The word “internship,” has become practically part of every day language in our college careers as we speak to advisers, peers, and adults. The importance of having “real-life” experience in the field you would like to go into post-grad is perhaps greater than your GPA. As my college career is coming to an end, I am (reluctantly) starting the job search in anticipation of my graduation in the spring.
This past summer, I had the opportunity of interning with Ame & Lulu. They are a web- based apparel company who specialize in accessories for women with an active lifestyle. When you think of the word “intern,” most people picture what you see in the movies: coffee runs, endless paperwork, and a terrifying boss. Going into it, I was worried this would be me. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
This internship gave me hands-on experience in the marketing and public relations field, which is exactly what I was hoping to achieve. I was given exciting independent projects, and was exposed to something new every day. However, the internship was far more than simple bullet points to put on my resume.
Many people overlook the power of interning for a smaller company. This internship not only was a resume builder, but I felt like I was a part of the team. I developed professional relationships with every single person in my office and got to be a part of meetings that interning for a larger company may not have allowed me to do. I felt like I had an actual role to the success of the company rather than just being “another intern.” They valued my personal opinions and ideas, something that is few and far to come by in an internship.
When I realized that Ame & Lulu was doing the Go Greek Giveaway through Her Campus, I immediately emailed my former boss, Amye Kurson, the founder of Ame & Lulu. Given her success as a businesswomen, I thought it would be helpful to do a short Q&A with her so maybe we could all learn something as we are all quickly approaching the real world.
BC: What inspired you to start Ame & Lulu?
AK: I was inspired to start Ame & Lulu about 15 years ago when I was playing golf and realized the lack of women’s golf accessories. I wanted a set of headcovers that had some style and at the time the options were very limited. Ame & Lulu’s first product was Golf Headcovers for women!
BC: What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?
AK: The best piece of advice I ever received was to follow my passion. If you do what you love and what energizes you then you will have a much better chance at success.
BC: What characteristic does every successful business woman need to possess?
AK: 1.) Have a vision
2.) Believe in your vision
3.) Ability to overcome obstacles
4.) Strong work ethic
5.) Life balance
6.) Think Big
BC: What do you like most about what you do?
AK: I love watching the evolution of Ame & Lulu on a daily basis. Everyday is fresh with new projects, deadlines and goals.
BC: What has been your most exciting accomplishment so far?
AK: The line has been featured on The Today Show and in dozens of fashion magazines.
BC: Any tips/advice for college women in our upcoming career search?
AK: My advice is to do plenty of internships so you can get a feel for different careers and network as much as possible.
If you are involved with Greek life here at UMass, check out the Go Greek Giveaway Ame & Lulu is sponsoring! And if sororities aren’t your thing, still check out their website for super cute bags and accessories!