Over the summer, I worked as a Stockholder Engagement Intern at LeadersUp, a nonprofit focused on bridging the gap between employers and underrepresented talent. This ten-week remote internship introduced me to the complexities of nonprofit operations and stockholder engagement. One of the most impactful moments occurred during my first team meeting when MaryKim, the Head of Marketing, personally reached out to ask how I was doing. This set the tone for an inclusive and supportive work environment, even in a virtual setting.

In my role, I contributed to several projects that combined technical and creative tasks. For example, I designed social media reels aimed at enhancing LeadersUp’s online presence and created design mockups to support their digital strategy. A particularly challenging but rewarding project was collaborating with the Insights, Research, and Evaluation team to develop a web scraper. Before this project, I had no knowledge of web scraping, but with guidance from Zhen, the department head, I quickly learned the technical components and successfully delivered a functional tool. Additionally, my work on the organization’s social media strategy earned recognition from Jeffery Wallace, LeadersUp’s CEO, during a virtual meeting which motivated me and reinforced the impact of my contributions.

Beyond the technical work, I gained valuable insights through interviews with individuals LeadersUp has assisted. Hearing their stories revealed the significant barriers to employment faced by underrepresented groups and deepened my understanding of the importance of thoughtful design and advocacy. For example, one interviewee shared how lack of access to resources hindered their career journey, which reinforced my desire to use UX/UI design to create solutions that address such challenges. These interactions grounded my work in real-world impact and highlighted the organization’s critical role in fostering opportunities.

The remote nature of the internship presented unique opportunities for growth. Managing multiple projects across different teams sharpened my time management and organizational skills. Weekly blog reflections, including my post titled "From Intern to Insider: A Journey of Growth and Discovery," allowed me to articulate my experiences and develop a newfound passion for storytelling. In one reflection, I shared how adapting to constructive feedback from my supervisor improved both my designs and my ability to iterate quickly under pressure.