Internships and apprenticeships are a time-honored rite of passage in many industries. We’ve asked some brilliant folks to share some of the most important lessons they learned during these early experiences in their career.

Carlie Lara

I had the privilege to be an intern and also study abroad in Spain this summer. For the internship, I worked with a local vegan restaurant, La Vegana, as a consultant to help them optimize their business practices through effective marketing to increase their visibility to tourists and locals alike. I enhanced their presence on platforms like Trip Advisor, Google, Happy Cow, and Instagram, and also launched the business on Yelp. Read more>>

Dr. Gopi Shah, Dr. Ashley Agan

Dr. Gopi Shah: After almost two years of co-hosting a medical podcast, I have realized that there is a no such thing as a dumb question. Our podcast has been a space for me to find my own voice and bring authenticity to the BackTable community. I am less nervous about interviewing and recording myself now. Read more>>

Carla Pressley

I’ve started my career as a hair and makeup artist first in the salon. I swept the floors and stayed all day and night practicing on my mannequin. Senior artists noticed my drive and took me under their wing and while I was attending cosmetology school, and an apprenticeship program I began assisting a now celebrity hair stylist. I eventually went to New York to continue assisting from the DC/VA area. Read more>>