Chapter 4: Caffeine Highs

Coffee Chats

This week we had the opportunity to put our Dunkin’ Donuts’ gift cards to use during our “Coffee Chats” with two to three HLKers of our choice. We used this one-on-one time to ask questions and learn more about different roles at HLK. It was so fun to be sponges and soak up as much knowledge and advice as possible during the chats. 

We loved hearing all about their backgrounds and the steps that they took to get to where they are today. Every HLKer we have connected with (both in-person and via LinkedIn) has been excited to hear about the two campaigns we have put together and is more than willing to help us out in any way possible. The encouragement that we have received has meant the world, and we can’t wait to finish out a couple more Coffee Chats early next week.

Practice Pitch

Whoop Whoop! Our Practice Pitch for Leaning Tiki Gardens is in the books. It’s been a busy eight days putting together a creative brand strategy and launch campaign, but our hard work seems to have paid off. Eric and our mentors were impressed by the work we’ve been able to produce so far and they gave us plenty of things to work on to make our strategy even stronger. We can’t wait to jump in and polish this project up. Check back in next week to see how we finish up our time at HLK!

Until later,

The 7Ups

Chapter 1: The Launch

Hello, HLKers! I don’t think we’ve formally met. Allow us to introduce ourselves. 

We are the 7Up’s

Although Launchpad may still look a little different this year, we can’t wait to dive in, change behavior and shape belief. Hear that HLK slang? Yeah, we’re catching on!

So now, without further ado, let us tell you a little bit about ourselves.

Emily Cheng

Hey everyone! My name is Emily and I’m the Content Strategist Intern for this session of the HLK Launchpad Internship. I am a rising Junior at WashU in St. Louis but am originally from Long Island, New York. I am studying Marketing and Operations & Supply Chain Management with a minor in Design. I’m most likely to be spotted at the beach or somewhere warm (thanks Zoom University)!

Charlotte Fox

Hi y'all! I’d like to virtually send you all a handshake and let you know I am thrilled to be working with HLK. I am an upcoming junior majoring in Marketing at Saint Louis University, and am currently the summer Planning Intern. Where would I most likely be spotted, you may ask? I would most likely be spotted at Companion because their salads and cornbread are the absolute best.

Callie MacDonald

image0.jpeg

What’s up, HLK team? My name is Callie and I am delighted to be working as 7Up’s Audience Engagement Intern. I just graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism with a degree in Strategic Communication (Emphasis: Account Management). I am a St. Louis native. So naturally, I quite literally have gooey butter, toasted ravs, Imos and provel running through my veins. Where might you find me in stl? Most likely at Clover & The Bee sipping on an iced coffee.

Natalie Turner

nt.jpeg

Hey guys! I’m Natalie, and I’m so excited to be joining the HLK team for the summer as the Account Manager Intern! I’m a recent graduate from Missouri Baptist University where I majored in Marketing with a minor in Business Administration. You are definitely most likely to find me at Chick-fil-a, I’m there about 3 times a week (I wish I was kidding)!

Lauren Pavelec

lr.jpeg

Hey everyone! I’m Lauren and I couldn’t be more excited to join HLK this summer as the Art Director Intern for team 7Up! I’m a rising senior at WashU in St. Louis but am originally from Atlanta. Being from Atlanta, of course Chick-fil-a is my all-time favorite, but in St. Louis, you can find me at Mission Taco and Clementine's ice cream!

David Rodriguez

dr.jpeg

Hey! My name is David. I am the Media Strategist Intern here at HLK for session one. I just graduated from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I studied Advertising & Public Relations. Whether it was between classes or a weekend out with friends, you could most likely spot me at Stella's Lounge in Grand Rapids with a burger and their Spicy Chronic fries.

Jesse Hall

jh.jpeg

Hey everyone, I’m the Copywriter Intern for HLK session one. I will be returning to Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau as a junior to study Mass Media: Advertising. You can almost always catch me at the nearest Five Guys because they slap!


Our first day working together ft. nervous smiles:

It’s been a pleasure meeting ya! 

Until next time,

The 7Ups

Chapter Six: Team Acuity's Advice

This is it. This is now. This is what I’ve been talking about… okay,  that’s the chorus to a Scotty McCreery song, but it seemed fitting. 

THIS IS IT: our final pitch, our final day, and sadly, our final goodbyes. While that is slightly depressing, making it to week six means we did it. We completed two client campaigns, presented two pitches, made lasting connections, and improved our skill sets along the way. 

How six weeks can fly by so fast, we’ll never know? It’s been a remote rollercoaster, for sure! Team Acuity is leaving this session with 7 tips of advice for the next intern crew. If that’s you—get excited! Your journey is about to begin. Take it in, take notes, and take time to appreciate the opportunities in front of you. YOU’VE GOT THIS!

Before the final pitch —proud of our work.

Before the final pitch —proud of our work.

After our final pitch —VERY proud of our work.

After our final pitch —VERY proud of our work.

IMG_9761.jpg

Team Acuity’s Advice

1. Meet Other People

Your intern crew will be great and most likely your best friends for the next six weeks, but branch outside of just your intern circle! Get to know the mentors and other people at HLK. It's a great way to get exposed to other career options and meet some really cool people along the way. - Gina  

2. Take Notes For the Future

You may think that you'll remember everything but with all the new acronyms and advice that comes your way, you'll want to write it down! Plus, it'll be a great way to sum up what you learned for a future employer. -Lilly

3. Get things on paper (or documents).

When things get hectic —and they do get hectic —it can be difficult to remember all the details of a plan, idea, data set, or really anything. Putting the important details down on paper lets you focus on the bigger picture without losing important information that is critical when it comes to supporting a position. - Drew

