And just like that, summer’s about over – and so is Rossalyn Ou’s time with us here at Gard.
An intern with us through the Emerging Leaders Internship program, Rossalyn spent the summer working at Gard, learning about the work we do as a creative, digital and public relations firm and knocking all kinds of projects out of the park.
Before her time here ended, we asked Rossalyn a few questions about her experience with Gard. Here’s what she had to say. (And best of luck to you, Rossalyn! We loved having you on the team and wish you all the best in your future endeavors!)
What did you enjoy most?
I most enjoyed working on my two internship projects for Gard, which were creating a social media calendar template and presenting a slide deck about TikTok. Throughout this process, I got to showcase my passion for social media while collaborating with other Gardians on how I could add to and improve my projects. It felt rewarding to finish my two projects and present them to the team successfully.
Another aspect I enjoyed during my internship was working with everyone on different projects and tasks.
What was the most challenging aspect?
The most challenging aspect for me was adapting to the fast-paced environment and juggling different projects all at once. I learned that I was quick to adapt to the environment. Using a project management tool is a great way to keep track of multiple different projects. I used Notion to keep track of and prioritize my projects/tasks. Overall, I learned the importance of asking how long projects and tasks would take and their deadlines, and this really helped me with prioritizing.
What did you learn during your internship that you didn’t know before that feels crucial to your career development?
As an intern, I wanted to be able to get the most out of my experience, and Gard has made it really rewarding. I learned to be more comfortable asking questions and that it is better to have a clear understanding of the project that I am working on. Another thing I learned that I consider to be crucial is the importance of honoring your commitments and always doing what you say you will do. I took on different projects and tasks. At times, I felt overwhelmed, but I had support from my peers that helped drive me to finish.
If you were going to recommend Gard to a friend as a workplace, what would you say?
I would say Gard is a welcoming agency that values diversity, equity and inclusion in their staff, work and clients. Everyone is passionate about what they do in their work and are the most hard-working people. They value success for their clients and in the work that they do. As a smaller firm, Gard has a family vibe to it, where everyone knows each other’s names and you can start a conversation with anyone. One of my favorite things is having a work-life balance. Gard has been supportive in my professional development by giving me an opportunity to work with their team and clients, and to improve myself as an individual. Thank you so much Gard for providing open arms and giving me the opportunity to work with everyone this summer!