Internship Description
Danielle Greirson '23 interned at Level, an impact investing startup and Tamer Fund for Social Ventures portfolio member aimed at funding Black female entrepreneurs. Danielle's project objectives as a sales/recruiting and operations intern included identifying high-potential targets and executing strategies to recruit new members to Level. She also helped streamline operational processes and develop a fall 2023 recruiting strategy with KPIs and experiments. Through her internship, Danielle hopes to further her personal and professional goals while contributing to Level's mission of addressing racial equity in entrepreneurship.
I was thrilled to embark on my summer internship at Level, a dynamic and innovative company focused on revolutionizing the entrepreneurial ecosystem for Black women. Level's mission to empower Black women entrepreneurs resonated deeply with my aspirations, and I was eager to contribute my skills as an MBA intern in recruiting, operations, and sales.
Throughout the internship, my primary focus was to develop a robust strategy for the fall 2023 member recruiting cycle. This encompassed devising a comprehensive plan that utilized both virtual and live events, direct targeting through LinkedIn and emails, the creation of a powerful referral program, and the exploration of other cutting-edge recruitment tactics. My goal was to attract the most talented and promising members to join Level's vibrant community.
To ensure the success of the recruitment strategy, I defined experiments and key performance indicators to track our progress. These metrics would help us understand the effectiveness of different approaches and guide us towards data-driven decisions. By constantly evaluating our experiments against these KPIs, we could adapt and optimize our efforts in real-time. Moreover, I played a pivotal role in enhancing Level's current and new member processes. By crafting an operational strategy, I streamlined workflows and introduced automation to create a seamless experience for both Level's internal team and incoming members. This not only improved efficiency but also contributed to a more positive and engaging onboarding process.
In addition to operations, I took charge of leading the member recruiting sales pipeline for fall 2023. Running from July to mid-August, this critical period required me to coordinate with various teams, align efforts, and ensure smooth communication to potential members. My expertise in sales, combined with an in-depth understanding of Level's offerings, allowed me to effectively convey the value proposition to prospective members. To keep track of our progress and optimize our efforts, I maintained the sales pipeline and referral tracker in Airtable. This centralized system allowed us to monitor the journey of potential members, identify bottlenecks, and capitalize on successful recruitment channels.
Throughout the internship, I found myself drawing on the knowledge and skills acquired during my MBA program. Concepts from courses such as Marketing and Data Analytics were directly applicable to my work at Level. My ability to use data-driven insights and apply design thinking principles allowed me to excel in the ever-changing landscape of member recruitment.
One of the most exciting aspects of this experience was the opportunity to lead the integration of automation into our entrepreneur and member recruiting processes. By harnessing the power of technology, we could free up valuable time and resources, allowing the team to focus on fostering meaningful connections with potential members.
The summer at Level not only enriched my professional growth but also reaffirmed my passion for working at the intersection of business and innovation. The exposure to Level's entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to empowering black women-led startups left a lasting impact on my career aspirations. Witnessing how Level's initiatives shaped the landscape of entrepreneurship made me optimistic about the future and the transformative potential of startups.
Looking back, my internship at Level was more than just a professional experience. It was a journey of innovation, impact, and personal growth. It solidified my commitment to driving positive change through business, and I am eager to apply the valuable lessons learned at Level to future endeavors.
As I move forward in my career, I will carry the memories and knowledge from this internship with me, cherishing moments of growth, collaboration, and discovery. My time at Level was not just an internship; it was an invaluable chapter in my journey toward making a meaningful difference in the world. I am immensely grateful for the Tamer Center for enabling me to embark on this transformative journey.
