Past Internships Experiences
Our intention is that our interns complete their internship with a new found confidence and belief in their abilities. Our aim is always to empower.
Charlene
Accounts Clerk Intern (2019)
When did you start?
11 March 2019
What has been your greatest learning experience?
To overcome the fear I had within me, as I think working is the most difficult stage in life. Being surrounded by new people in a new workplace was a big challenge.
What have you learnt about yourself?
I learned how to work with team members, to be productive, detail-oriented and to think ahead about what should be done next.
How do you think you have grown?
I have become more confident in my work, I believe in myself more and I have learnt to focus on my work.
How do you think you have changed?
My internship has taught me that having a job boosts my self-esteem and self-worth, it makes me a more confident and well-rounded individual. My internship has been an essential component of both my personal and professional growth.
What have you learnt so far?
I have learnt that working in a team of diverse individuals in terms of age, experience and knowledge significantly alter my perceptions and allow me to see things differently. This has accelerated my maturity and will stand me in good stead for future employment but also greatly benefit my studies.
So far I have learned a lot compare to when I started, mostly about what we do at Brand Innovation, especially when it comes to marketing, you need to know every single detail relating to the product in order to give the right information to clients, how to treat clients and how to make them happy with our products. It has been a great advantage for me to learn all these things by having a more balanced viewpoint and starting to see the world outside my own education and my personal development will advance rapidly.
Have you been given one-on-one training?
Yes, I have received one-on-one training which has really helped my transition into the company and eased me into the work with self-belief and motivation.
Harriet
Account Executive Intern (2018)
“During my internship at Brand Innovation I have learnt many valuable lessons and tools to help prepare me for the future. The opportunity has presented me with a new skill set which can be applied throughout the world and certain skills can be transferred to other career paths.
Personally, I believe the most valuable tool I have learnt is time management and the importance of organisation in order to reach all goals set and at a high standard.
Brand Innovation is very much a team orientated business, so the importance of team work and delegation, in order to achieve, is also an extremely valuable lesson.
I was able to learn a great deal about the working and running of a successful business. This insight has given me priceless information which I will carry forward with me.
The internship has given me valuable experience of a working environment and has allowed me to get a real perspective of the working world. The opportunity exceeded all my expectations and has extended my knowledge dramatically.
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I was given and would recommend it to others, who are interested in getting an insight into marketing and business.”
Taylor
Marketing/Account Executive Intern (2018)
“I learnt all about how the business operates, the work within the marketing and sales department and client communication. I worked with everyone in the office. So I always had a task to do to keep up with the team and be aware of what was happening as I was also required to put in ideas, send emails and call clients.
I completed the Account Executive course and the Copywriting & SEO course. I learnt all about Brand Innovation itself and how things are done. It teaches you about the company, business skills, client, supplier and colleague communication, the order process and much more.
Within my three months period I worked with different kinds of people from various departments. Teamwork is definitely the biggest aspect among the staff. We work with integrity and as a team at all times.
It is safe to say that I was given the maximum amount of exposure possible within three months. I will definitely recommend Brand Innovation to anyone looking to gain experience in the marketing, branding and sales industry. Without marketing there is no sales, without sales there will be no-one to market to. Without branding it is difficult to market. So being able to gain experience in all three areas was a big honor!”
Alexandra
Copywriting & SEO Intern (2018) / Full-Time Creative Director (2019-2021)
“An internship that grants you creative authority, responsibility and immense empowerment in a company with the values of honesty, resolution and integrity. My internship was one of growth, conquering and discovering new capabilities within myself.
The experience I had, has led me towards a path of evolution and preparation for the working world and beyond. In only 3 months, I absorbed and learnt more than I could have imagined. I have gained rich knowledge and understanding of copywriting, SEO and marketing.
The practical learning I gained will continue to be an invaluable source of inspiration and encouragement towards my career. I was fortunate to receive intense and effective training, from the get-go I was put to work and within my first day was already putting the theory to practical use! Interning at Brand Innovation has been an exciting jump into the work environment with growth around every corner.
During my time at Brand Innovation, I was able to see how my work on the company websites and marketing campaigns influenced sales and customer experience. I have come to understand the inner workings of the relationship between media and sales. A vital tool for comprehending how to connect with clients on an emotive level and in a unique way.
The journey has been filled with high-speed learning, new tasks every day and rewarding challenges. My mind has expanded with useful and practical learning. A truly engaging and interactive environment, where I was encouraged to express my ideas and present my creativity.”
Iviwe
Account Executive Intern (2017) / Full-Time Account Executive (2018-present)
“My internship taught me how to market myself to a professional organisation, put myself in the right position to make connections, develop relationships and work in a group to achieve a common goal. I really enjoyed the chance to broaden my horizons and try new things. I am proud that I persevered and overcame the challenges.
The Brand Innovation team puts effort into every individual’s goals and strengths. It was a great experience working as a team and making progress together, to reach success. I found that everyone was treated as an equal and respected, regardless of their position in the company.
Interning at a small company such as Brand Innovation has positively impacted my learning, experience and increased my level of responsibility.
I never realized how important experience is in the working world. Obviously in University we are warned of many things, but until we face them, they are just that, warnings. The working world is grueling, and it is now obvious as to why it is so important to do what you love.
