This National Intern Day, we’re celebrating the bright, young minds who infuse Zeno with smarts, unique perspectives, curiosity, and boundless energy. With five generations coexisting in the workplace, we find ourselves in a golden age—a fertile ground for the exchange of knowledge and ideas that elevate our work to new heights. 

Recently, we sat down with some of our newly minted Zenoids, who generously shared their experiences—the highs (roses), the challenges (thorns), and the budding ideas for the future that sprouted during their internship journey. Check out what they have to say.

Jack Aaron - Sports & Entertainment, Chicago:

Rose: What’s your internship highlight so far? The highlight of my internship has been the opportunity to work closely on Sports and Entertainment brand deals with talent that I grew up following. Also, securing media placements from outlets like Esquire, Gear Junkie, People Magazine and more!

Thorn: What’s been a challenge? Adjusting to the quick workflow was difficult at first, but I quickly adapted as I got into the swing of things.

Bud: What are you looking forward to in your career? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?  I look forward to a point in my career where I can sit back and be proud of what I’ve accomplished. In 10 years, I see myself somewhere within the sports industry.

Pooja Kantemneni - Analytics, Chicago:

Rose: Getting to work on a really cool ad hoc project where I learned about influencer mapping. It was a new, interesting subject for me.

Thorn: It was a little tough to get comfortable filtering my Boolean searches with online tools, but I feel more comfortable after a lot of practice (and questions)! 

Bud: I’d love to stay in PR and gain more experience in analytics! I want to keep adding skills to my tool belt. I also want to work with companies in different industries, like sports and healthcare.

Olivia DeVries - Consumer, Chicago:

Rose: Believe it or not, I love working in the office. It’s extremely lively and provides a safe space for employees, new or experienced, to thrive. Plus, the Chicago views, of course.

Thorn: I think the hardest part of working at a larger agency is time management. There is always something to do on at least one account, so prioritizing hot items and being honest with myself about what I can realistically get done has been my biggest challenge so far. 

Bud: I am slated to move to Chicago full-time next year, so I am excited to continue establishing myself in the city and the PR world. In 10 years, I don’t know where I will be, but I hope I am still happy and doing what I love!

Raven Young - Consumer, Chicago:

Rose: So far, the standout experience of my Zeno internship has been meeting a diverse range of people from different offices. I am grateful for every connection I've made; their warmth has truly made my time at Zeno welcoming and enriching.

Thorn: The toughest challenge I've faced during my internship has been learning to balance my workload effectively while remaining open to new opportunities that come my way. It's been a valuable learning experience to prioritize tasks and projects while also staying curious and eager to take on new challenges. This balance has pushed me to refine my time management skills and adaptability, ultimately contributing to my professional growth.

Bud: I'm excited about collaborating with diverse clients and expanding my knowledge of the media landscape and technological advancements. Over the next decade, I envision myself progressing to a Vice President role specializing in Multicultural initiatives at Zeno.

Francesca Giani - Corporate Affairs, New York:

Rose: Client days are always fun and office events to talk to everybody (England vs The Netherlands watch party was my personal favorite).

Thorn: Juggling different tasks for different accounts quickly, I’m getting better at it.

Bud: I'd love to become a point of reference for other people in my industry and inspiring people around me. In 10 years, I see myself in a leadership role in this industry. 

Juweria Jilani - Research & Insights, Washington DC:

Rose: A highlight for me has been working with diverse clients and contributing to the research for their potential campaigns and IPs.

Thorn: As an international student, this is my first job in the US. Adapting to the different work culture and communication style was initially challenging, but my team at Zeno has been incredibly supportive, which has made settling in very easy for me.

Bud: I am eager to gain extensive experience in PR, Marketing and Analytics. In the next 10 years, my ambition is to build a thriving community of female marketers and offer training in digital marketing and analytics. Throughout this journey, one constant will be 'learning' new skills and tools to navigate this dynamic industry!

Zianna Razon -  Consumer, Los Angeles:

Rose: Celebrating the Zeno New Fiscal Year at the LA office was such a fun experience! I loved hearing from our CEO and all the different Zeno spokespeople from around the world. It gave me a great perspective on what it means to work at a global PR agency and left me feeling inspired. Moments like these make me so happy to work in PR.

Thorn: The toughest challenge I've faced during my internship was during Amazon Prime Day where my team and I compiled a coverage report of 750+ media placements for a client while simultaneously conducting outreach to drive increased site visits. While it was a heavy lift, the results made me proud of my work. I even landed the client a few news hits with Glamour, Refinery 29 and BuzzFeed in the process.

Bud: I'm looking forward to exploring more industries within PR, as well as the experience of working in-house for a brand. In 10 years, I hope to have an amazing track record of client work, work internationally, and maybe even start my own practice. 

The leaders of tomorrow are today’s interns. We thank our interns, grateful for their hard work and many contributions to Zeno.   

Happy National Intern Day!