'Tis the Season to Interview YOUR Potential Summer Interns

April 8, 2026

Every year, around this time, the same thought crosses people’s minds.“

Should we bring on interns this summer?”

For some, the answer comes easily. For others, there is hesitation. Time, structure, supervision. The concern that it may create more work than it solves. That hesitation is real. But so is the opportunity sitting right in front of you.

I have been running an internship program for over 30 years. It did not start in a corporate setting. It started as a CIT (councilors-in-training) program during my time as a K-12 educator. When I transitioned into my corporate career, I carried that same belief forward. Give young people real responsibility, clear expectations, and the chance to prove themselves. This approach has been tested over decades, and I have seen firsthand what works, what fails, and what actually prepares someone for the workforce.

What I have seen over time is simple. Too many companies either avoid interns altogether or bring them in without a plan. They assign busy work. They fill time. They check a box. And in doing so, they miss the entire point.

Interns are not here to observe. They are not here to sit quietly in the corner. They are here to work. To learn. To contribute in ways that actually build something they can speak to with confidence. This is not about giving students a chance. It is about creating value on both sides.

And when structured correctly, that value shows up quickly. Interns increase output. They allow senior team members to stay focused on higher-level work. They create a low-risk pipeline for future hiring. This is not extra work when done right. It is leverage.

This is where the conversation needs to shift.

Today’s students are not just competing with their classmates or friends. Their competition is global. It is companies hiring overseas talent at a different cost structure. It is artificial intelligence that can complete tasks faster than an entry-level employee. It is seasoned professionals who bring years of experience and efficiency.

So what does that mean for the next generation?

It means the bar is higher. It means experience is no longer optional. It means that if they are not given the chance to develop real skills now, they will be behind before they even begin.

That is why internships matter. Not as a favor. Not as a temporary fix. But as a responsibility.

I believe in giving students who are serious about their future the opportunity to step into real work and grow into it. That belief is personal. I was an intern. I worked hard. I volunteered for everything. I paid attention. I asked questions when it mattered. And when an opportunity opened, I received a call that shaped the direction of my career for the next 30 years.

That does not happen by accident. It happens when someone is willing to open the door.

If you are considering interns this summer, pause and ask yourself a few honest questions:

• Why now? Why bring interns into your organization at this moment?

• Who will guide them? Who will take ownership of their experience, not just their output?

• What real work will they be given that has a clear beginning, middle, and end? What can they walk away with and say, “I did this”?

• And just as important, who is willing to make introductions? To open their network. To help them understand how this world actually works.

Because that is the difference.

An internship done right does not just help your business for a few months. It shapes how someone enters the workforce. It gives them confidence. It gives them language. It gives them proof.

Doing it right does not require a complex system. Start with one intern, one clearly defined project, and one person responsible for guiding them. Set expectations early. Meet weekly. Treat the work as real, because it is.

So yes, it is the season to interview your potential summer interns.

The real question is, are you ready to show up for them in a way that actually counts?

2026 Interns

Spring Team

• Chinne Dai - Marketing & OAM at Emory Goizueta Business School - Class of 2027

• Avery Alden - Business Major at the University of Alabama -Class of 2027

• Erica (Ria) Montano - Mass Communication Media Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University -Class of 2027

• Jesus Herrera -Marketing Major at Loyola University -Class of 2027

• Simarjit (Sahiba) Kaur - Marketing & Finance Student at DePaul University -Class of 2027

• Selina Adames -Advertising and Marketing Communications with a minor in Economics Fashion Institute of Technology -Class of 2026

Winter Team

• Dan Augustine - Student-Athlete Studying Marketing at Lasell University - Class of 2027

• Emma Mills - Strategic Marketing Management Student at Liberty University - Class of 2026