I didn’t know what to expect when I disembarked from the 30-seat plane that I took from New York to Cleveland, Ohio for my internship at Flashstarts. Not only had I never been to the Midwest before, but I also had no idea what working at a startup accelerator with 12 teams and 20 other interns would be like.
Eight weeks later, my internship is coming to an end. Looking back, what I’ve appreciated most about my time at Flashstarts is the variety and abundance of things to do. I tend to do everything fast – talking, eating, working, etc. – and my biggest fear going into a 9-5 job was that I would get bored, spending endless hours sitting at my computer doing “busy” work.
Luckily, Flashstarts is quite the opposite from the typical office job. I’m a social marketing intern, and throughout the day I am constantly getting new assignments and moving from team to team, often switching from one project to the next in less than a couple of hours. There is no individual micro-management, and I think this freedom causes everyone in the office to work harder. Throughout the summer, I’ve learned a lot of things and experienced even more. In order to get the most out of your internship at Flashstarts and your summer in Cleveland, here is what I’ve found helpful:
1. Don’t be afraid to go up to anyone in the office with any questions or ideas you may have.
There are so many amazing people here at Flashstarts who have so many things to offer. If you don’t understand something or want to learn more about a specific topic, just go and ask! People here love to talk and share their knowledge. The same thing goes for ideas: If you think there is something you could do or say that will help a team, don’t hesitate to suggest it to them. Everyone here values your opinion and is looking to make their company the best it can be.
2. Take advantage of Flashstarts’ location in downtown Cleveland.
I’ve come to appreciate Cleveland so much in the mere eight weeks I’ve been here. Flashstarts is in an amazing location – there is so much energy downtown. From Walnut Wednesdays (local food trucks and live music every Wednesday) to concerts on the water at Jacobs Pavilion to entrepreneurial coffee meetups with One Million Cups Cleveland, there is something for everyone here. Hands down, the thing that surprised me most about Cleveland is the abundance of things to do and the passion that everyone has for making this city the best it can be.
3. Use this time to learn something new.
As I mentioned previously, everyone in the office is very knowledgeable about different things. Don’t be content to merely stay in the bubble of what you know during the summer. While it’s great to get better at what you’re good at, learning about new topics and developing new skills is even better. For example, I’ve written content about subjects that I had no idea really existed before this summer, and learned new ways to market and advertise for a company. While we were all hired because we bring something to the table, this is the perfect space to try new things and gain more knowledge and experience.
I cannot stress how unique of an environment Flashstarts is. I am coming out of this internship with a new city to love, new friends and mentors to look up to, new experiences and skills, and a firsthand view of what it takes to start a business out of nothing. This has been invaluable.
Position: Social Marketing Intern
School: Cornell University, Class of 2016
