As the summer winds down, ESI asked its Business Development Intern Moira Connell to sit down with her fellow interns and reflect on their time with the firm and share any final words of wisdom in what we are calling The Exit Interview. Each of these individuals had the opportunity to discuss their long-term goals and how their time with ESI has helped spur new ideas and ways to meet those professional goals.
ESI would like to thank all our summer 2024 interns for their hard work and dedication over the last few months. We look forward to watching your continued success and hope you will remain connected to the firm!
What is your favorite thing about working at ESI?
Frederick Teves, University of Delaware Class of 2025: My favorite part about working at ESI is being able to contribute to meaningful and interesting projects that have a positive impact on economic development.
Moira Connell, University of Pennsylvania Class of 2026: I really enjoyed diving into B2B marketing strategy and am grateful for the trust from Mike and Grace!
Aileen Ryan, Drexel University Class of 2024: My favorite thing about working at ESI is the variety of work I can do, with each project being unique. Sometimes, a project is something completely new to me, something I’m already interested in, something I wasn’t sure I was interested in, and everything in between! As a result, I am constantly learning new things and developing new skills and interests. I also must add the amazing staff of ESI that made this experience all the better. Everyone was always so welcoming and helpful, and really made me feel a part of the team!
Jonathan Spiegler, McGill University Class of 2024: The tangibility of the projects and how close ESI works with regional agencies.
Parker Harris, Drexel University Class of 2024: The trust given to me by managers to explore ideas and genuinely consider my feedback on how to advance a project. I feel like I was given real opportunities to be helpful to the team’s performance.
Natasha Shen, Haverford College Class of 2026: I like how small it is, and how comfortable it feels to reach out to someone who you are not in the same group /not worked on the same project with. It is also rewarding to know our work impacts real people and communities.
What was your favorite memory of this internship?
Ethan Osias, Gettysburg College Class of 2025: ESI’s staff lunches because I got to see everyone, and I got to know everyone not only as employees but as people too.
Samantha Gedeon, Drexel University Class of 2024: My first week in the office was great! Everyone was so welcoming, and I appreciate all the help I have received this summer!
Aileen: I think my favorite memory from the internship so far was watching the solar eclipse with everyone in April. It was during my first week and was one of the first times I was able to spend time with and meet everyone. Not to mention, an exciting moment that doesn’t come around often!
Fred: My favorite memory of interning at ESI is that almost every day, Stephen Mullin would come into the room where I was working and tell my colleagues and I a joke.
Jonathan: Getting ice cream with coworkers, going to the racquet club, and attending the ESI walking tour.
Were there any challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?
Samantha: This experience was very new to me. It was a bit nerve wracking to assist with some projects in which I was unfamiliar with data tools or software. The ESI staff was always willing to help!
Aileen: A challenge I faced was not having much previous knowledge about the systems that are widely used here at ESI. At first, I felt a bit out of the loop and unsure of my skills. However, I was able to overcome thanks to the staff at ESI, who consistently reassured me and provided me with much support and knowledge.
Natasha: I think the biggest challenge I faced was having to learn things on the go, but with practice and an open mind I was able to overcome it.
Fred: One of the main challenges I faced during my internship was navigating some of the more difficult tasks I was assigned. I was able to overcome these challenges by actively asking questions whenever I encountered difficulties. I reached out to my supervisor and colleagues for guidance, which not only helped me find solutions but also allowed me to learn from them.
Parker: Formatting in Microsoft Word and making maps in ArcGIS were my biggest enemies. Shout out to all the analysts who helped me through my (at times comical) challenges and taught me greatly valuable skills.
What is one thing you will take away from your experience here?
Moira: I gained more insight into the many moving parts that make up a business, and a consulting business specifically. It made me more interested in consulting generally, especially consulting that’s focused in areas I’m interested in like at ESI.
Ethan: That it is important to always be on the same page and in communication when working with others because that is the only way you will be productive
Samantha: I appreciated getting to use different data tools and learn more about universities, the city of Philadelphia and its operations, and seeing a possibility of where a career in consulting could lead me.
Natasha: That nearly every aspect of a city’s operations and policy-making heavily employs economic analysis.
Parker: I was grateful to be exposed to every stage of the report writing process, from research planning to performing final edits. I feel that I have a much better understanding of how to properly and efficiently perform research.
What advice would you give future interns?
Aileen: The advice I would give to future interns is to take full advantage of the experience and everything ESI has to offer! Show up to the office and create rapport with your colleagues. Dive head-first into any work that comes your way, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t hesitate to get involved with other projects and teams, and really hone into your own personal interests. Attend the training sessions, and really take in all the information you learn along the way. The experience is what you make of it, so give it your best effort, and of course, don’t forget to have fun and be yourself!
Samantha: Do not be afraid to ask questions! There is so much to learn here at ESI or elsewhere and you will never get the answers to your questions without asking them. Get to know the people around you as well. There are amazing people here to learn from and connect with.
Parker: Be prepared for a high volume of work. You will be challenged but if you view this as a positive thing, you will have an amazing experience. Reach out to your co-workers and managers for help when needed. Most importantly, be yourself.
Moira: People are very open, friendly, and smart here so make the effort to get to know everyone and learn as much as possible.
Jonathan: Work hard and be proud of the quality of your work.
Ethan: This is also my third summer as an intern here and it has been great coming back each year because I get to come back with more knowledge, skills, and abilities and use them in an office setting. The reason why I decided to keep coming back is because I get to be in a positive work environment with people who I share similar passions with. If there is one thing, I could let incoming interns/ co-ops know it is that you need to advocate for yourself because if you do not do it no one will for you.
Moira Connell, Business Development Intern
Moira Connell is a Business Development and Marketing Intern at ESI. She is currently a student at the University of Pennsylvania studying Philosophy Politics & Economics and Consumer Psychology.