Things do not always go according to plan, but what matters is what you make of those experiences. Jade, an intern at EGBI, has no interest in working a 9-5 office job and does not see herself pursuing a community-centered career. She was placed at EBGI through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) but has acquired many skills and insights about herself through her time here. Jade recalls her first day at EGBI and states it was “totally unexpected.” She walked in anticipating getting an overview of her tasks, but instead got “shoved into a 2-3 hour lunch and learn.” She expected it to be boring but found it interesting and liked the dynamic atmosphere. From there, she got to work on a variety of tasks like researching small businesses, contributing to slideshows, interviewing people, and writing blogs. These assignments highlight her ability to adapt to the environment like a shapeshifter. High school is the next big thing for Jade. She will be turning sixteen in November and has three years left in high school. She hopes to work at Half Price Books because she has a passion for reading. At EGBI, Jade discovered that she is good at writing and likes to work independently. She says, “I like to sit down and just do my own thing.” This work style contrasts with her hectic schedule and group work, which she is used to as a high school student. At work, Jade gets a change in scenery that has helped her improve time management skills. Jade got to connect with Larissa, with whom she found similar passions and had interesting conversations. Jade enjoyed getting assigned tasks and being a busy bee, always having something to do.
If you are interested in volunteering or participating in an internship with EGBI, please contact us at hello@egbi.org.
Salem M. has been an intern for about 5 weeks with Economic Growth Business Incubator(EGBI). She got into the internship by applying through Summer Youth Employment Program with Travis County. Her personal interests in business is her dream. She would like to start her own boutique.
Her future plans after the internship is to start at UT Austin studying in Textiles and Apparels. Her expectation when coming to EGBI was getting to meet small business owners and get advice for her own dreams and future plans. Some new experiences she learned at EGBI was sending professional emails and writing blogs about people. The most interesting person she met at EGBI was Nina, a fellow coworker at EGBI, they bonded through a common interest.
Her favorite activity at EGBI was the Lunch & Learns that EGBI offers with the internship. Her advice to future interns at EGBI would be to ask questions and be curious.
If you are interested in volunteering or participating in an internship with EGBI, please contact us at hello@egbi.org.
Hannah H. has been an intern at Economic Growth Business Incubator(EGBI) for about 5 weeks. She applied through Summer Youth Employment Program with Travis County to get this internship. Her personal interests involve business and she might be a business owner when she grows up.
Her plans after the internship is to focus on high school and getting a real job. Some experiences she learned at EGBI are how to interview people and how to write professional blogs. Her favorite activity at EGBI was the various Lunch & Learn because she got to eat good food while learning about valuable information.
The most interesting person she met at this internship was Marianne Renalds, because it was powerful that she started her business in a place where she didn’t know English. She still persevered and learned it because she’s passionate about what she does. Something she would say to someone starting out at EGBI is that everyone here is very welcoming and to not worry because you get all the help you need.
If you are interested in volunteering or participating in an internship with EGBI, please contact us at hello@egbi.org.
Heidi G. is an intern at Economic Growth Business (EGBI) this summer through the city of Austin. Her expectation coming into the internship was learning new experiences and growing from them in the future.
At EGBI she learned how to edit videos and work with a wide variety of people in a professional environment. Her favorite activity at EGBI was getting to film videos for the EGBI social media. Her personal interests about business is that she likes the freedom you get in working your own business and how it is run.
Something she would say to anyone else starting an internship at EGBI is to ask a lot of questions, being on track with your work, and trying to get along with the people in your work space. The most interesting person she met at EGBI was her coworker Priya because she helped her with various tasks. Her plans after the internship is to get another job and use her experience to be her best in a new job.
If you are interested in volunteering or participating in an internship with EGBI, please reach out to hello@egbi.org .
Priya T. has worked with Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) this summer. She got into the program by applying with the City of Austin. Her plan after the internship is to keep attending high school, finish off her senior year, and start exploring college options. Her most favorite activity was filming videos with Heidi.
Her expectation coming into the internship was that she was going to learn a lot about business. Some experiences she learned at EGBI while working there are how to make social media content with branding and how to format things in a professional way.
Her personal interests about business is that she sells her own clothes and things she makes and has a passion for being a salesperson. Something she would say to anyone else starting an internship at EGBI is to have fun with the people you meet and form friendships & connections.
If you are interested in volunteering or participating in an internship with EGBI, please contact us at hello@egbi.org .
Who is Dulce Garcia? Dulce has her own cleaning company, Dulce Cleaning. She wanted to start her own company to take care of her family and at the same time offer a service that truly makes a difference. With this purpose in mind, she realized that the cleaning business was what she wanted to do. Not only because it met the requirements she was looking for, but because she could apply her work ethic, her love for tidy organization, and her desire to help others reclaim their clean and healthy space.
Dulce’s business is not just about cleaning, she is proud to see how far she has come, and to know that by leaving a clean home, she is helping to create a more pleasant home environment for her clients. This business not only leaves her clients satisfied, it also brings Dulce satisfaction to see how she has been able to build her own business.
Another quality that sets Dulce’s business apart from any other cleaning company is that her team treats each client with respect and dedication. They focus on understanding the specific needs of each client, seeking to exceed their expectations, and with every job completed, she strengthens the trust her clients place in her business.
She considers EGBI as a fundamental pillar for the development of her business. They provided her with advice, workshops, and tools to help her better understand how to manage her own business, from finances to marketing to promote her services. What she values most has been the constant energetic support she has received from EGBI in the process of growing her business.
Dulce advises people who want to start their own business to be determined and open-minded.
“You don’t need to have everything figured out from the beginning, but you do need determination and a willingness to learn,” she said. “And yes, I would definitely recommend EGBI. They give you the knowledge, support, and confidence to keep going, even when challenges arise.”
What is Dulce’s vision for her company in the next five years?
In five years, she would like to see her company more established, with a larger team, and providing services in more areas of the city. She wants to continue training to improve her processes and perhaps be able to offer new services. Most importantly, she wishes to keep operating while maintaining her values: Quality, Responsibility and Empathy.
Thank you Dulce for letting EGBI be part of your story.
If you would like to start or grow your business, feel free to contact us by email at hello@egbi.org. Learn more.