4. Develop Real Connections

Sometimes it's easier to just get in and get out with the work you're doing, especially being virtual. That being said however, it is so important to develop meaningful connections with those who you work with. Anna D. and I would just turn on Google Meet while we were working separately just to have some company. The other interns have become my friends and it made going to work and collaborating so fun and rewarding. I truly will miss their creative minds and the good times we've been able to have in the most unlikely scenario. Long live Team Acuity! -Natalie

5. Stay organized

Keeping your files in order is no easy task, but it makes all the difference! . As a team, we’ve developed great  organizational strategies and it has been key to staying on the same page with communicating ideas and developing a cohesive campaign! -Supreet

6.  Try to take things one step at a time

The beginning of the project might seem overwhelming, but try to break large tasks down into a list of smaller items you can do in order. This will make things seem more attainable! -Anna D

7. Reach out!

Reach out to us. Yes, us! We’ll respond or ask anyone else at HLK; they’ll respond too! The culture here is welcoming and friendly. We all want to see one another succeed. Don’t be afraid to reach out, or connect on LinkedIn with any questions! -Anna K

Chapter Five: Teamwork

This week we’re taking a break from focusing on the ever changing state of our world today. We’re talking about our coworkers and more importantly our new friends! Yes, you can become friends behind a screen. Remote work certainly has its pros and cons. A pro being your new work friends don’t all have to be in the same zip code!

Fun Fact: Our team is working from St. Louis all the way to Knoxville, TN!

After our second practice pitch, we can all agree that this time around we saw the power of teamwork firsthand. We are producing something that cohesively is coming together; however, it took time to get to this point! After five weeks of trial and error along with learning our best methods for google meet, we’ve become efficient and effective coworkers! Our team can confidently say that this combined effort for our most recent client is certainly something worth being proud of. 

We must not forget about our favorite coworkers who complete Team Acuity.

Our team isn’t just our seven team intern crew it’s our furry friends that are bringing us a pick-me-up everyday. HLK is known for having dogs around the office, so we decided to make our remote experience as close to normal as we can by inviting the dogs into our meetings on occasion. We want you to meet the REAL team acuity, our dog squad.

Wish us luck on our final week at HLK! 

Zoom Doggies.jpg



Chapter Four: National Intern Day

Happy National Intern Day! It’s a day of celebration for this crew! We finished our first pitch earlier this week and have been assigned project number two. With the practice pitch quickly approaching we’ve been busy brainstorming, zooming, and googling our days away. Sadly, no time for happy hour this week; but I’m sure we’ll make time for it in the near future. 

TWO WEEKS LEFT.

Those three words are making us all very sad and a little nervous as we look to create another campaign! If time could slow down, that would be greatly appreciated. However, this quick  journey has not left us empty handed. We’re learning more than we could have ever expected and making meaningful connections in the process. 

We can all agree that teamwork is making the dream work here at HLK. We named our team “Acuity” several weeks ago and are just now realizing the entirety of it. A cohesive vision as a team certainly is powerful and impactful. Our team along, with the team at HLK, drives creative ideas in the most strategic and influential way. Our goal is to echo this mantra in our work here and beyond. That is something to celebrate!

Cheers to us!

Today, we celebrate National Intern Day as a team, because it’s more fun that way.

Intern Insights.jpg

Anna D

Pitching on Zoom is definitely less stressful than in person. You can pull your notes up and pretend the other people aren't there since you can't actually see them.

Lilly

I  learned that you need to be ready to answer any and every question that comes your way. Along with this, I learned that you can never be over-prepared, practice is KEY! 

Gina

You cannot present on zoom while having other tabs open.

Anna K

It doesn’t all have to be serious. Have fun with strategies and ideas! Thinking outside the box makes it so much more fun. 

Supreet

I learned that building relationships with the people you work with helps you understand how they work which then, in return, leads the team towards success. Plus, you get 6 new friends out of it! :)

Drew

The top thing I learned from our first pitch is that it is critical to ensure that all ideas are backed up by facts, figures, and rationale. Many of the things we suggested made sense only because we were able to explain why we chose the tactics we did and how these tactics would result in the behavior change we desired.

Natalie

I learned how difficult it can be for everyone to be on the same page when we aren’t physically together, but we figured it out quickly! I know for our second project we will improve in that area even more. 

Chapter Three: Mentorship

We’re halfway and celebrating our third week of being Team Acuity at Launchpad. It seems fitting to reflect on one of the most influential aspects of this internship program: The mentorship. From one-on-one meetings to gaining connections within the agency, our mentors have been nothing short of extraordinary.

“Having a mentor within HLK has been amazing and super helpful. My mentor, Alexander, is always willing to go out of his way to help me with anything, whether it be work related or not. I'm disappointed we can't meet our mentors in person but even through a work-from-home setting, Alexander has made it really easy to talk and always has his door open.”

 - Supreet Bhangu

“It has been really helpful having a mentor within HLK because Amanda really shows me what it's like to work in an agency. I get to sit in on her meetings and see not only how an agency works, but how HLK specifically works.”

- Gina Gerstenecker

“Ashley’s insight and advice is more than I could have ever asked for or expected. She’s integrated me into the culture at HLK and connected me with so many incredible people within different departments!”

- Anna Krenz

They’ve become our greatest cheerleaders and most constructive critics while offering us a friendly in-house face. Even making the gracious gesture to be a zoom call away for anything; now and down the road. Did they realize what they were committing to in these statements, probably not? We’re saying thanks in advance for all the future career advice ;) 

“Having a mentor has been such a blessing. It is so nice to have someone you know you can always reach out to whenever something comes up, or just about any questions in general. Paul has been so supportive and has done a great job of being constructive, while still leaving the creative freedom to our team.” 

- Natalie Pruitt

“Tyler and Paul kind of act as a sounding board for us to bounce ideas off of. They're very positive and help ask questions and make suggestions to make our work the best it can be.”

