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Tony Ponte
This past June, I began working with Fors Marsh as a Marketing Intern as part of the Indigenous Internship Program (IIP). Fors Marsh is a market research company based in Arlington, VA, that addresses society’s problems and tackles the underlying systems that cause them to create lasting change. Rhy Curry, the Chief of Staff at Fors Marsh, made the IIP to bring awareness to the company and create more opportunities for entry into Corporate America for Indigenous students. Fueled by empathy and grounded in evidence, they bring together the science of research and the art of communication to design targeted solutions that improve behavior and positively impact people and the planet.
At the start of the internship, I was reluctant to be open and honest about certain aspects of my identity and self. I quickly realized there was no reason to feel afraid to share who I am. Being in this space showed and reassured me that, being my authentic, vulnerable, and quirky self, I would be supported. I had a goal to improve my public speaking skills, so Rhy decided to have the interns present to the CEO and Vice Presidents of the company. This was an excellent opportunity to practice our public speaking, presentation, and networking skills.
After our presentations, we spent the next couple of days exploring the Washington Monuments, the National Museum of the American Indian, and other museums. We got to know each other better and made connections that will last a lifetime, and I look forward to building upon these relationships.
A couple weeks following this trip, I was brought back to D.C. for the Mid-Atlantic Marketing Summit. I was tasked with helping set up the Fors Marsh Booth, attending various fire-side chats and discussions, and finally just experiencing the summit! I gained confidence in myself over the 8 hours of networking and socializing. Especially after a few years of staying at home due to the pandemic, I needed to get back out there.
Overall, I enjoyed my time on both trips and cannot wait to head back down in February for the Company’s Annual Meeting! I am grateful to have had this opportunity and look forward to continuing with Fors Marsh as a full-time Marketing Coordinator!
Quyanaa Koniag! With your support, doors open to spaces I didn’t even know existed. I’m excited to see what’s next on this journey!
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