Navigant Consulting – Reflecting on the end of my internship – Adam McDonald

My internship with Navigant was an incredible experience that would not have been possible without my Lawrence education. Working as a consultant required critical and quick thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to communicate effectively. Every course at Lawrence, as well as extracurriculars, have helped to hone my communication skills while my focus in Economics as well as the I-E program helped develop my analytical and critical thinking skills.

Although my declared major at Lawrence has not changed since the day I arrived freshman year, my particular career interest has changed continuously. I have always been interested in business but my specific interest has shifted to touch many areas including Marketing, Finance, Public Economics, International Trade, Data Analysis, etc. Each experience or internship I have had gradually shaped my focus by eliminating items that turned out to be something not for me or reaffirming my interest in other areas. I am ecstatic that my summer internship at Navigant has done nothing but reaffirm my interest in consulting and data analysis. Going into my senior year, I am confident this is the career path I want to follow and I plan on working with my advisor as well as other professors and alumni to pursue this path and set myself up for a successful life after Lawrence.

Weill Music Institute – Reflecting on the end of my internship – Daniel Bernstein

I just wrapped up my summer internship at the Weill Music Institute, and not surprisingly, it was very hard for me to say goodbye. On my last day in the office, my coworkers threw me a celebration picnic in Central Park (not a bad way to bid farewell!), and the rest of my day was filled with hugs, goodbyes, and attempting to sneak in a few more final projects before I left. As I packed up and left the office that night, I couldn’t help but realize how much I had grown and changed because of this incredible experience. I entered this experience with a strong passion for helping people to create or enhance their connection to music, but not very much practical knowledge of how to turn this vision into a reality. Now, after spending an entire summer learning from people who work towards this mission every day, in so many different forms and capacities, I can honestly say that this has been the most inspiring and transformative learning experience of my life so far. It would take hours for me to recount everything I have learned from my amazing colleagues at the Weill Music Institute and Carnegie Hall, but there is one central lesson that they have imparted on me this summer: the most fundamental step in making a difference in the world is deep, meaningful inquiry and a commitment to asking the important questions. The Weill Music Institute has become what it is today through this dedication to asking the important questions—especially the question of “How can music make a meaningful difference in people’s lives?”—and this constant commitment to excellence makes WMI and Carnegie Hall a truly inspiring place to work. Continue reading Weill Music Institute – Reflecting on the end of my internship – Daniel Bernstein

Lyric Opera – Reflecting on the end of my internship – Margaret McNeal

I came into this internship through my administration and production experience gained by devising and producing my own multi-media performance piece as my senior project; this project made me an excellent candidate to support the Lyric in their recent initiative to re-brand and expand audiences through a series of multi-media and multi-genre events. While at the Lyric, I’ve gained insight into the work involved in film producing, as well as the muscle it takes to pull off large-scale project initiatives. Working with the Lyric has given me much to consider in terms of workplace, size of organization, and the pros and cons of various employment situations: I am grateful to have had this opportunity to reflect on what I value. Most importantly, I’ve made two notable relationships with mentors during my interim here: I’ve learned closely from the Lyric Unlimited Producer and the Lyric Opera’s Deputy Artistic Director—both have been extraordinarily generous with their insight and time. Through these mentorships, I feel especially equipped to pave my own way pursuing my interests in multi-media, collaborative, devised performance works; I am excited to shape my future and see what the knowledge and experience I’ve accumulated during this internship and my wonderful time at Lawrence will yield.

Weill Music Institute – Connecting my internship to academics – Daniel Bernstein

I’ve actually been surprised at how many of my Lawrence-developed skills and ideas I use each day at the Weill Music Institute. The inclusive and forward-thinking philosophy of the Conservatory is what inspired me to pursue this internship in the first place – as conservatory students at Lawrence, we are constantly encouraged to think deeply about our responsibility to our audience and to break down the traditional barriers of the Western musical experience. This innovative mindset really forms the core of the Weill Music Institute’s mission and the meaningful, impactful work I am so lucky to take part in each day. Every project and conversation I have been a part of at WMI has centered around the fundamental questions of “How can music make a meaningful difference in people’s lives?” and, more specifically, “How can this program be improved and strengthened in order for it to have a deeper, more positive impact on people’s lives?” A few weeks ago, I had a very inspiring conversation with the Director of the Weill Music Institute, Sarah Johnson, who related the mission of WMI to the mindset of meaningful musical practicing. She said that working on the Weill Music Institute’s programs is like practicing an instrument – you constantly have to refine your craft and push for greater accuracy, effectiveness, impact, and quality. It’s no wonder that the staff of WMI and Carnegie Hall includes so many musicians and artists, who know what it feels like to be on both sides of meaningful artistic experiences! Continue reading Weill Music Institute – Connecting my internship to academics – Daniel Bernstein

Navigant Consulting – My first month – Adam McDonald

The first month of my internship with Navigant Consulting was packed with quick orientation within the company followed by quick orientation within the project I was assigned to. The goal was to get me caught up to speed as quickly as possible so I could begin bringing value to the project. Navigant has been a great resource in providing me with an authentic consulting experience. During my internship, I travel four days a week, Monday through Thursday, and communicate directly with the client in meetings and discussions to further the project. The majority of my work is in data analysis for the client in a variety of areas to assess their financial status, as well as locate opportunities for growth and improvement within the client’s organization.
Continue reading Navigant Consulting – My first month – Adam McDonald

Lyric Opera – Connecting my internship to academics – Margaret McNeal

While a voice student at Lawrence, I spent a great deal of time both in the classroom and in performance thinking about opera as an art form: the possibilities afforded to it by the coming together of many disciplines, the myth-making of opera, its potential to spark meaningful dialogue, its often problematic roots in cultural stereotyping and gross mistreatment of minorities, its status as the pinnacle of Western cultural achievement. I came into this internship with very strong feelings about opera—feelings that I largely still hold—and it has therefore been very useful and enlightening to take these conversations out of an academic setting and attempt to find voice for them in the real world, a world beholden to many different interests (artistic, the board, donors, audiences, etc.). As someone hopeful to incite change, it is incredibly useful to get a sense of the real-world obstacles we face when trying to translate idealistic visions into action. I am grateful to gain this insight into how an arts organization functions and to get a sense of how change might happen. Additionally, I’ve been fortunate to find a mentor here who is helping me figure out what direction I want to go in with my art/life/career: as a senior, I embarked on a large-scale production/commissioning/performance project; it is really empowering for me to meet and be mentored by a staff member at the Lyric who is an artistic director/producer; once again, I’m able to continue growing my interests at Lawrence in the radically different, thought-provoking “real world.” Very excited to see where this will lead!