- Anna Dodson

“Chelsy is so good at responding whenever I need! She has taught me so much already about the world of social media.” 

- Lilly Touchette

In three weeks, I think we can all say we’re growing and growing fast. Growing as industry creatives, concept developers, budget critics, social strategists, and planning experts. Aside from our advertising abilities and rapid growth, our friendship is growing too. We went from strangers, to teammates and most importantly, to friends. It’s time to present our first pitch. They say ignorance is bliss. Let’s see how this goes. We’re ready!

“Wow. It's hard to believe we're halfway when I feel much less than halfway ready to stop, but the time is flying by. Taking the opportunity to reflect really shows how fast everything is moving which is great because you can truly miss it if you blink.”

- Drew Sundet

Chapter Two: Remote Works

Everyone is going to have a pandemic story. Where were you in 2020 when the world seemingly shut down? The time when we hunkered down in our homes with hopes of good wifi and better at-home delivery options.

We were students. Forced to leave the “fun” part of college and shift to completing our year from our parent’s basement or childhood bedrooms. Graduations, formals and many goodbyes were left incomplete. Life was uncertain, but even more so, our beloved summer was losing its luster day by day; however, HLK held on to the promise they made to us several months ago and we couldn’t be more grateful.

 “It’s so nice to feel like you have a company on your side saying “We know this isn’t what you expected, but we’re going to do the best we can to make it worthwhile.””

- Gina Gerstenecker, Account Manager Intern

This week Team Acuity reflected on working remotely and came to the conclusion that it's been both a challenge and a reward. We miss the dogs at HLK but are enjoying being near our furry friends at home. Thanks to Google Meet and Google Drive we are taking this internship by storm. We are learning how to be active communicators from a distance by meeting one-on-one with our mentors, collaborating together as a team and creatively sharing concepts through Google docs. Remote work has allowed us to gain experience of what life is like at an advertising agency during these unprecedented times. 

“The ability to find purpose and learn at the same time are both key things which have been provided by the continuation of this internship, something I find incredibly valuable.”

- Drew Sundet, Media Strategist Intern 

It’s amazing to see how passion preserves through whatever situation you are placed in. With our first practice pitch complete; we are ready to see what the next four weeks have in store for us. It’s time to put the finishing touches on! Wish us luck. 

Thanks to HLK, remote works! 

From the desks of Team Acuity!


Working Remote Secrets

Gina: 

Strategically position your chair and body in front of the camera so that everyone doesn’t see your chaotically messy room.

Anna D: 

Real pants are definitely not necessary. I wear my pajama pants every day. 

Drew: 

One key tip is to find a cozy blanket so that you don't have to set your laptop on your legs, that's just inviting lap sweat.

Lilly: 

Blue light glasses save lives and eyes. 

Natalie: 

Find the perfect Spotify playlist for all your background music needs. Oh and snacks. Snacks are important. 

 Supreet: 

Comfort is the new cute. Hoodies are your best friend. 

Anna K: 

Give yourself a view! Add a bird feeder, plant some flowers, and enjoy a brain break when you simply cannot with zoom anymore. 

Chapter One: Meet Team Acuity

Welcome to section two of the summer 2020 pandemic problem solvers (AKA Launchpad interns). After one week, we have been pushed to think, and think fast. It’s a roller coaster of zoom meetings, shared google docs, and margarita nights for this crew; however, while not ideal, we are making the most of this work-from-home experience as a team!

Meet Team Acuity. We chose this name to guide us while we use this experience to passionately pursue our vision; or if you’re fancy, like us, our acuity. Follow us each week as we carry out HLK’s mission to be curious, thoughtful and brave.

3-2-1 It’s time for take off, folks! 

zoom3.png


Anna%20Dodson%20Headshot.JPG

Anna

Art Director

Hi everyone! My name is Anna Dodson, and I am the art director intern. I've lived in St. Louis, specifically in Webster Groves, all my life, and I just recently graduated from the University of Alabama. I'm excited to be working at HLK with my fellow interns! My VISION for life is to leave the world a better place and help those around me. I want to make people feel good about themselves and what they can achieve.

Drew%20Headshot.JPG

Drew

Media Strategist

Hello, my name is Drew Sundet and I’m currently studying at Maryville University. As we get settled into our new roles here at HLK, we are learning and experiencing so much. My VISION ties closely with many things we see in our current, socially distanced, work-from-home environment. Although not by choice, this new way of working, and working well, demonstrates once again the power of technology. As we move towards an ever more digitized society it is heartening to see that we are still able to connect and form relationships with new people despite our physical distance.

Gina%20Headshot.JPG

Gina

Account Management

Hi there! I'm Gina Gerstenecker and I'm currently working on my Master's Degree in Strategic Communication Journalism from the University of Missouri and plan to graduate May of 2021. I enVISION myself working in Account Management at an agency (HLK?? *wink wink*) in the near future. I also see myself being a loving dog mom that not only has a passion for my work and my pets, but also for my family, friends, and exotic herbal teas (crazy, I know).

IMG_1590.JPG

Lilly

Audience Engagement

Hi everyone! My name is Lilly Touchette and I am a recent graduate of Mizzou. I majored in Journalism with an emphasis in strategic communication and received a minor in psychology. My VISION, career wise, is to continue my passion in social media and capitalize on the power it holds in our world today. 

On the weekends you can find me exploring new restaurants in St. Louis (I have a list of over 100 that I recommend), hanging out with friends, or eating chipotle while watching The Office for the 4th time. I can’t wait to see what the next few weeks has in store!

IMG_9701 2.JPG

Supreet

Brand Planner

Hi, I'm Supreet Bhangu and I currently attend Mizzou. My VISION and hope for this internship is that I come out with a real world experience and insight on how the advertising industry works, while also being able to make memories with my amazing team. So far, this internship and HLK has helped me do just that. It has only been a few days, but I already can't wait to learn so much more and continue working with all the incredible people at HLK.