The advice that I would give to students looking for an internship is, do not look at how big the company is, instead look at what it does. Brand Innovation is a small office with less than 20 employees but the work and progress that happens under its small roof is amazing. It is easy to learn and grow in a company with few employees because you receive guidance and attention. You won’t be easily forgotten!”
Tasneem
Accounts Executive Intern / Senior Account Executive
“Being an intern at Brand Innovation has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my academic career. I have been with the company for nearly nine weeks and I have gained tremendous experience. The transition from living the life of a student to entering the working environment has been a major change.
I have learnt so much with regards to how to engage with clients, good communication etiquette as well as the skill of time management. My exposure at Brand Innovation is not only limited to my field of study, but skills that are vital in any working environment.
The team at Brand Innovation are lovely, hard-working motivated ladies who have made me feel welcome and part of their team. Working in such a fast paced working environment has made me grow not only in my field of study but also as an individual.
Being part of the Brand Innovation team is an amazing opportunity as there is so much room for growth within the company. My experience here has taught me so much which I doubt I would have received at any other firm.
Any individual who is lucky enough to be granted this opportunity should definitely grab it with both hands and be prepared to join an amazing team.”
Zukhanye
Accounts Executive Intern
“I completed my three month internship with Brand Innovation as part of my required experiential training for my marketing diploma at CPUT.
Being an intern at Brand Innovation has been nothing short of amazing.
The staff were so welcoming, patient and constantly willing to help whenever and wherever they could. They made me feel like I am part of the team. I was treated equally and with respect.
I now know a lot about self-management and time management. I have developed excellent communication etiquette to use in the work place and with clients.
I have gained so much confidence in myself and the Brand Innovation team as made me realise that I can actually do and be the best that I want to be, as long as I put my mind to it and put in that extra effort.
I have learnt the importance of following processes in order to achieve my goals successfully.
I have been able to overcome the spirit of fear, as I am now able to communicate confidently, and I actually believe that my opinion matters.
I have learnt that a business is not only about making money but about helping the client.
I had the best mentor and my boss was super great. She has been there throughout this period, empowering us the best way that she can.
The thing I most enjoyed about my internship is that I got to work with women who value sisterhood and never look down on each other. Everyone takes their work seriously and puts in extra effort to ensure growth and development.
My greatest learning experience was realising that “clients are not always right” but we have to work around their demands and offer the best option possible to them.”
Siphe
Accounts Executive Intern
“I completed my three month internship with Brand Innovation as part of my required experiential training for my marketing diploma at CPUT.
The internship has been a great experiential learning for me.
The thing that I most enjoyed about my internship is that it has opened up the door into my career.
Another amazing thing is that this experience has bridged the gap between learning things in school and actually applying some of this school knowledge into reality.
Through my internship I have learnt to communicate professionally, how to keep up with deadlines and the value of working as a team rather than alone, as this opens up a pool of different ideas and views from different people on how to solve problems.
The staff at Brand Innovation have been very welcoming and very patient with us.
I have developed communication skills and problem solving skills. I have overcome the fear of being afraid to voice out my opinions which has improved my communication skills and my boosted my confidence.
After my three month internship I have realised that I am capable of working as part of a team and I feel ready to be in the corporate world, as I was exposed to different types of tasks that are related to marketing and sales, thanks to the good mentorship which I received.”
Aya
Accounts Executive Intern
“I completed my three month internship with Brand Innovation as part of my required experiential training for my marketing diploma at CPUT.
My internship at the Brand innovation has been the most amazing experience.
Firstly being exposed to different fields of marketing; sales and digital marketing was the highlight of my journey. This has shown me that I am not limited to one field therefore I had the opportunity to gain different skills. To mention but a few; verbal and written communication skills and problem solving.
Verbal communication was one of the challenges I was able to overcome during my internship.
Brand innovation is a friendly working environment, the staff members have been more than willing to assist in every way that they can. From the very first day their positive attitude has made me feel part of the organisation’s team.
Not only I have grown within myself and developed my skills, I learnt how to deal with problems hands on and find solutions. I have also gained customer knowledge and customer understanding.
During my experience I have learnt that my input is as important as my output, therefore I am responsible and proud of my work.
I have gained a lot of mentorship and motivation which has made me feel positive about the value and effort which I put into my work.”
Anelisa
Accounts Executive Intern
“I completed my three month internship with Brand Innovation as part of my required experiential training for my marketing diploma at CPUT.
My internship at Brand Innovation has been great, I have conquered most of my fears from speaking in meetings to making videos.
I enjoyed working on different projects and doing product reviews. I enjoyed working in a good working environment.
I have learnt that I can do more if I am serious and if I focus I can achieve many things if I follow the process. I have learnt that I am a fast learner and good at picking up the methods of procedures quickly.
I felt welcomed by the staff as everyone was friendly and willing to assist.
I overcame many challenges, mainly communication as now I can speak well with clients and I am more confident in meetings and communicating with clients. I have become more focused and confident within myself.
I gained great mentorship as I had a good mentor and I learnt a lot from her, as she was patient and willing to teach me new things.
My greatest learning experience was learning the sales process and how to get the orders by following all the steps and how communicating more with the clients makes them more happy and willing to work with you.
Working with a great team made it more exciting. I really valued my time as an intern at Brand Innovation.”