We decided to launch an internship program

For over a decade, we've said no.

No to countless internship requests. No to what could have been easy access to eager talent. No to what many companies see as a pipeline of cheap labor. We said no because we refused to compromise on what an internship should be.

i've watched too many companies treat internships like a transaction. "We'll give you experience," they say, while thinking "you'll give us free work." It's a tired business strategy and one we've deliberately sat out.

Until now.

The shift actually started over eight years ago when i first met Dr. Stephen Marshall at East Tennessee State University. At the time, Dr. Marshall had a vision of integrating analytics into ETSU’s Marketing and Media graduate program and was looking for a partner, in i step, to help make that vision a reality.

There was something different about his approach. He had this genuine passion for student success that went far beyond the usual academic rhetoric. Here was someone who understood that education wasn’t just about curriculum and homework and tests. The way he cared for his students, you just knew that he took an approach to teaching that was creating paths to meaningful careers, meaningful lives. And i wanted to be part of whatever he was doing!

Over those eight years, i've done just that. Deeply engaged with ETSU's students and faculty. Guest lecturing. Mentoring. Watching in amazement as these students consistently challenged my expectations of what students could achieve. But still, we held back on internships. Because doing it right meant more than just opening our doors, it meant building something meaningful.

This is where Julie Diaz appears in the story.

In all my years working with students, back to my days teaching Fundamentals of Software Design at Utah State University in the 1990s, you learn to recognize that rare combination of confidence without arrogance, of ambition tempered by humility.

This is what i found in Julie. i felt she didn't just want an internship, she wanted to help build a program. To create something that would benefit not just her but every student who would follow in her footsteps.

So, for the first time ever, we have decided to take on an intern at 33 Sticks.

We made this decision because we felt that with Julie, and our friends at ETSU, that we would be building something bigger. Something that truly matters.

And for Julie, when she eventually enters the workforce, she'll carry more than just the "33 Sticks mentored" designation that so many companies have asked for over the years. She'll carry the responsibility of being our first, the pioneer who helped us prove that internships can be more than just a corporate checkbox.

i have no interest in creating another cog in the corporate machine. i'm interested in helping shape the next generation of data and analytics leaders. i’m interested in helping shape the next generation of business leaders who lead with authenticity, integrity, and empathy.

And that starts with having the courage to say yes when you find the right partner, the right program, and the right person to help build it.