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Student Spotlights

Sarah Mikesell: Experience Design & Management

Sarah interned as an executive assistant at Convio Ventures during Winter Semester 2022.

The Convoi Ventures Dream Team! - Back row: Reuben Holdaway (analyst), Trent Mano (co-founder), Scott Paul (co-founder) Front row: Sarah Mikesell (executive assistant), Nicole Utley (events manager)

Describe a day in your life as an intern.

A typical day included answering emails, onboarding clients into our software, gathering and organizing information, answering client's questions, updates and communication with my boss, and planning for the next monthly networking event.

What industry/job specific skills did you learn?

Event Design, Event Production, Customer Service, Communications, AngelList (software) processes, and everything venture capital

What are three things that you learned from this experience that could be applied to other settings?

Good Judgment: I focused on prioritizing the right things without having to be told. Taking things to the next step and being proactive to quickly get to the point where I know what needs to be done to be most beneficial to the team.

Creativity: I took ownership over projects and run with them to see how far we could push our ideas and create something interesting and valuable. I brought solutions to the table to push our thinking and imagination around processes, projects, and organization.

Get good at making mistakes and asking questions: I practiced curiosity by asking questions everyday and finding opportunities to problem solve. I spend active time finding answers to what I did not know, and asking good questions without fear to push my abilities and increase knowledge. It is essential to quality growth for both you and your employer for you to be asking questions constantly and getting comfortable making mistakes. This will help you learn so fast and really build your skills.

What was your favorite part of your internship?

The opportunity to build real relationships with clients. My genuine relationship with them helped me stretch my abilities to best care for and offer them value.

How did this experience affect your future goals?

Before I started I knew nothing about the venture capital industry. Now, I am working and experienced in an industry I never saw myself in and loving it! My love for startups and tech companies has grown along with my excitement and opportunities for the future.

How did you get your internship?

My first job with my employer was posted in an EXDM Microsoft teams chat created to share job opportunities. After joining my employers team over the summer, he asked me in the fall to join his new team in creation of this venture fund.

How did this experience contribute to your growth? I

have grown in my abilities to believe in myself and the work I am capable of doing. Hard work and willingness to be excited about learning gives me the edge to confidently enter any field or workplace. I am grateful for the community and network I have joined who support me and can help me as I strive toward my goals.

Our team after a successful Extreme Easter Egg Hunt Event put on for investors and founders to network and build community. (Scott Paul, Sarah Mikesell, Trent Mano, Nicole Utley)