Beyond the Badge: Summer 2024 Intern Q+A
Here is a wonderful Q+A created by our 2024 Summer interns. Our interns were tremendous in their ability to adapt to the ever-changing security landscapes & projects we assigned them this summer & that sparked the idea for a Q+A.
Tell us a little about yourself.
Abby Dembofsky: Hi, my name is Abby. I studied business administration at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. I am currently in graduate school at Penn State World Campus studying project management. I enjoy hiking, fishing, skiing, and hanging out with friends, family, and my dog.
Rebecca Sandoval: Hi! I’m Rebecca and I’m a rising junior at Mount Holyoke College, where I double major in Politics and Spanish. When I get back home, I love exploring the many state parks in Pennsylvania, including kayaking and hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
Kate Wagner: Hi! I'm Kate, and I studied Game Design & Production at Drexel University. I am the current Graphic Design Intern at Ardian Group, so my duties are usually a bit different from the other interns. I enjoy drawing, reading, and playing tabletop games in my free time. I also have two cats named Mouse and Bug!
Basel Heiba: Hey, I’m Basel. I studied business administration at St. Joe’s for a year, then transferred to Temple University to study Engineering Technology. I like staying active, whether that’s playing a sport or working out. I also enjoy playing video games.
How did this internship help you develop professionally or personally?
Abby: Professionally, I have been able to fine-tune my skills in data management and customer service. Each event that you work on helps to build your resume more. Traveling to events in various cities around the country has been so much fun and an amazing experience.
Rebecca: I feel like I have experienced so much growth in so many areas this summer by interning at Ardian. The first area that comes to mind is my approach to asking for help and questions. In the past, I have always been a little hesitant to ask “too many” questions and would often try to just navigate it by myself. While I have been able to grow my problem-solving skills at Ardian, I have also grown increasingly comfortable with reaching out to people for help and navigating those spaces. Moreover, my supervisors at Ardian have always supported my curiosity and desire to learn more, empowering me to hone my skills and knowledge through learning from others.
Kate: This internship has helped me a lot to develop professionally and personally. I have learned several new production software, and I have had the opportunity to sharpen my skills in the Adobe suite, including Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. I also had the chance to travel to work for the first time, which was valuable. I learned about adaptability, teamwork, cooperation, time management, and various other skills while working onsite as well.
Basel: This internship as a Project Coordinator has helped me in developing my organizational and communication skills, allowing me to manage multiple tasks and collaborate with various teams. I also gained practical experience in overseeing projects from start to finish, which helped me strengthen my ability to prioritize and meet deadlines. It also boosted my confidence in leadership, teaching me how to adapt and problem-solve in a fast-paced environment. This experience has prepared me with skills to take on greater responsibilities in my future career.
How did the company culture impact your internship experience?
Abby: The team here at Ardian Group made me feel welcomed right away. You are given independence but always have someone you can rely on for guidance. The folks at Ardian Group try to find time to get together outside of work, building genuine friendships and seeing the playful side of people that you do not always get to see during the workday. Everyone is very supportive and hard-working.
Rebecca: For me, the company culture enhanced my internship and made me feel empowered to try new things. With the team dynamic at Ardian, everyone is incredibly supportive and willing to lend a hand. As such, and as I have emphasized before, I felt very comfortable asking for help and asking to learn something new. I also feel like it is because the culture is very collaborative, my supervisors often individualized workloads so people are working on tasks that are particularly exciting to them according to their interests and strengths, which I enjoyed. Overall, I think the friendly and innovative culture at Ardian enables interns to learn and grow so much over the summer.
Kate: I completed several internships before working at Ardian, and I can say confidently that Ardian's company culture has been by far the best. Everyone was very welcoming and open when we first started, and I can recall several instances of senior employees going out of their way to check in on me and offer advice. This was especially true during onsite work, where my coworkers often found time to connect and create joy and fun during stressful moments. As stated by Abby, everyone is very supportive and hardworking!
Basel: The company culture was one of the best things about this company. Everyone was supportive and open, making it easy to ask questions and get help when needed. From day one, everyone was welcoming and made me feel like I was part of the team. This made the work environment very comfortable and enjoyable.
What advice would you give to future interns at Ardian?
Abby: Ask lots of questions and help others where you can. There is no harm in asking questions when you are confused, and no one will judge you. It is always easier to ask a question and get clarification before starting a task than to go back and fix a mistake. If you have some downtime, see who you can assist. People in other departments can use your help and will appreciate it.
Rebecca: My biggest piece of advice to future interns at Ardian is two-fold; don’t be shy and always trust your ability to navigate! What I mean by this is to have confidence. It can be intimidating to come into a new setting and though you might be tempted to keep to yourself, start by striking up a conversation with the person at the desk next to you and ask them about their experiences! People are never as intimidating as you imagine them, and here’s where the second part comes in―trust in your ability to navigate a situation when you get there. Whether that’s a conversation, asking for help or how to help, or problem-shooting a tech issue, trust in your ability to find the words or find the way and go take that first step!
Kate: My advice to future interns is to try to be as open and social as possible, especially when you first start. Responding to bids for connection is the best way to connect with others, after all! That said, developing strong listening skills is also an important professional skill that is helpful in many contexts. Listening and asking questions are two golden rules of mine, and they are very helpful in preventing mistakes. Lastly, offering to help other people with their tasks when you have free time is always a great idea!
Basel: For future interns at Ardian, my advice would be to focus on managing your time and strengthening your communication skills. Stay proactive, stay on top of your responsibilities, and approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset. Building good relationships with your team and being open to feedback will also help you succeed and grow in your role.
A Special thank you to our Summer interns! Tune in next month for another Beyond the Badge!
Connect with our interns on Linkedin!
Abby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigail-dembofsky-777015206/
Rebecca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccasandovall/