Q & A with the choice interns

As the spring semester comes to an end, we wanted to open the floor for our interns to share their greatest takeaways from being an intern at Choice. We had five incredible interns this semester who supported Business Development, Digital Media, Publicity and Event Planning. We are so thankful for our interns and the work they put in over the semester. That being said, we wanted to give them a chance to provide a little insight into what their internship experience was like!

What was your biggest challenge during this semester?

Ellie Tidwell

No matter the season, time management is something that I struggle with. Maintaining both a strong social life as well as putting time and effort into my work are both things that I value highly. This season, more than others, balancing my time has been a challenge of mine. As a senior in college, I want to make sure that I am making the most of my time.

Between working with Choice, being a full time student, and working an additional job, this semester has been incredibly busy yet incredibly fruitful. I have learned about myself, how to be a professional, how to “adult,” and so much more. Even on days when I had unexpected appointments or time commitments pop up, the team at Choice was incredibly understanding and forgiving. My time management skills have become immensely better, all thanks to the experiences I’ve had and people I’ve met through Choice. They have shown me so much and have quickly become role models for me to take after!

What did you personally learn during this internship?

Sarah Sparks:

During my internship at Choice, I have learned many things, but the most important lesson is how to work as a team. I have enjoyed being surrounded by the most knowledgeable women who have been great mentors to me this semester, and they have shown me just how great it is to work together rather than alone. You’d think working remotely would make teamwork difficult, but it was anything but that; these women strive to communicate daily and help you in any way possible. When you work together, you win together.

Heather Adams, CEO/Founder of Choice, said it best, “women succeed by being allies instead of competitors.”

If you could give one piece of advice to future interns, what would it be?

Tabitha Burkhalter:

Don’t discount your value. Before starting at Choice, I questioned whether my life experiences would be a detriment and put me a step behind the others interns. Those concerns were put to rest when I remembered we all come from different walks of life and develop unique skill sets along the way. Our collective backgrounds, interests, and upbringing were all assets; they helped shape us into the people we are today and significantly impacted our perspectives. As a member of the Business Development Team, we regularly reached out to and engaged with leaders in their respective fields. The diversity within our team gave us a more well-rounded approach, expanded the breadth of people we met, and valuable exposure to underserved demographics.

It was an honor and privilege to serve on the BD Team at Choice. They allowed me to grow as a person, bring ideas to the table while considering the diverse perspectives of others, and embrace my differences. The women of Choice are so supportive of one another! I am so grateful to them for treating me like a valued member of the team from Day 1 and making it a welcoming environment for growth and development.

What has been your favorite part of working with Choice?

Melissa Johnson:

I remember feeling like this internship was meant to be by the first phone call I had with Katie. She has the most positive energy which made me feel like I had known her for a long time. My time with Choice has been amazing because there are endless opportunities to be successful and there is a team to support you with any questions you may have. I truly believe that this Internship is what you make of it which in my eyes is the beauty of it. I love that the Choice team gives you endless opportunities to be successful and celebrates your wins no matter how big or small they are. I have loved how hands-on this internship has been which I haven’t experienced in my past opportunities. Heather and the team embody sharing the wealth of knowledge whether that be the opportunity to sit in on client calls or observe planning meetings. In addition to all of this, I have loved the Choice Presentations for Interns where a couple of Choice team members will present on a topic and what that looks like day-to-day. This has given me an inside look at what working in PR and Publicity look like. I truly am so grateful for this incredible opportunity I have had the chance to take part in!

How has the Choice team helped you grow during this time?

Karlie Hanson

I first encountered Choice at a Grady College career fair at the University of Georgia as a sophomore in college. I made my way around the room but continued to circle back to Choice’s table. There was something about the bubbling table of fashionable women who said they loved mentoring younger women that kept calling me back. Year after year, I continued to circle back and finally got the chance to intern after graduation. I listened to Heather Adams’ podcast one day during a workout, had a dream about Choice the same night and applied to the one open intern position the next day. I was beyond excited to get an email back the following day, reading I had received an interview.

It has been such a positive and growing experience with the Choice women. From sitting in on team meetings and seeing every woman’s visual and spoken professionality to being guided through writing prospect emails and organizing pages in HubSpot as a business development intern, this internship has grown me so much as a young professional woman. I am grateful for this experience and am so excited to pursue a PR career in my newly discovered favorite industry: lifestyle.