Great innovations and great expectations

As part of my studies in Classical Philology and German Philology, I became convinced early on that education in the humanities should not be limited to the purely academic sector. My professional interests have always led me towards the creative industries, and I hoped to find an opportunity to engage intensively with projects that add real value to other people's lives. During my ten-week spring semester in Berlin, I studied German, European politics and Berlin's urban history, while exploring the city's diverse culture and learning how to navigate Berlin's complex transportation system. I had already organized my internship at the innovation agency “... and dos Santos” through the Krupp program before I arrived in Berlin — yet I barely knew what to expect in practice. I was all the more inspired by the future-oriented attitude, the creative drive and, last but not least, the promise of an office dog that would greet me on my first day at work.

The daily commute between Berlin and Potsdam was an ambitious challenge for my first summer, which I spent alone in a big city. There was also navigating between the cultural differences of Germany, the USA and England (where I spent another semester abroad). However, dividing my time between Potsdam and Berlin gave me valuable insights into two very different cities and gave me a more comprehensive understanding of German working and everyday culture. Potsdam is small, steeped in impressive history, lined with local bookstores, elegant cafés and surrounded by lakes and the extensive Sanssouci Park, where I could take a walk during my lunch breaks. Berlin — a cosmopolitan mosaic of history, urbanism and hipster culture — was always a place for me where there was something new to discover: unknown dishes, raucous flea markets and street music in all its facets. I soon realized that “... and dos Santos” reflected many of these values — a combination of traditional economic expertise and innovative, contemporary solutions to existing challenges.

What particularly impressed me right from the start was the uniqueness of our projects: Every concept, every workshop and every story was developed noticeably with dedication and care. Even with potential customers with whom there was no long-term cooperation, I experienced the authenticity and appreciation with which my colleagues and supervisors responded to the needs and motivations of the people and brands involved. Although I had already gained experience in content creation, social media, and critical and analytical thinking from previous study and internship activities, I had not yet applied these skills at agency level. I was all the more excited to dive into the dynamic working life of the company — characterized by constantly new projects, diverse customers and the desire to make a positive contribution through innovations and to continuously improve the lives of others.

I was particularly grateful — even though I felt absolutely overwhelmed at first — to be involved in major projects and all facets of corporate culture right from the start, without ever being confronted with the stereotypical, monotonous “internship tasks” that many students fear. And even though I spent a large part of my time on the computer creating social media content, researching trends and industries, or preparing information for joint presentations, I had numerous opportunities to broaden my horizons: during appointments and interviews at exciting locations in Berlin, running errands outside the office, or taking part in inspiring workshops. In the end, I learned how my host company's commitment — bringing positive energy and innovative thinking to every collaboration — can be implemented regardless of the project in question.

The mix of German and English in everyday working life gave me a good level of security when interacting with colleagues and supervisors and at the same time motivated me to further develop my language skills. I quickly realized that two years of university German lessons are of little use if you work your way through technical studies or specialized websites with very specific technical vocabulary. Over the course of the summer, however, I became increasingly familiar with German terms from the fields of technology, innovation, economics and other relevant topics.

Although my original goal for this summer was simply to improve my German language skills and gain professional experience abroad, my learning process was ultimately three-dimensional: new skills and a new industry, a new city and language, and high professional standards. The openness and honesty in the office, the shared meals with colleagues and the long trips home, during which weekend plans were made — all of this made my time at “and dos Santos” an experience that I will miss a lot. I was particularly satisfied to know that my research and analysis work made a significant contribution to acquiring and supporting customers and that I was able to make a positive contribution to the company's internal and external processes overall.

Carolyn Manion (Classical Philology, German Studies) studied in Berlin in spring and completed an internship in Potsdam in summer 2018.