IMG_2395_Original 2.JPG

Natalie

Copy Writer

Hi there! My name is Natalie and I am a rising senior at the University of Mississippi majoring in integrated marketing communications with a specialization in visual design. My VISION for this internship is to learn as much as I can from the wonderful people at HLK and produce work that not only our client can be proud of, but that our team can be proud of! In regards to my future career, I aspire to become a creative director or the manager of a creative branding team one day. I am thankful for this opportunity and am looking forward to what the next few weeks have in store!

Anna%20Krenz%20Headshot.JPG

Anna

Content Strategist

Hi friends! My name is Anna and I am a senior at Concordia University Chicago with a double major in business marketing and strategic communication. Looking forward, I envision myself pursuing a career that allows me to push creative thinking and impactful concepts, while talking to as many people as I can along the way. In my free time, you can find me running, gardening or on an adventure to find the best views! Can’t wait to grow and learn with my fellow interns here at HLK!

chapter 6: we made it!

As our session of the HLK internship comes to an end, we wanted to share some of our favorite things from this experience and possible advice for future HLKers. We are so sad to be going, but endlessly grateful for this experience.

Questions:

  1. What is one thing that you learned during this internship that you will take with you when you leave?

  2. What advice do you have for future HLK interns?

  3. Future Plans?

  4. Describe this internship experience in 5 words or less.

  5. Any last remarks?

Ashton Stegman

  • Something I learned during this internship is what it's like to be at an agency. Even though we weren't in the office, our mentors were always so thoughtful and introduced us to so many people. The opportunities to sit in on meetings, meet people in all kinds of roles and work on real client projects were truly unmatched. This experience has really made me confident in that I know this is what I want to be doing.

  • Some advice I would give to future interns is to just take as much as you can in. Take notes, meet new people, get all the feedback you can on your work, never stop learning. The six weeks go by fasttttt so just make sure to have fun while you're doing it and never stop learning.

  • I'm TBD on my future plans. I absolutely love copywriting, especially at an agency, so hopefully something that aligns with those goals.

  • Is This Right? Yes? Cool!

  • THANK YOU. Thank you everyone at HLK. This has been such a great experience. Thank you Jessy! You've taught me so much in such a short amount of time while keeping things fun.

Bella Corona

  • I learned a deeper understanding of how to find a deeper meaning or underlying tension of an audience. I was able to learn how I can better understand people through research and how to best meet them.

  • I want the next group of interns to not take these six weeks for granted! It goes by way too fast, much faster than they will expect.

  • I am starting my senior year and my NSAC capstone as an account planner in the fall. I can’t wait to see what more is to come as I finish up my senior year and start looking for a job in the spring!

  • Oh god, please don’t end!

  • I am so thankful for this amazing opportunity, and I am so thankful to everyone at HLK who helped us along the way. A huge thank you to Jenny for being an amazing mentor! This experience would not have been so impactful and wonderful if she hadn’t been so supportive and motivating! I also want to thank all the girls on the team! It crazy how five random strangers I have never met in person can become my friends. I'm going to miss everyone:)

Alexis Maragni

  • My main takeaway from this internship is how game-changing it is to work on a team where we each have our own role but then we can come together to create something epic.  

  • Dear Future HLK interns, you got this. Don’t be afraid of asking for help from your mentors and other HLKers. Everyone’s rooting for your success. 

  • My hope for the future is to find my place within a collaborative team environment that challenges me to be better - at my craft and as a human.

  • Best 6-week rollercoaster ever.

  • The last thing I want to say is thank you times a billion to everyone at HLK who devoted their time - whether it was five minutes or several hours - to providing resources, sharing feedback, and speaking encouragement. There is so much talent on this team, but more importantly it’s a team with top-notch character.

Michelle Thai

  • One thing that I learned from this internship was all the bits and pieces that make an agency successful. There are so many different roles that make a campaign successful and this internship helped me get a better understanding of that. I learned to quickly adjust to these different roles and work closely as a team.

  • This internship goes by way too fast and I would advice the next group of interns to cherish every moment of it. Even though it's a short internship, you can make the most out of it by utilizing all of your resources and reaching out to people beyond your mentors as well.

  • It's difficult to plan too much right now, but I would love to find a content strategist or public relations role at an agency.

  • Pairing Cute Tops With Sweatpants

  • Thank you so much to everyone who has made this internship so great. I'm extremely grateful to have been able to work with such a fun and talented team. Also, thank you to Ashley for being an amazing mentor!

Abby Carpenter

  • I learned so much during this internship it is hard to narrow it down to one thing. With that being said, my main takeaway from this internship was the importance and benefit of collaboration. The opportunity to work daily with the other interns and to get advice from all the mentors was crucial to creating these projects. We could bounce ideas off of each other, receive feedback and utilize each of our skill sets through every task and obstacle. 

  • My advice for future HLK interns is to be curious, ask questions and utilize your mentor. My mentor was one person that helped me grow and learn throughout this process because she answered all of my questions and allowed me to expand my knowledge beyond what was needed for the project we were working on. Also, make sure to schedule happy hours with your intern group :)  

  • My immediate future plan is to head to the lake for the weekend woo! After that I have one year left at DePauw University and then hoping to find a job where I can combine personal skills with a collaborative team. 

  • I would like to shout out the entire BOUND team. It was amazing to work with you all and develop friendships, despite ever meeting in person. I also want to thank everyone at HLK for hopping on Zoom calls, answering slack messages and making us feel part of the team. Finally, a HUGE thank you to all the mentors (especially Lydia) for guiding us through this internship.

Lauren Harris

  • One thing I learned during this internship is it is GOOD to be nervous about an idea, that means it’s good! And if not, guess what? You can always make it better! I have learned that it is much more worth it to think outside the box and try new things than to do something just within the confines of thinking it will make the client happy. That is something that I will take with me to every experience after this.

