Reimagining the Internship Experience
Novelly’s first college internship program was built to share power, spark growth, and support student leadership.
As Operations Manager at Novelly, I launched the organization’s first-ever college internship program—a remote-first, equity-centered initiative designed to give students hands-on leadership experience across marketing, product, and program development.
From the start, my goal was to build more than just an internship—I wanted to create an environment where students could grow as professionals, contribute meaningfully, and be treated as emerging leaders. For a full academic year, I managed a cohort of nine paid college interns, each with their own title, project scope, and timeline.
The program emphasized flexible scheduling, 1:1 mentorship, project ownership, and power-sharing practices. Interns helped shape their roles, participated in team retreats, and contributed to the development of our Culture Handbook. We also implemented self-assessments, ongoing feedback loops, and monthly career coaching to support long-term growth.
By the end of the program, interns had launched new digital campaigns, designed curriculum materials, and co-led strategic initiatives. Many left saying they felt more confident, more capable—and no longer afraid to tackle unfamiliar challenges. That’s exactly the kind of transformation this program was built for.
Forget Coffee Runs—
Do This Instead
Share power
When young people are invited to meaningfully contribute—not just observe—they rise to the occasion. According to research by Hello Insight, power-sharing helps clarify and improve a program’s mission while also building problem-solving skills, communication, and critical consciousness. At Novelly, inviting interns into real decision-making created a more thoughtful, motivated, and collaborative team.
Stay flexible
Ambitious students are often balancing school, jobs, and extracurriculars. Rigid schedules can be a barrier to participation, especially for students from historically excluded backgrounds. In fact, the National Survey of College Internships found that 67.3% of students who wanted an internship couldn’t take one due to logistical obstacles. Flexible, remote-first programs can increase access while still delivering high-impact experiences.
Set clear expectations
Structure doesn’t stifle creativity—it supports it. Each Novelly intern received a detailed project timeline that outlined deliverables, meetings, and milestones for the semester, with accommodations for exams, vacations, and life stressors. When you build around the reality of a student’s schedule, you don’t just make the work easier—you make the intern more likely to succeed.