Grady Intern Diaries: Waynie Lee

This is part of a series where we asked Grady College students to describe their internship experiences during the summer. To see pictures of our Grady students interning, please see our #GradyInternDiaries social media collection.

Other Grady Intern Diary interviews can be viewed here: Allie Bailey, Nylah Oliver, Molly Simon, Aubry Snow, Leigh Beeson

Name: Waynie Lee

Major: Advertising and Business Management with International Business

Title of Internship: Brand Marketing Intern at Buson-Marsteller

Location: Shanghai, China

Responsibilities: The majority of my time was spent researching for potential new client pitches, doing translation and editing work and making credentials for new client pitches. I also got to write press releases, attend brainstorming sessions, design reports for clients and provide onsite support for events.

Grady College: What was the best part about your summer internship?

Waynie Lee: Other than work, the best part about my internship was getting to experience life in Shanghai on my own. This was the first time that I had truly been on my own and I was terrified at first, but looking back at it I don’t know why I ever was. The people I met were amazing. The city, and everything it held, was beyond anything I ever could’ve imagined.

G.C.: What was the biggest surprise in your internship?

W.L.: I went into the internship with certain expectations like a very cutthroat work environment or having to learn very complicated things. It was much simpler to pick up than I thought it would be, and I realized that this industry entails a lot of on-the-job learning.

G.C.: What is the most valuable lesson or skill you learned during your internship?

W.L.: The most valuable lesson I learned was that no matter the situation you are in, it is up to you to make the most of it. Whether you are working or traveling, don’t ever be afraid to just go for it and take risks. Being on your own may seem scary at first, but trust me, solo is the way to go.

G.C.: What advice would you give to a student looking for an internship?

W.L.: Talk to everyone, and I mean everyone. Even if it may not be a direct connection to an internship, you never know where that person may lead you. Jump at every opportunity because you only get lucky if you do the prep work before.

G.C.: What is the most memorable experience you had during your internship?

W.L.: I got first floor tickets to the Manchester United vs. Borussia Dortmund soccer match because we were handling PR for the International Champions Cup, the tournament in which they were playing. My supervisor couldn’t go because he had to attend the managers meeting for the Adidas event the next day so he just gave the tickets to a fellow coworker and myself. It was very cool to get a glimpse of the more glamorous side of what I was doing.

On Waynie’s internship, Pat Ford, Burson-Marsteller worldwide vice chairman and chief client officer said: “Waynie did a great job while seeking the internship of showing strong capabilities and extraordinary enthusiasm for studying abroad. We at Burson have long admired the vision and commitment by Grady College to enhancing students’ knowledge and understanding of China’s culture and its business environment.  Any student who can spend time studying abroad should do so, and the value of getting first-hand experience in a country as important to the global economy as China cannot be overstated.  We salute Dr. Meng and Grady College for their amazing leadership in making this happen for their students.”

Date: October 18, 2016