  • Future Interns, have fun! Bond with the people you are working with and get to know them outside of work-talk. This can be so beneficial when it comes to bouncing ideas of one another and in my opinion can make the end result of all of your combined work 10x better. Plus what’s better than gaining 5 new friends at the end of the experience?

  • My future is a little uncertain at the moment (thank you corona), but my goal is to end up at an agency doing Account Management and then maybe venturing into other fields. I know for certain I do want to be at an agency though, there is nothing else like them.

  • Bringing my bed-head to work (is that 6? oopsie)

  • Ugh I really just want to thank everyone at HLK and my team. The entire HLK company made us feel so comfortable from day 1, and did everything in their power to make sure we were still getting the most out of this internship even though it was remote. I wouldn’t change a thing. I also am so grateful for my team, I think I got lucky with the amazing group of women I worked with! It’s one thing to say I learned so much during this experience but it’s another to say I had fun every single day doing it. So THANK YOU!

chapter five: one week left

With only one week left of this internship, it is hard to not feel sad about it coming to a close. With that in mind, we have one week left to rock this project! After the mentor practice pitch, we had a lot to reflect on regarding the project but also our internship as a whole.

What have you liked the best about working on the second project?

How did the mentor practice pitch help you think differently about the project? 

How do you feel about only having one week left of the internship?

Alexis Maragni

This second project has been challenging in that we have more creative freedom and control, but that's one of the things I like best about it. It'll be so neat when we look at the final result and think, "We made that."

The mentor practice pitch was crucial in helping us to identify some weak spots, which will undoubtedly help to strengthen our strategy and concepts for the final pitch.

It's mind-boggling to think we have one week left. I know they say time flies when you're having fun, but holy guacamole this internship flew by! (Note to self: look into ways to force the time warp to slow down).

Abby Carpenter

I love that this second project is giving us a lot of freedom to come up with original ideas and concepts. Also, after three weeks of developing an understanding of how our specific role works in a project, we have been able to really split up to do our job and come back to collaborate which has been an awesome process.

The mentor pitch was a great way to get fresh eyes on our project that we have been working on for two weeks. Getting the mentors feedback and reviews led to some new changes and ideas that we might have missed.

I can't believe we are giving our final pitch next week! I am excited to share our work, but also sad that it will not be followed up with another project assignment.

Ashton Stegman

The second project has definitely been different in that there is a lot of creative freedom. Coming up with an entirely new idea has been challenging but definitely rewarding. Coming to an idea that we are really passionate about has taken a while but I think the work will be that much better because of that.

The practice pitch definitely encouraged us to think a little more creatively, I think. At first, I feel like we were maybe holding back to be safe but a lot of the feedback sparked ideas that were creative and connected to the initial assignment. Those sparked ideas has helped us come to creative work that we really think goes with the assignment in a fun way.

It's hard to believe we only have one week left. I've truly loved my time at HLK and meeting so many creative people has been such a great addition to the experience (even if it was virtual). I know that the people here are always willing to help me out with whatever I need and are always so uplifting, especially when it comes to creative work. Upon the end of this week, I am excited to see where this all takes me next.

Lauren Harris

I have enjoyed the broad ask we were given for the second project because it allowed for everyone to be as creative as they wanted! I don't think we expected the freedom of it to be a challenge but it turned out to be a little bit because there were SO many ways we could go with it. However I am really excited at happy with the direction we chose and think the HLK team will be as well.

The mentor practice pitch honestly really helped us realize where we needed to get more specific, and pointed out some ways we could restructure. I was really happy that all the feedback we got was pretty much just changing things around a bit but that the information and ideas we had were great.

I cannot believe there's only one week left... I don't understand how it went by so fast!! I'm sad because I've really enjoyed this but am so happy because it confirmed that the path I have chosen is one I like and has made me really excited for my future in this field.

Michelle Thai

This second project has been a lot of fun with all the different directions we are able to go in creatively. I've loved coming up with creative concepts for outdoor advertising with the whole team.

With all of our creative freedom, we really needed to nail down our campaign strategy. The mentor practice pitch definitely pointed us in the right direction to make sure we focused on the main picture.

I can't believe we only have one week left of this internship! I've loved working with all of the other interns and I wish this internship could've lasted longer.

Bella Corona

I loved getting to work on this second project with a better idea of how to be a brand planner. I felt more comfortable entering this project because we have a project already under our belt. I have also loved working on a creative campaign and watching the team come up with such unique solutions to the ask.

The mentor practice pitch helped me think outside the box. It’s hard to not have tunnel vision when we are working nonstop on one thing so it was nice to hear a fresh perspective which ultimately helped me think more about the bigger picture. 

I am so sad to only have one week left with HLK! I wish the internship lasted all summer! I’m definitely going to miss working with such an awesome team of girls and talking to them everyday. 

chapter four: over halfway

With our internship experience officially being over half way through, we are onto our next project. Moving onto project two is bittersweet and exciting so we wanted to share what we are looking forward as the end of this whole experience starts to come near.

Bound answers:

Lauren Harris

As week 4 comes to an end (what??) I'm really excited to see our next project come to life. This time around we have a bit more creative freedom and have been able to throw so many ideas out there. I think we got to hit the ground running as well and feel really good about where we're at in the creative process! Stay tuned to see how it goes (fingers crossed).

Bella Corona

As we are wrapping up beginning stages of this project, I am most excited to see how this ask and creative brief will come to life. We are finally formulating our strategy and beginning the creative process, and I can’t wait to show the mentors our ideas next week. They’re out of the box and bold, and I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised.

