National Intern Day

My first internship was unpaid. I was a rising junior at Saint Mary's College of California, and it was an absolute honor to land a spot on the Community Relations team at KQED. I put on a suit (because: dress for the job you want), took BART into San Francisco, hopped on a city bus and showed up ready to learn. I was a sponge, soaking it all in. I remember feeling so proud. So grown up.

That experience (and the others that followed) shaped me. Real-world exposure, inside a mission-driven organization, with people who took the time to teach? It mattered.

So on National Intern Day, I’m reminded that building a positive workplace culture doesn’t start at the top, it starts at every level - especially at the very beginning of someone’s career.

Early career talent isn’t just the future, they’re shaping our culture right now. Interns bring curiosity, energy, fresh ideas, and a willingness to challenge how things have always been done. Plus, they're really good at sharing their experience (for good or for bad)!

To truly unlock that potential, we can’t just build a pipeline. We have to invest in their experience. That means:
✔️ Giving them real work with real impact
✔️ Inviting them into the conversations that matter
✔️ Offering coaching and feedback, not just tasks
✔️ Making space for curiosity, questions, and growth

When internships are designed with intention, everyone wins. You build confidence. You build belonging. You build stronger teams. Because when early career employees thrive, your culture and business, thrives too.