Foolproof Guide to Having a Rich Online (Remote) Internship
Foolproof Guide to Having a Rich Online (Remote) Internship
June 16, 2023 | By Gabby Brun ‘25 | Selfie with CEO Steven Keppel, Operations Manager Liuba (Libby) Abreu, and interns Claudia O’Sullivan and Mariaceleste Vargas at WeWork, Coral Gables. (*This is the only time the Miami Headquarters members of the PVBLIC summer internship group met in person.)
A principal achievement of the Global Development major is to complete an 8-week field-based internship accompanied by a critical reflection process. This internship contributes to the major’s engaged learning requirement and is intended to build ethical thinking and reflection into community-based work. Typically, this experience is abroad or on the ground, but sometimes, the magic happens in place–Gabby’s summer internship is an example of the richness that can still come from a remote experience.
Collaborating with the PVBLIC Foundation, Gabby Brun ‘25 spent the summer working as a remote Communications and Latin America and the Caribbean Intern. In this position, she got a firsthand view of team dynamics in sustainable development work, learned about building global partnerships to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, contributed to UN forum planning, participated in peer research on best practices in the circular economy, led a group of interns in content creation on the UNSDGs through Instagram Reels, and spearheaded research in food and agriculture across Latin America and the Caribbean. Critically reflecting on her time and engagement with PVBLIC, Gabby shares her advice for peers wishing to make the most of their (remote) summer internships.
When thinking of a Global Development internship at Cornell, we frequently visualize traveling outside the United States or working in a hands-on, on-the-field experience. In fact, much of the reading in Global Development preparation classes focuses on situating yourself within a host community and opening your worldview for understanding, respect, and cultural exchange. With all this anticipation of the 8-week GDEV internship, I had formed an image of what I thought my summer would look like and how I would prepare myself for the “ethical engagement” we discussed in class. I had my mind set on either an agricultural field experience, a research opportunity in a lab, or analytical work in a physical office setting. I never expected that my highlight of a GDEV internship would be remote, collaborating over Zoom with colleagues I would hardly get a chance to interact with physically… The concept of an internship from home almost seemed to rob me of the meaningful experience I was hoping to build, and I initially doubted the impact I could genuinely make.
However, working remotely can yield just as powerful and meaningful of an internship experience as traveling abroad or working in the field–it just matters more how you invest yourself. There is beauty in engaging with a host community and being in an unfamiliar environment, but working at home also has its strengths and benefits. I would argue that staying in place expanded my capacity to extend my work’s impact. In my case, I was working with two project teams with supervisors stationed in Colombia; together, we worked on international initiatives and, once a week, corresponded with the Miami Headquarters Operation Team over Zoom. Being digital allowed us to instantly touch base with our international colleagues and create a network beyond borders.
By working remotely on digital projects and engaging social media campaigns, my internship at PVBLIC had a tangible impact across Latin America and the Caribbean. I invited people worldwide to join a global discourse on furthering the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and immediately saw the results. Social media engagement on these SDG-coded videos gained over 10,000 views apiece! (Reel insights for one video shown on the left as an example). People worldwide offered their input on the conversation, supporting the cause and playing devil’s advocate–the call to action was a success. Aside from the digital vault of educational videos on the SDGs, I am also proud to have composed a short Latin American and Caribbean food security brief that will contribute to supporting successful agricultural policy frameworksin the region (cover pictured to the right).
Overall, I am so grateful to have had this experience and feel incredibly fulfilled from my summer internship despite my initial doubts about it being remote. Having had this opportunity and now understanding the richness that can come from a remote experience, I offer these five pieces of advice when starting:
Take Goal-Setting Seriously.
Prior to the experience, make a genuinely thoughtful Learning Action Plan–not just for the requirement, but for yourself. Gauge what you can offer, your interests, and how you want to expand your knowledge. Going in, you may not know what your target community is lacking or working toward, but you know yourself; by making goals that are self-aware, you emphasize your passion and highlight the areas where you are best equipped to serve. Being thoughtful about this part of the process will situate your mind into giving your all and will indicate to your supervisors where you can make the most intentional impact that will also feel rewarding to you.
Prior to the experience, make a genuinely thoughtful Learning Action Plan–not just for the requirement, but for yourself. Gauge what you can offer, your interests, and how you want to expand your knowledge. Going in, you may not know what your target community is lacking or working toward, but you know yourself; by making goals that are self-aware, you emphasize your passion and highlight the areas where you are best equipped to serve. Being thoughtful about this part of the process will situate your mind into giving your all and will indicate to your supervisors where you can make the most intentional impact that will also feel rewarding to you.
Express your Gratitude
When you start, immediately express your gratitude to your supervisors for accepting you to the program, and take that initial opportunity to show your interest in particular topics. If they have any openings for you in a subject that interests you, they will certainly mention it to you–and the more passionate you are in the tasks you work on, the better and more sincere you will work on them.
When you start, immediately express your gratitude to your supervisors for accepting you to the program, and take that initial opportunity to show your interest in particular topics. If they have any openings for you in a subject that interests you, they will certainly mention it to you–and the more passionate you are in the tasks you work on, the better and more sincere you will work on them.
Keep Yourself Accountable
Keep a journal. Note your weekly tasks, challenges, successes, and notes to yourself for improvement. Try to reflect every week on where you excelled and where you came short. Not only will this keep you in check and be a tangible representation of your achievements, but it will also assist you in remembering what to report in weekly Team Operations meetings and keep you organized.
Keep a journal. Note your weekly tasks, challenges, successes, and notes to yourself for improvement. Try to reflect every week on where you excelled and where you came short. Not only will this keep you in check and be a tangible representation of your achievements, but it will also assist you in remembering what to report in weekly Team Operations meetings and keep you organized.
Be Proactive
For example, do you want to expand research in a particular area that needs more attention? Start it. Keep a Word/Google doc of sources, notes, and the purpose of your work. Write a blurb about the importance of addressing xyz topic and how your research will help pioneer work in sustainable development, then present it to your supervisors to start your special project. Take the opportunity to become a leader when it comes to your work. It makes the experience all the more meaningful.
For example, do you want to expand research in a particular area that needs more attention? Start it. Keep a Word/Google doc of sources, notes, and the purpose of your work. Write a blurb about the importance of addressing xyz topic and how your research will help pioneer work in sustainable development, then present it to your supervisors to start your special project. Take the opportunity to become a leader when it comes to your work. It makes the experience all the more meaningful.
Embrace your network
Connect with your peers and other interns. Do not take for granted that there will be other brilliant people on the team with lots of valuable information and experiences to share. Reach out to them and watch for overlaps in your work where you can serve each other. Not only will this add richness to your final product, but you will also be grateful for the professional connection, and your charisma/personability will not go unnoticed.
Connect with your peers and other interns. Do not take for granted that there will be other brilliant people on the team with lots of valuable information and experiences to share. Reach out to them and watch for overlaps in your work where you can serve each other. Not only will this add richness to your final product, but you will also be grateful for the professional connection, and your charisma/personability will not go unnoticed.
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