Virtual Internship Stories: Selena Tan

Name: Selena Tan
School: Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
Major: Civil Engineering
Center: Nairobi
Internship: Digital Marketing Intern at the Women on Boards Network

Where are you from, where are you based currently, and where is your internship?
I’m from Brooklyn, NY, and I am currently based there as well. My summer internship is at the
Women on Boards Network in Nairobi, Kenya.

Why did you pick this internship and what are you working on at the moment?
After years of pursuing STEM summer internships that were related to my passion in civil
engineering, I decided to opt for a less technical and more interpersonal internship this summer.
The digital marketing internship at WOBN intrigued me as an opportunity to explore my
interests in communications, social media, and project management. Coincidentally, most of
these skills will likely be indispensable to a successful career in construction management in my
near future.

How is this internship different from other internships you have had? If you haven't had
other internships, what is it like being a virtual intern?
Working remotely demands more self-discipline and time management than I anticipated.
Because I am not working from the organization’s headquarters, where the professional work
environment would have allowed me to sustain my focus, seek immediate assistance whenever I
need it, and build a strong bond with my colleagues, I have had to substitute these missing
aspects with alternatives, such as weekly evaluation meetings via Zoom and frequent
communication with my supervisors via WhatsApp.

My communications role has also challenged me with its requirement for constant creative, yet
professional, social media activity, which includes highlighting the organization’s upcoming
events and recapping its recent ones.

If you weren't doing this internship, how would you be spending your summer?
If I weren’t completing my part-time internship at WOBN, I would have been a full-time
transportation intern at an engineering services company in New York City.

What's one tip you would give to prospective virtual interns?
Discipline yourself by setting yourself up for success. Maintain a regular work, rest, and sleep
schedule so that you won’t have to exert extra effort to get out of bed in the morning, fall asleep
at night, or get into work mode. Use your time and energy efficiently! Inform everyone around
you of your work schedule so that they won’t disrupt you while you’re focused.

Do you have any book, podcast, music, movie, or tv show recommendations?
“Outer Banks” on Netflix!

Where would you travel if you could go anywhere in the world?
I would travel to Tokyo, Japan to experience the culture, scenery, bullet train, and more!