Overall Successes
The part of my internship I have enjoyed most so far is my two trips on the boat. Talking with clients and the staff, and picking up knowledge about the local area along the way, was the highlight of my time at Vervece. It showed me what the business looks like in action, which makes the research I do at my desk feel more connected to the real work.
I have also built several skills. I have learned how to evaluate and prioritize potential partners, and how much care goes into a professional first impression. I have become much more efficient at combing through websites, search results, and Google Maps to find the data I need to judge whether a partnership is viable. I have also learned to manage a large amount of information by building a database of roughly 80 entries in Excel. I used AI tools like Claude to help organize and format that data, and I reviewed the results myself to make sure they were accurate. Learning to use an AI tool in conjunction with Excel, while still relying on my own judgment, has been a useful skill in itself.
Challenges
The biggest challenge I have faced is the repetitiveness of the work. Compiling a database of about 80 entries means repeating the same steps over and over, and it is easy to lose focus. I have already overcome part of this by creating a process that keeps me on track, which involves working in batches of entries. For the second half of the semester, I plan to apply that same approach to any repetitive task by breaking it into smaller blocks and spot-checking my entries so that quality does not slip as I get tired.
My other challenge was collecting photos and video on the boat for this site after I broke my phone camera. I solved that by getting a regular camera. Going forward, I plan to go into each trip with a couple items of content I want to capture, so that my e-portfolio visually reflects the work I am doing with Vervece.
Cultural Differences and Adaptation
Working in an international setting has influenced how I think about professionalism. I came in assuming that it meant strict schedules and visible supervision. Here, I have seen that it can be built just as well on trust and results.
The biggest cultural differences I have noticed are in my commute and in the office. I had never used a public bus before this program, and I now take the bus to the office every day. Some days it is a struggle to catch a bus, work out whether the schedule is running early or late, and figure out which station to use. I have adapted well. Being on a bus does not bother me, but it adds a part of my morning that needs active attention.
The office itself is also very relaxed. There is no strict dress code, people eat when they need or want to, and employees are trusted to manage their own time and work independently. Flexibility extends to things like bus delays, which are understood rather than penalized. This was a big change from a US workplace, where even minor issues can come with some form of repercussion, and honestly it has been a breath of fresh air. Because I’m trusted to work independently, I have adapted by setting daily goals for what I want to get done, so I can manage my time effectively and produce consistent results.
Goals
I have three goals for the second half of the semester. The first is to move from research to outreach. I have wrapped up my database project and do not have a new one yet, so the logical next step is to either contact the companies on my list or help Vervece manage that outreach. To get there, I will talk with my supervisor about the best approach and track responses in my spreadsheet.
The second goal is to build my professional business-to-business communication skills, especially in digital communication. I want to get better at writing clear, professional messages and holding conversations with potential partners. I plan to do this by drafting, asking for feedback, revising, and following up consistently. My third, and minor goal, is to collect strong content for my e-portfolio. I will use my new camera on my remaining boat days to document my work for this site.
Achieving these goals would leave me with real experience in partnership evaluation, outreach, and professional communication. These are core skills in business development, consulting, and finance, and they will benefit any career built on creating and maintaining client or partner relationships.