Mia Nichols

Responsibilities

CyStarters is an 11 week accelerator program that helps entrepreneurs with their businesses, so my main responsibility was to make progress in my business. For my food truck that included doing a lot of research on equipment, trailers, permits, and markets to attend. I had accountability each week were I would make objectives to finish by the next week as well as S.M.A.R.T. goals for the entire summer. I also had to go to education sessions and learn more about certain subjects.

Accomplishments

One of my most significant achievements during the internship was transforming my business idea from a concept into a tangible reality. When I first joined the internship, I had a well-developed business plan but lacked the necessary infrastructure to bring it to life. However, through determination and hard work, I progressed from setting up a simple table at farmers markets and events to eventually acquiring a fully functional food trailer.

Learning experience

One of the most valuable lessons I gained from my internship was the importance of networking and initiating introductions. I discovered the power of connecting with people, engaging in conversations, and listening to their stories. This experience taught me that you never know who might be connected and how those connections can be advantageous in different situations. Life can be seen as a networking game, where building relationships and expanding your professional network can significantly benefit you, particularly when you have specific requests or needs. Understanding the potential of the people you meet and tapping into their connections has been a valuable asset in achieving my goals this summer.

What advice would you give?

You get what you put into it. I recommend talking to the students next to you, introducing yourself to your professors, trying out different clubs, and anything else that gets you 'out there' because if you don't you won't get the best experience.