My first experience as an intern in the non-profit world
By Sophie Zogg
Introducing: Sophie Zogg
Hi! I am Sophie Zogg, a student at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee studying Communication with a minor in Digital Arts and Culture. Apart from being a student, I spend much of my time working out, cooking new recipes, and playing with my pet rabbit Natsu. Though it feels like only yesterday, a whopping four months ago, I joined the STEM Forward team as a Marketing and Communications Intern. From the moment I joined them to these last few days I have before we part ways, my experience has been nothing short of phenomenal.
What did you do?
STEM Forward was my first experience in a professional job and arguably, the best segue I could’ve asked for in entering the workforce. As someone with interests spanning multiple disciplines, I’ve always had a difficult time settling on a single career pathway. With that being said, STEM Forward opened my mind up to the possibilities of where I may go. Thanks to my wonderful supervisor and Communications Manager, Maureen Haeger, I’ve come to understand that a career can be anything I make of it, which is precisely what I did as STEM Forward’s Marketing and Communication Intern. With the support of the STEM Forward team and board of directors, I created from scratch STEM Forward’s first edition Brand Guidelines. This brand guide is a document that serves to establish consistency throughout the company’s public persona. In other words, with the conglomeration (and creation) of STEM Forward’s essential attributes, technical assets, and clear-cut rules, I was able to artfully construct a resource that employees and affiliates alike can turn to so that consistency across all boards is maintained within STEM Forward. This elaborate project was paired with the task of redesigning the STEM Forward website, which truly complimented my work creating the brand guide.
“ I have also gained extensive knowledge on marketing tactics that I never thought I’d get the chance to learn.”
How did it go?
From navigating the process of building a brand guide and collaborating on the STEM Forward website to the opportunities I've been given to participate in organization meetings, I have learned so much about how to communicate professionally and the reality of working with a nonprofit, where limitations can feel endless at times. Thanks to Maureen's guidance, I have also gained extensive knowledge on marketing tactics that I never thought I'd get the chance to learn. This is especially noteworthy since my entire internship was done remotely!
I really enjoyed working through these unfamiliar yet exciting opportunities, and immensely grateful that STEM Forward entrusted me with such tasks. I encourage other students to seek an internship in a non-profit. Research to find an organization with a mission that speaks to you. Here is an interesting article about working for a non-profit called Working for a Nonprofit: 2 Pros Share What It’s Like (and Why You Should Consider It) by Ransom Patterson. Not only will you learn valuable skills to help you in the future, but you will be helping others by working in a non-profit organization.
It was a pleasure having Sophie on board with us for a semester and we are grateful to work with the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee to participate in their Community Leaders Internship Program (CLIP). This program engages work-study eligible students by placing them in community-based work-study jobs at local non-profit agencies and public schools in the Milwaukee metro area. Learn more here.
From our perspective, it allows us to accomplish so much more than we could have done with our limited resources and gives us access to talented students who want to gain hands-on experience in their field.
Best of luck to Sophie! I have no doubt she will accomplish amazing things and make a difference while doing it!
Maureen Haeger Communications & Program Manager, STEM Forward
