That Intern Life: Ava’s Take, Weeks 1 and 2

Internship Week 1 & 2: A People-First Welcome

Hi! I’m Ava—a student at the University of Michigan with a passion for storytelling, creative strategy, and meaningful connection. Outside of my studies, I run a culinary travel blog called tulipsandtangerines.com, where I share favorite places and personal reflections.

This summer, I’m interning at REGROUP—a woman-owned, full-service marketing agency known for its people-first culture and bold creative work. My focus is on engagement and growth, and I’m here to contribute wherever I can while getting hands-on experience in the world of advertising and marketing.

As part of my internship, I’m writing a four-part blog series to document what I learn and experience along the way. This is the first installment—covering my first two weeks from onboarding to real-world exposure.

Getting Started: A People-First Welcome

From day one, it was clear that REGROUP’s people-first mindset isn’t just a tagline—it shows up in every conversation, meeting, and interaction. The team took time to learn about my goals and shaped the internship to match them. It felt intentional, personal, and incredibly welcoming.

Together, we established my goals for the summer:

• Write this four-part blog series
  
  
• Identify and connect with a prospective REGROUP client
  
  
• Help plan and execute a networking event
  
  
• Complete HubSpot Sales Hub Certification and audit REGROUP’s CRM setup

Thanks to a thoughtful onboarding process, my transition into REGROUP was seamless. Julie Kapnick, VP of Operations (and one of the coolest people I’ve met), ensured I was well-prepared and confident from day one. And meeting REGROUP Founder Jan Mulheman gave me insight into the agency’s evolution—another reminder of the strong vision and values that shape this place.

Business Highlights & Learning Moments

By day two, I was already attending a networking event: Advocacy for Action in Detroit, hosted by People First Economy. The event brought together local changemakers and community leaders focused on environmental and social impact. REGROUP proudly sponsored the event as part of its commitment to being a Certified B Corp and using business as a force for good.

This was eye-opening for me. It was incredible to connect with entrepreneurs and organizations—from mobile laundry services to generational support businesses—who are actively working to uplift their environments.

I was moved by the energy in the room—and inspired by keynote speaker Carla Walker-Miller, who spoke about doing things with fear instead of waiting for the perfect moment. That message stuck with me.

Hubspot & CRM Learning

Before REGROUP, I did not know about marketing automation and customer relationship management with tools like Hubspot. Now, I am HubSpot Sales Hub Software Certified!

So far, I have learned how to generate and manage leads, organize and create contacts, complete daily tasks with the prospecting tool, utilize workflow to identify leads and create chat boxes, generate sales emails and calls, and lastly use snippets, sequences, and AI assistant to formulate efficient and professional conversations with clients. This has given me a real appreciation for the sales and business development process.

Sourdough & Small Moments

I mentioned to Jan that I’d been wanting to get into baking sourdough bread—just a passing comment during a conversation. Without hesitation, she said she had a starter at home and would be happy to share. A few days later, I walked into the office to find a thoughtful gift waiting on my desk: sourdough baskets, a fresh starter, and a cookbook full of recipes. Jan even took the time to stop by, walk me through some of her own tips, and lend me her favorite bread book so I could copy down a few of her tried-and-true recipes. It was such a generous and unexpected gesture—and it really stayed with me. It wasn’t just about the bread—it was a reminder of the kind of care and connection that exists on this team.

Marketing Exposure & Finding My Path

One of the most refreshing parts of this experience has been the encouragement to explore. When people asked what area of marketing I was most drawn to, I realized I’m not sure yet. And honestly, that’s the exciting part.

I’ve had the opportunity to meet with the media, creative, tech, strategy, operations, and finance teams, learning how each contributes to the agency’s success. The common thread? Everyone I’ve met is not only passionate about what they do, but genuinely welcoming and enthusiastic. That kind of energy is contagious—and I believe it plays a huge role in REGROUP’s culture and success.

If I had to sum it all up in one word, it would be: fun. You can tell people here enjoy what they do, and that enjoyment shows in every interaction.

While I’m still exploring, strategy has stood out to me the most—particularly the blend of understanding consumer behavior and creative problem-solving. I’m excited to see how my interests continue to evolve as I learn and grow with REGROUP in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned for what’s next!