself. My internship transformation consisted of opening myself up to new perspectives and ditching the stereotypes that one thinks of in the workforce. Allowing myself to try new things and create my own vision of working in the business world. Because of this transformation, I hope to continue learning with every experience, while also having the confidence to know what I’m looking for in every area of my life.
Main Room Layout: Where vendors, retailer, and distributors met and had their 1v1 meetings as well as scheduled presentations.
Gel Blaster: A vendor expo of their product
