At Entuitive, we have a great team of creative, collaborative, and advanced people, and that includes our talented co-op students. In this second post by Amani Eletry, Business Development Coordinator, we hear about the rest of Amani’s experience at Entuitive. Read her first post here.

Take it away, Amani.

To say that my time at Entuitive has been eye-opening is an understatement. The greatest challenge of writing this post has been trying to sum up several months’ worth of experiences in just a few paragraphs. Now, as I enter the final week of my internship, I feel it’s important to reflect on my time and let other aspiring students know what it was like.

Of course, I should also address the elephant in the room: the fact that I am probably part of the 1% of the population whose first experience working in an office was derailed by a global pandemic.

The last month and a half or so of my time at Entuitive fell in line with the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no handbook on how to act in such bizarre and uncertain times. Fortunately, the flexibility and workplace culture at Entuitive has allowed the company to continue business (almost) as usual while ensuring the safety and well-being of all employees.

Naturally, there are challenges to a WFH situation, the biggest being the distractions. Staying motivated was difficult at first, but after a few days, regular check-ups with my team, and one very helpful seminar on working remotely, I’ve been able to view this experience as a way of practising self-discipline. I’ve found checkpoints and a clear to-do list key to staying productive when the pressures of the office aren’t motivating you to do so. The team at Entuitive has been great at keeping the entire company connected, with firm-wide Q&A sessions and lots of virtual activities to break down distance barriers. Most importantly, it’s been healthy to keep the mindset that ‘this too shall pass,’ and from it a unique learning opportunity.

With four months going by in what feels like a blink of an eye, it’s odd to think that this will be my last week at Entuitive. As my internship as Business Development Coordinator draws to a close and I reflect on all I have learned, I realize what an excellent experience this has been. Because my duties were diverse, it’s tough to now recall everything I’ve done over the past few months. From extensive industry intelligence research to migrating content into the CRM database, its refreshing to see that even as an intern I made integral contributions to the company. I was made to feel continuously valued and confident enough to let my ideas be heard. Witnessing my research help lead to actual projects for the company was definitely the highlight of my time!

One of the key principles at Entuitive is collaboration, whether that be with stakeholders or within the team. Business Development is one department that really puts this to the test. I’ve realized the benefits of discussing opportunities with your team, and how one person’s connection can make a world of difference. It was interesting to gain some insight on everything it takes for a project to come to fruition. Up until my very last day, I never stopped learning. I especially appreciated my team for always taking the time to answer my questions and ensuring I got the most out of this experience as possible. My advice to all future hires is to always be willing to absorb new information – there’s plenty of things I’m still finding out in my last week!

Even in unpredictable times, the most we can do is be there for each other and continue our lives as safely and productively as possible. From the bottom of my heart, I am full of pure gratitude for the time I have spent as an intern at Entuitive and would not have changed a single thing. The experience has forged a new way of thinking for me that I cannot wait to apply to my future career. With the support of the wonderful team, I’ve learned and grown as a young professional and I am forever indebted to this company. It has been enriching and rewarding and I will always recommend an internship at Entuitive!