Alexis Maragni

How did the first 4 weeks already fly by? Pretty sure we just started last week. Time is a thief. In the next two weeks, I'm looking forward to two main things. First, I'm looking forward to creating some more dope designs with the team (do people still use the word "dope"?). Second, I want to use this time to meet as many HLK peeps as possible, because the ones I have met are incredibly generous and talented.

Abby Carpenter

From getting the assignment to brainstorming dozens of ideas to establishing our strategy and message, the beginning stages of both projects have been both crazy and exciting. I am looking forward to the next two weeks of collaboration and creation with the rest of the Bound team! I also am excited to (hopefully) nail both the practice pitch and the final pitch!

Michelle Thai

I can't believe it has already been 4 weeks into this internship and I feel like it only just started. This new project we've been working on has been so much fun with all the creative freedom we were given and I'm looking forward to how it will turn out. After getting such amazing feedback from our last pitch, I'm excited to take it up a notch with this next one.

Ashton Stegman

As week 4 comes to an end, I am so pleased with how our first pitch went and the people I have been meeting that the start of our new project has been a little bittersweet. It has been so fun hearing what our next assignment entails and already begin thinking of new things to create. I look forward to continuing to meet more HLK people and seeing all of the amazing work that my fellow interns have done.

chapter three: pitch one is done!

Three weeks down and only three to go! Time flies when you’re having fun and we are officially complete with our first pitch. After weeks of research, collaboration, Zoom calls, Slack messages and a happy hour, we completed our first pitch! Each intern reflected on the questions below to wrap-up the project. 

  • What was your favorite part of the Ameren IL project?

  • What did you learn that will help with the upcoming assignment?

  • What did your pre-pitch pump up look like?

  • How did you feel after the pitch?

Bound answers:

Alexis Maragni 

  • With our first project, my favorite part was helping our collective brain child come to life! I love making cool designs, but it's even better when there's passion and purpose behind those designs.

  • This first project helped me to learn how to communicate and collaborate in this remote setting.

  • My pre-pitch pump up consisted of sweating profusely and putting on deodorant. Also, chatting with the girls beforehand definitely helped to set the tone.

  • After the pitch, I was elated and proud; elated because the words of affirmation were so unexpected yet appreciated and proud because each girl CRUSHED it. We all put our very best into this, so it felt very rewarding to have this project end on such a high note.

Lauren Harris 

  • My favorite part of our first project was seeing everyone settle into their roles and then bring such different skills to the table. It was so cool to see each person contribute something different and have it end up as such a great pitch in the end.

  • Oh I for sure learned what my role is and how to excel in it. At the beginning of our first project I think we were all a little like "soo what do we do?", but now I am much more confident and think that will make our second project even better.

  • Pre-pitch was a lot of practicing and nervousness, but mostly talking with my team about it helped settle my nerves!

  • SO good. I don't think any of us expected it to go as well as it did or get the amazing feedback we got so I was so so happy that we delivered a pitch that they thought was spot-on. It has made me even more excited for project two!!

 Bella Corona 

  • My favorite part of the project was seeing how the team ran with the creative brief ideas. The team created an in-depth content and media strategy as well as awesome creative work!

  • During the first project, I spent a lot of time getting comfortable in my role and understanding how a brand planner interacts with the team. And while I know that a new ask will require me to start that process over, I feel much more comfortable and ready for the next ask.

  • My pre-pitch pump up really just consisted of a lot of sweating and brushing my teeth.

  • I was absolutely blown away by the response to the pitch! I was so proud of myself and especially my team. After only knowing these ladies for three weeks, the way we were able to work as a team and create this project really gave me a sense of pride and confidence.

 Ashton Stegman 

  •  My favorite part of the Ameren IL project was seeing the strategy come alive through the content we created and being able to find a way to fit that in with the existing messaging.

  • I learned that great ideas come from working with a team and collaborating!

  • Pre-pitch me likes to listen to some relaxing music - The Head and the Heart "Let's Be Still" is my favorite song and a great way to calm down before absolutely anything.

  • I felt great after the pitch. It's like we successfully put together a difficult puzzle and now we have our spirits up for the start of the next one!

 Michelle Thai 

  • I enjoyed the challenge of adapting social media efforts as people are using it right now more than ever. It was fun trying to come up with new and unique ways to send our message.

  • I now have a better understanding of how our team works and how to organize the next assignment.

  • My pre-pitch pump up was listening to music and taking laps around my house.

  • I felt extremely proud of our team for how hard we worked for this project and how well we were able to present our ideas. It also felt great hearing all the amazing feedback from HLK!

 Abby Carpenter 

  • My favorite part about the project was taking all the information given to us, researching and breaking it down into deliverables. I loved seeing everyone shine in their position, taking on tasks and coming back together to see how each idea came to life. 

  • I learned that it is important to research to learn as much about the client as possible. The more we knew about Ameren IL, the better our ideas got. Also, I learned that it is important to communicate and hold yourself accountable for the work that needs to be completed. Especially working remotely, Slack and Google Hangout became our best friends to help us communicate and update the group. 

  • My pre-pitch pump up looked more like a calm down. I resisted the third cup of coffee to help calm my nerves and hopped on the Zoom call 15 minutes early to get some last-minute confidence from the other interns. 

  • I felt accomplished and proud after the pitch! We got amazing feedback and it was so rewarding to present all of our work and get a positive response. I also loved that Lauren immediately created a google hangout invite titled “What just happened” so we could debrief and celebrate as a team. 

chapter two: virtual happy hour

With this whole internship being remote, our HLK experience has consisted of countless Zoom meetings and Slack messages. After wrapping up our second week of the internship, we have decided to invite everyone to our virtual happy hour! For this blog, we will be reflecting on how this whole experience has been so far working from home.

Michelle Thai

I have had a blast working with all of the interns and the rest of the HLK team for the past few weeks. Everyone has been super helpful and have tried their best to make sure we are getting to most out of this experience. The interns are all knowledgeable in their field while being able to come together and collaborate with the rest of the team. I’m super excited for what else is in store with this internship and I’m grateful to have such an energetic and cunning team.

