North Lobby of Kohl’s Corporate Headquarters, which is home to over 5,000 employees in Milwaukee, WI

June 4th, 2018

Rachel Lynne
Sep 4, 2018 · 4 min read

“You only start your career once, so don’t waste this opportunity.”

I started my career today, and it didn’t even scare me. Driving seven hours to be in a brand new city for the next 10 weeks didn’t scare. Working in a retail buying office with ZERO knowledge of merchandising didn’t even scare me. This is an adventure I am definitely not going to waste.

So, maybe I lied…I was a little nervous walking in this morning, but who wouldn’t be? I’m 21 years old and have no clue what I’m doing with the rest of my life. Luckily, that’s what internships are for! And that’s why I’m writing everything down this summer. Chances are, there’s someone else out there thinking the exact same thing as me. Like, what the heck is going to happen during my internship? Am I going to be horrible at it? Is this where I’ll work after I GRADUATE?

Luckily, as I walked in, most of the other interns were saying the exact same thing. But as soon as we stepped out of the rain and into the auditorium, the HR team greeted us with giant smiles, and the nerves settled. The white-walled room was filled with colorful name cards, mugs, and apparel and each seat for all 222 interns. I awkwardly wandered around the room until I found my spot and took a seat. As everyone arrived at the table, we commented on how COOL it all was — Kohl’s served us breakfast (and eventually lunch), had an itinerary for the day, and let us hear from CEO Michelle Gaas.

I heard her heels click up the stairs, and as a spotlight appeared, I was inspired by the woman smiling before me. She wore a black sleeveless suit jacket and skirt with a chunky necklace; She looked like a TOTAL #girlboss, and I absolutely loved it. Her confidence and grace commanded everyone’s attention, and she began by telling us how much she believed in each and every intern sitting before her. The best part was that she spoke to us as the young professionals we were aspiring to be, encouraging us to make our mark at Kohl’s.

“Curiosity, clarity, courage. These are the three words that I encourage you to live by while you make an impact here and build your own brand.”

Gaas explained that as an intern, we weren’t going to know everything about everything, and that was okay; instead, we should ask questions that will advance our knowledge or challenge our co workers, dig deeper, and never stop learning. She also told us to have a clear vision of what we’re trying to achieve and how to do it (don’t let your judgement or mindset get clouded by distractions). And, finally, have the courage to take risks, think outside the box, and communicate with others.

For the next 10 weeks, I want to live by the following qualities:

Accountability — I want everyone in my department to know that I’m reliable and will generate quality work.
Inspirational — I want to feel inspired by the work I’m doing and the company I work for, and inspire others around me to think differently.
Confidence — I want to present myself professionally and know that my ideas are important and sophisticated.

I knew that Kohl’s would support me through this professional journey, and building this personal brand would evolve with me throughout the internship.

The rest of the day was pretty typical: get a badge, set up a laptop, meet our teams, learn more about Kohl’s. The most important part about today was that I felt like I was wanted at this company. With so many interns, it could be very easy for a company to push us aside and focus on the bottom line. But, Kohl’s did the exact opposite and made sure we were welcomed and ready to make an impact. As I stepped on the bus at the end of the day to go back home, I was exhausted, both mentally and physically. I looked out the window and felt empowered by the company culture I had just entered. I had a female CEO supporting every intern, leaders that valued our opinion, and fellow interns that were ready to make a difference. My career started today, and I can’t wait to see where I go from here.

The picture of my badge I sent to my family groupchat (and that will also be used to get into the office every morning, but that’s a minor detail)

INTERNal Jounral

An intern's professional journal that highlights her lessons learned in Corporate America

Rachel Lynne

Written by

INTERNal Jounral

An intern's professional journal that highlights her lessons learned in Corporate America

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