Q&A with Purpose Union's first intern cohort
This autumn, we launched our inaugural internship and welcomed four impressive interns to the team. On arrival, they were matched with mentors from their interest areas and have been learning more about our work. The interns all come from different backgrounds with a unifying goal to begin long careers in purpose-driven organisations.
As they near the end of the internship, we wanted to share more about their experience and what they’ve learnt.
Q: What inspired you to join Purpose Union?
A: “When I discovered the company, what drove me was the link it [Purpose Union] has with corporate responsibility and how it aligns with some of my personal values.” - Laura Aleman, Advocacy Intern & Climate Change Policy Masters student
A: “It appealed to someone like me who had no experience or pathway to enter the industry. I wanted to be given the opportunity to gain skills in the communications industry and this internship was the golden ticket.” - Pollobi Ferdousi, Media Intern & Design graduate
Q: How are you finding the internship so far and how has it exceeded your expectations?
A: “I didn’t know what to expect because at Purpose Union you get something new every day! Looking back, I’ve learnt so many new skills and gotten involved in so many different projects.” - Sanskriti Bacchu, Advocacy Intern & Aspiring Journalist
A: “I am extremely happy with the internship, the support from everyone and the effort to make sure we learn and get the most out of the experience. The level of confidence that was given to us through the tasks we were trusted with.” - Laura
Q: What does your day-to-day look like?
A: “We have a daily morning call stating our priorities for the day and sharing news. Depending on the workload and meetings, I organise my tasks and make sure I’m checking up with everyone.” - Laura
A: “In the early morning calls you have the chance to fish for jobs and tasks as an intern. We get to work across many things and every day there’s a new skill to learn.” - Pollobi
Q: What are some challenges that you face?
A: “Recognising my own limitations and being realistic with my workload has been an issue for me. My eagerness to learn comes at a detriment when I exceed my capacity but I am learning to balance.” - Muna Ahmed, DEI, Executive Advocacy & Marketing Intern and Culture Writer
A: “Adjusting to a completely new environment with its own set of language and adjusting skills to match the tasks. The learning curve is steep but ultimately rewarding in the end.” - Pollobi
Q: What are some valuable insights you will be taking away from your experience in this internship?
A: “Learning a variety of different skills in advocacy and media, developing meaningful connections with my coworkers and instilling a sense of confidence in the workplace.” - Sanskriti
A: “This internship has truly nurtured my intellectual curiosity. Being surrounded by expert strategists who are also amazing teachers and kindhearted people has made for a joyful learning experience.” - Muna
To conclude the programme, the interns will present a campaign proposal to the Purpose Union team. They will draw upon their knowledge, learnings and experience to deliver a mock new business pitch before they head on to new opportunities.
Purpose Union is a specialist social purpose strategy firm that works with clients to develop compelling arguments, build powerful coalitions, and devise winning campaigns to change the world for good.