Bella Corona

Two weeks down and only four to go? This internship has already flown by so quickly with our first practice pitch today. It’s so exciting to be able to hone in my skills as a brand planner in such a nurturing environment. Jenny has been a guiding light with nothing but supportive and constructive advice, and it’s so wonderful to work on a team of intelligent and dedicated women. I can’t wait to see what else is in store!

Abby Carpenter

Cheers to our first practice pitch! Even though this remote internship is not what we originally expected, the first two weeks have been a great learning experience and introduction to HLK. I love "e-meeting" with the fellow interns and amazing mentors.

Alexis Maragni

Week two - check! Drinks - check! It's been a whirlwind of a week and my hands are sore from twiddling away at the computer for hours on end, but I've had the best time seeing our visions brought to life. Cheers to resting my t-rex hands over the weekend!!!

Lauren Harris

We made it through practice pitch 1 and week 2 of the HLK internship! I have been so happy with how easy it has been to connect with the team and even ending our week with a little happy hour. I'm pumped to give our first actual pitch and keep learning from our mentors (s/o Laura for my answering my endless questions).

Ashton Stegman

The remote experience has been great so far, I can't complain with being able to have my dog sit on my lap during meetings (our no. 1 hype man, keeping morale high). The mentors have been great - shoutout to Jessy for being super helpful and making this remote experience as beneficial as possible.

So long Launchpad, thanks for a fun ride.

Our time at launchpad this summer has come to an end (I’m not crying, you’re crying.) For our send off this week, the interns reflected on their time here at launchpad. They answered the following questions:

  • What is the biggest thing you’ve learned in launchpad?

  • Advice for future launchpaders? 

  • Next steps following launchpad?

  • What has been your favorite beginning of the day pump up song and why? (Each day one of the interns chose a song to play for the group.)

  • Best memory of Launchpad?


Olivia - Account Director

The biggest thing I’ve learned in launchpad is how to work with others and work under a time crunch! Since we’re all in this room, it’s been important to work with each other so that we succeed. We’ve felt a big time crunch throughout the entire internship but it’s been great! I’ve learned how to work in a fast paced environment and I’m really grateful that I experienced this in an agency setting. My advice for future launchpaders is to keep an open mind with anything. You will learn from everyone you work with and some creative ideas are super out there but those are also the most enjoyable. My next step following launchpad is going to college for my last year in Ohio at Denison University!

I’d have to say my favorite pump up song was Natalie’s “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride”. It was awesome because it was the end of the day and we were all jamming - ever since then we’ve played a song every morning! The best memory of Launchpad was easily our first final pitch. We all felt great with the work that we had created, and it was such an amazing feeling when we presented in front of employees from the agency and received amazing feedback.

Natalie - Content Strategist

These six weeks really flew by. I think the biggest thing I’ve learned in launchpad is how much strategy needs to go behind campaigns. The “why” behind everything is so important. That initial research and strategy set up is essential for having good creative and content. My advice for future launchpaders would be make sure you are ready to work. This internship is unlike any other I have had, and the fast-paced environment really allows you to challenge yourself. The work you are doing is for real clients, and the experience you gain will be invaluable. 

This fall I will be continuing my education at Mizzou taking strategic communication classes in the journalism school. In the spring, I will most likely be studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain. Next summer, I would love to do another internship somewhere in a different city like San Diego, San Francisco, or Austin. My favorite beginning of the day pump up song would probably be one that I chose. Hawaiian Rollercoaster ride from Lilo and Stitch was a great song to start the day with because it makes you feel like you are on vacation and brings you the good vibes you need to start your day. 

My best memory from launchpad would probably be going shopping with Olivia, Conner, and Tony at the container store and Pier-1. Also, another favorite memory is when Conner beatboxed and Tony and I rapped part of our presentation for fun for our mentors. I’ve loved getting to know the other interns, and I know I’ll stay in touch with them after this internship. 

Lastly, I also loved getting to know my mentor Sarah and learn so much from her! She has been so helpful and such a good confidant. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Here at HLK there are so many friendly and talented workers. It’s been a pleasure getting to know the people who work here and our mentors. 

So long Launchpad, thanks for a fun ride.

Tony Harper - Art Director

The biggest thing that I have learned from my time here at HLK is how to manage my time wisely and meet very short deadlines. This project and six weeks moved so fast, learning how to manage my time to meet the strict deadlines taught me a lot about my work ethic and how to better, quicker and more reliable for the rest of my team. My advice for future launchpaders would be to just have fun with the projects. Many times my team was caught up in the logistics and deadline of the campaigns, causing us to lose sight of what we were really here for and learning on a daily basis.

At the beginning of each day, courtesy of John, we start with a pump up song. Thus far, my favorite song to start the day has been Goodie Bag which was featured on the very last day of our internship. My absolute favorite part of this internship was the little moments each week where everyone broke out into complete laughter. We all really meshed as a group, and I will not only take away career experiences from this but 5 new friends.

Conner Mayheu - Media Strategist

The biggest thing I have learned in launchpad was how to work well with others as well as learning about all the different components of media. Learning how to reach people in the media space was so entertaining and learning from vendors on how the media landscape is changing daily. The advice I would give to future interns is to just have fun. You are going to learn so much in this internship and take the time to learn as much as you can while having fun with the people around you. It is going to be stressful and there will be challenging times but it is easy to work through it and put forward a product that you are proud of. My next step is to go back to school to finish up my masters in public relations and advertising. I am excited to go back down south for one last year with my friends and then going on the job hunt for my future. 

