Notes from the Field: Simone D'Luna '16

Rockefeller Center-funded interns reflect on their experiences as part of our Notes from the Field series. The Rockefeller Center helps students find, fund, and prepare for a leave-term internship experience in public policy research, public policy analysis, issue evaluation, or activities which help shape and determine public policy.

Student Intern: Simone D'Luna '16

Internship Organization:
Net Impact

How would you describe your employer in one paragraph? What’s the elevator pitch?
Net Impact is a nonprofit organization that aims to inspire a new generation of leaders to enact social and environmental change in the workplace and beyond. It is a chapter-based organization with over 300 chapters of students and young professionals worldwide. These chapters hold events and programs varying from pro bono consulting for nonprofits to sustainability initiatives and networking events. Net Impact also holds an annual conference and provides its members with resources to connect them with "impact" careers and opportunities.

What are your specific responsibilities in the organization?
I assist with outreach and support for Net Impact's chapters. The projects I've been working on so far include developing a strategy for online support, restructuring the distribution and communication of resources, and analyzing similar organizations.

What is your favorite part of the internship so far?
It's been fascinating to see the inner workings of a small company and how all the components come together to tackle ambitious goals. Inspiring a new generation to be impactful through their careers seemed like an abstract concept until I started work, so I've enjoyed seeing the metrics Net Impact uses to quantify their progress. I love the passionate energy inside the office as well. It's wonderful to stumble into casual conversations about corporate social responsibility or B Corps and to witness my colleagues' faith and dedication to the possibility of creating a better future.

What challenges have you faced so far?
At first, I was uncertain how my projects with Net Impact would relate to my overall career aspirations and whether I would be able to develop the skills I wanted through this internship. Early on, I was able to sit down with my supervisor to discuss my goals, and together we decided which projects would provide relevant experiences and opportunities to grow. She also directed me to others who have experience with fields I am interested in.

Broadly speaking, what do you hope to achieve by the end of your internship?
I hope to learn more about the ways I can be impactful through my career. I'm also looking forward to seeing concrete results from my projects, as most of them have yet to be fully rolled out. Using metrics to quantify and evaluate the success of projects is especially satisfying for me, and I hope to learn more about the analysis of such results while I'm here. I would like to hone some of the professional skills I've begun to develop and come away with a bit more intentionality about pursuing a career. I have already learned so much from the professional office culture, the environment of a small company, and the vigor of my colleagues.