refine+focus

consulting intern

January - June 2022 • Boston, MA

What I liked

As I pondered the prospect of an internship, I asked myself, "What is it that I truly seek?" A question that echoes in the hearts of many as they embark on this journey. If your sole desire is to bolster your resume with an illustrious name like MBB, perhaps refine+focus is not your ideal destination. However, if you yearn for a transformative experience, to emerge anew from the crucible of personal growth, then look no further. Refine+focus is a supportive environment where your potential is recognized and cultivated. Its two co-founders, Zach and Purnima, act as knowledgeable mentors who guide you through the process of self-discovery and skill development, even as they manage their own busy schedules and professional responsibilities. With their unwavering belief in your personal evolution, they place equal importance on your development as they do on business outcomes. The 18-day learning journal challenge at the outset of your internship serves as a cornerstone, inviting you to delve within and hone the essential skills of a consultant. Years later, as I applied for business school, I realized the profound impact of Zach's questions on my journey toward self-awareness. At refine+focus, you'll be embraced by a vibrant cohort and community—co-learning. A space that fosters curiosity, humility, and an eagerness to learn from one another. Every Wednesday, guest speakers illuminate the path ahead, shedding light on groundbreaking trends such as AI, Web3, and the Metaverse. A year has passed since I left the nurturing embrace of refine+focus, and my heart swells with gratitude for the memories etched within. I can confidently declare that refine+focus is a place where people come alive and flourish.

What I wish was different

Nothing much

Advice

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Innovation & Marketing Intern

May - August 2020 • Boston, MA

What I liked

Zach and Purnima at refine+focus are some of the most hardworking, empathetic, and open-minded people I've had the pleasure of working with. They strove to create a learning environment that was supportive and collaborative as well as dynamic -- as an intern, I had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, from strategy to PR to digital marketing, within a curriculum that was tailor-made to my interests and goals. I felt valued and heard by the leadership as well as my peers, and throughout the summer I gained an immense amount of professional and personal experience that I still benefit from today. Z and P put their hearts into fostering a warm community and building a network of diverse and curious professionals, which I find all the more impressive considering I interned for them during the height of the pandemic. I feel extremely lucky and grateful to be a part of the r+f community and have had the chance to learn so much while working on impactful projects alongside some amazing people.

What I wish was different

Advice

1 One person found this helpful

Consultant intern

April - July 2022 • New York City, NY

What I liked

Great opportunity to broaden your network with intelligent, interesting and inspiring individuals. Personally curated learning with direct mentorship from the CEO. Project work is diverse, across industries, giving an insight into strategy consulting with a heavy focus on consumer research. Flexible working and a community that is always eager to help and learn from each other.

What I wish was different

Nothing coming to mind, it was a great experience overall!

Advice

Make the most of the personalised learning component of the program and of the mentorship available. The opportunity of being actively involved in the learning community is also very valuable to practice presenting, reaching out to potential guest speakers and make new professional connections.

2 ${count} people found this helpful

Consulting Intern

January - May 2021 • Boston, MA

What I liked

refine+focus is deeply committed to their interns' personal and professional development. From start to finish, my internship was thoughtfully personalized based on my interests and previous experience. I was able to gain valuable hands-on experience on projects ranging from developing marketing strategies to creating content for clients' websites. Outside of projects, I also appreciated the opportunity to hear from the industry leaders during the weekly co-learning discussions and to gain more insights on timely topics like web3. Overall, the internship and refine+focus community provided a safe space where I was really pushed to step out of my comfort zone and grow as a person.

What I wish was different

Nothing! refine+focus puts so much effort into designing the internship program, and it really shows.

Advice

Be open to everything.

2 ${count} people found this helpful

Consulting Intern

December 2021 - May 2022 • Boston, MA

What I liked

The team at refine + focus really places an emphasis on creating individualized internship experiences tailored to your professional interests. At the same time, they provide resources for you to explore new up and coming areas, which allows you to get an edge on upcoming trends and skillsets. You truly feel valued while working here, and once you join, you immediately become a part of a powerful, engaging, and collaborative community. I received a wide range of projects, from helping to create DEI workshops, recruiting, to creating empathy maps. Trying my hand at various tasks really helped me hone down my interests. You get a ton of flexibility, which really helped me be able to turn in high quality work. This has truly been one of the most valuable experiences for me because I could feel myself growing throughout the duration of the internship, and know that I have built lasting connections.

What I wish was different

Honestly, nothing.

Advice

Push yourself to become more engaged within the refine + focus community and aim to maintain a consistent level off high engagement throughout your time here to get the most out of the experience!

2 ${count} people found this helpful

Marketing & Innovation Intern

May - August 2021 • Boston, MA

What I liked

Zach and Purnima put so much effort into creating meaningful and important assignments for the interns. The level of exposure I got into the marketing world is unmatched. I got to experience client meetings, was assigned important research and writing ,and they even held a class on strategy every Friday, allowing me to gain even more knowledge. I am so appreciative of the hands-on experience that I received, even through being a remote intern.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have been in-person for at least a portion of this internship! When I began with r+f, I was completely content with being remote, as I didn't expect to create such amazing relationships with Zach, Purnima, and the other interns. As my time went on, I began to long to meet them in person but with the challenges of COVID and such, that was not plausible. But hopefully someday we will all meet!

Advice

Put yourself out there! refine + focus fosters one of the most supportive communities I have ever been apart of. Whether it be an interest, hobby, or simply a wondering, people want to hear what you have to say and value your opinions.

1 One person found this helpful

Business Analyst Intern

March - September 2020 • Boston, MA

What I liked

The internship is tailored to your personal career goals and interns are exclusively given meaningful work. refine+focus works with a wide range of clients from F500 companies to the Jordanian Ministry of Trade to international nonprofits, which makes it a great place to explore different sectors. No two days are the same. refine+focus is deeply dedicated to mentoring and training interns, both formally through paid courses and informally through single topic discussion hours. They even offer supplemental networking opportunities and introductions for interns outside the firm. The culture encourages continuous learning, celebrates what makes each team member unique, and is grounded in bringing out the humanity and kindness everyone.

What I wish was different

Nothing -- it's a great place to learn!

Advice

At refine+focus, the more you are willing to put into the company, the more learning and experiences you will get out of it. Hard work is respected and rewarded by getting placed on even cooler projects and handling greater responsibilities.

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Marketing and Growth Consultant Intern

June 2018 • Boston, MA

What I liked

This was a fantastic internship, way better than I ever could have anticipated. There was a really focus on learning and personal growth. The bosses really cared about each and every one of us. The consulting nature of the firm allowed me to work on a variety of projects, from pharma to auto to wellness, and learn so many different applicable skills. This is a fast paced environment that feeds off creative intelligence.

What I wish was different

Absolutely nothing. This was supposed to be a part time internship (3 days a week), and I went in consistently 5 days a week. Every minute I was there I was learning, and I never wanted to miss a moment of this valuable experience.