John’s pump up song “It’s going to be a good day” before the first pitch was my favorite pump up song. I had not heard the song in so long and it put me in the best mood going into the presentation, and we ultimately killed that whole presentation. My favorite memory was the daily banter with John and Tony as I think of them as close friends now. Every day I would send them puns and they would give me so much flack for it, and I love that they would laugh or just stare at me. Using puns was my way of showing my personality, and it was fun getting to know all of my colleagues. 

John - Copywriter

The biggest thing I’ve learned is not to get too attached to what you write, because you’ll rewrite it 6,213 times. My advice to future Launchpaders is to learn as much as you can from your mentors. They’re all incredibly talented and knowledgeable. Also, network as much as you can. Currently I’m freelancing at HLK for another week or so, then we’ll see where the winds of copy take me. 

My favorite morning pump-up song was First Date by Blink-182. My favorite Launchpad memory is all the laughing. I know, It sounds corny. But when you’re trapped in the intern fishbowl all day you get pretty slap-happy.

Jenna - Brand Planner

The biggest thing I’ve learned is working with a very diverse group of people. We are all so different (in the best way) and it’s really great to see our ideas come together as a group. I definitely advise that future launchpaders get ready to work hard and eat a lot of snacks. I’ve really enjoyed my time at HLK and I hope to be back soon. I have 6 weeks left of summer so I am taking an anthropology class before I head back to school at the University of Oregon in Eugene, OR. 

My favorite was when we listened to Lil Nas X. It  wasn’t the pump up song of the day but it was really funny to dance midday to Old Town Road. I wonder what the people walking by think when they see us jamming out at 9am. My favorite memory was going to Crazy Bowls and Wraps our second week. It was really great to take a step back from the office and get to know each other more.







National Intern Day (& pitch day).

Happy National Intern Day! Where would we be without young interns who fetch coffee, make copies, and tackle mindless work. Fortunately, at the Launchpad Internship you won’t have to worry about any of that. For the past three weeks, we have been putting in real work for one of HLK’s real clients. We’ve gained an immense amount of knowledge and feedback from our mentors. While creating an integrated marketing launch campaign for a new brand, the greatest skill that has progressed thus far is working together as a team. With that being said, today we had our first official pitch. We were very happy with the execution and received many informed, considerate comments. On Monday, we will hit the ground running for our second project. Til then, happy weekend!


post pitch huddle/hug circle.

post pitch huddle/hug circle.

Final Pitch, Here We Come

Today we finished our first practice pitch (YAY!). The pitch went well, and we received really positive, constructive feedback from our mentors. We’ve been working very hard so far, but our work isn’t done yet. Even so, we know we’ll get the job done because anything is paw-sible with team Principia. For the next week, we are going to polish our pitch. As for what we have been doing, I can’t share specific details with you. But let me just say, we can’t wait to make it absolutely purrrfect.

On the blog today, it felt fitting to share not only our first impressions of HLK, but our spirit pets.


Tony - Weinmerer

Tony - Weinmerer

I am really excited after the feedback we received today! We got really constructive comments that are going to help in bringing our campaign to life. It’s going to be interesting seeing how the team adapts and changes to better ourselves. One thing that I have noticed about HLK in my two weeks so far is that everyone has a very unique vocabulary set. There is never a loss for words here haha. If I had to choose a spirit animal I would be a weimaraner, because of my unique eyes and weird attitude. 

Natalie - Golden Retriever

Natalie - Golden Retriever

I think our team did a good job for our practice pitch. We received a lot of positive and helpful feedback. I know we are on the right track, and I’m excited to see the finished product that we pitch to our client. One thing I have noticed about HLK in this first two weeks is that HLKer’s love to use the word “granular”. There’s also lots of dogs wagging around the office which is AMAZING. My spirit pet is definitely a blonde golden retriever puppy. Here’s why - all I need in life is love, running and playing outside, snuggling, and sleeping.

Olivia - Cat

Olivia - Cat

Our pitch went pretty well! Definitely better than we had originally thought. It was essential that we got all the feedback, and now it’s finally starting to come together and seem like we’re doing something right. We will still have plenty of work to do this week! HLK has a very special and different culture than I haven’t seen anywhere else. It is obvious that this company works as a team, and I have never felt uncomfortable once while being here - everyone is so willing to help! As the only one in this intern group that likes cats and has one that I adore, I felt the need to highlight one! So fluffy!

Jenna - Goldendoodle

Jenna - Goldendoodle

I feel like our pitch went well. We did a great job with such a short turnaround (especially Tony with the amazing art) and I can’t wait for the real pitch next week. Since coming to HLK, I have noticed how few gluten free snacks there are. I have gotten closer with so many of the dogs (and also with the team). If I had to choose one pet to describe me, it would be this cute puppy.

Conner - Panda

Conner - Panda

I am really happy with where our group is at after our first practice pitch. There is definitely still work that needs to be done and the feedback we received is going to set us on the right path. I am truly excited to see where we take this project and present it to the client. I think that HLK acts as a family as I saw in the staff meeting yesterday. When someone would ask a question the name was known of the person asking the question which is remarkable in an agency as big as this. I also noticed that HLK will revolt if there are no longer snacks available. I am also happy that when I have asked questions to people who are not my mentor that they have been receptive and helpful with my questions. I would choose a panda because they are fun and lovable and are out there to live their best life.

John - “Teddy” The Goldendoodle

John - “Teddy” The Goldendoodle

The practice pitch went really well! We received some excellent feedback on how we can improve what we’ve already done and suggestions of things we hadn’t thought of. Really looking forward to hitting a home run next Thursday with our new and improved pitch. After my first two weeks at HLK, what stands out to me most is the collaboration. I frequently see people from different areas working together and it’s really inspiring. While this dog is far more handsome than I, he’s still my spirit animal. Teddy has the life I dream of: napping 20 hours a day, barking at the mailman and eating off of other people's plates - you know, the fun stuff.