299: From Intern to Impact: A Fresh Strategy for Team Building: Fan Favorite Replay

Hi there. You’re listening to the Leading Lady podcast. I’m your host, Alison Loftus, and I’m a certified professional coach specializing in leadership and work-life balance. I work with clients to shift their limiting beliefs, insecurities, and self-doubt. This podcast will be filled with tools and strategies to help high-achieving women like you feel connected, empowered, and in the lead of your life, both personally and professionally. Let’s transform your life starting now. Lead yourself. The rest will follow.

Hi there, leading ladies, and welcome back to The Leading Lady Podcast. I’m your host, Alison Loftus, and today I’m pulling back the curtain on something that may look pretty simple from the outside, but it’s actually one of the most strategic things I’m doing in my business today. And I’m talking about the Leading Lady internship program.

Now, I know what you’re thinking — interns. Isn’t that just something you do when you need a little extra help? But here’s the truth: this internship program isn’t just about giving others experience. It’s actually a powerful strategy for building teams, shaping culture, and even growing my own leadership style.

So if you’re looking for a creative way to expand your support system, develop your leadership style, and build a business that reflects your values, this episode is definitely for you.

Why I Created the Internship Program

The idea for the program really came out of necessity. Truth be told, I have more on my plate than I can handle, and even with the support of Aubrey and bringing in a full-time PR and marketing director, I just knew that there’s more that needs to come off my plate.

While hiring a full-time team doesn’t feel like the right fit just yet, I knew that I needed help. But I also knew that there are women, especially students or emerging professionals, who are eager to learn about business, coaching, branding, and leadership.

And I thought, what if I created a space where we could learn and grow together? And just like that, the Leading Lady internship program was born.

I have to say, I’m coming out of my skin. I’m so excited with how it’s going. Even in just the few short weeks that we’ve been working together, I can feel the profound difference that it’s made in my business. And my hope is that it’s having a profound impact in how they’re learning and developing as professionals.

How It’s Growing Me as a Leader

What surprised me most was how much I would grow. The interns taught me — and are teaching me — to be a better communicator, a better delegator, and honestly, a better version of myself as a leader.

I’m learning to slow down and explain things. I’m more clear with my expectations, and I’m learning to trust others to carry pieces of the vision. And that’s really, really big for me.

Leadership isn’t just about doing all the things. It’s about developing others while staying true to the mission. And that’s something that I have to keep at the front of my thinking as I’m moving forward through this.

Building Culture Through Internships

One of the most powerful things about the internship program is the way that it reinforces the culture of Leading Lady.

Interns aren’t just here to complete tasks — they’re actually becoming culture carriers. They reflect the heart of the brand. They help bring consistency, positivity, and intention into everything we do, from social media to events to everyday operations.

In return, I’m getting to model what it looks like to lead with integrity, grace, and high standards.

It’s been so much fun for me and Aubrey. When we’re here in the office, it’s definitely changed things. It was just the two of us here day to day, and now we have three other individuals working alongside us. It’s been a complete shift in the energy in the office.

We’re finding that we’re moving through tasks so much faster. And it’s allowing us to pause and say, what kind of leader do I want to be? Am I showing up the way that I want to show up? Am I modeling a level of professionalism that’s going to help these young ladies in their next steps?

It’s been fun and exciting and just a profound opportunity for me to reflect on how I’m showing up.

What I Hope the Interns Gain

What I hope the interns gain is real-world experience inside a thriving coaching and consulting business.

They are learning how to manage projects, how to show up professionally, how to communicate clearly, and tap into their own leadership potential.

I really want them to leave here saying, “I didn’t expect to grow so much personally while also learning professionally.”

I continually check in with them and say, make sure you’re letting me know what you’re needing to get out of this and what’s going to best set you up for whatever might come next for you.

Team Building That Actually Works

Team building is something we should all be thinking about in our businesses — whether we’re working with contractors, bringing on full-time employees, or collaborating with other people.

This internship program has become a pipeline for future team members. It’s helped me build out systems, refine my onboarding, and practice developing people intentionally.

I’m not just building a business. I’m building a community of support and a culture of collaboration. It’s a form of team building that’s smart, meaningful, and sustainable.

So if you’re growing your business and wondering how to get the support you need, consider starting with mentorship, internships, and relationship-based growth.

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Lessons I’m Learning Along the Way

So a few lessons that I’m learning along the way.

First, be clear on roles and expectations. When bringing these three young ladies on, we created a portfolio. In that portfolio, there’s a welcome letter, a job description, and the objectives they can expect to meet within this program.

Having something documented that we can go back to, discuss, and review to make sure we’re staying on track has been really helpful for me. I’m someone who relies on structure. I want to outline something and then go back and assess: Did we hit the mark? Did we meet the goals we set?

Second, treat your interns like real team members — because guess what? They are.

In just these three short weeks, and I know we still have the whole summer together, I’m already feeling such a bond with them because they are helping with important tasks throughout the day.

I know I’m going to cry buckets when they leave. And I’m also excited because I know our time together is going to be meaningful and impactful — for whatever they have next. And it’s setting me up to think, who are my next interns going to be? I get to participate in that development, and obviously my business benefits from that as well.

Third, make it a two-way learning experience.

I feel like I’m beating this point to death, but it has to be a win-win situation. Everything I do is we all win or we don’t play. That’s just how I operate.

I’m very clear about what I’m hoping to get out of this, and I’m constantly checking in with the interns: Are you getting what you need? Is there a specific skill you want to learn? Is there an ambassador or collective member you’d like to meet? Is there a topic that interests you that you’d like to go deeper into?

Just making sure you’re checking in and always assessing — is everybody winning here?

Finally, infuse your values into every touchpoint.

Leading Lady’s values are prevalent, as they should be in any business. People should know your values immediately. They should be able to walk into your business and know exactly what you stand for.

When I’m working with the interns — from how we do the floral arrangements at events, to how they show up on a Zoom call with an ambassador, to how they organize tasks and communicate with one another — we talk about the why behind it.

The commitment to excellence. The attention to detail. The love of learning. Empowering one another. Having autonomy and advocating for yourself and your needs while also showing up for others.

It’s woven into everything we do and every conversation we have.

If you’re leading from that place, you’re not just managing tasks — you’re building leaders.

So there you have it — why my internship program is actually one of the most powerful team-building strategies in my business right now.

If this episode gave you ideas, or if you’re curious about starting something similar, I’d love to hear from you. Please reach out, DM me, or share this episode with someone who’s ready to grow their team with intention.

If you email me, I do read and respond to every email. If this resonated with you, I hope you reach out.

And if you’re a current or former Leading Lady and you’re interested in learning more about the internship — or if you know someone who is — reach out.

Thank you. You’re not just part of my business. You’re part of the heart behind it.

So until next time, stay grounded, lead with love, and keep building something beautiful.

And of course —

Take the lead.

Thanks for tuning in for another episode of the Leading Lady podcast. You can find all of the links and information mentioned in this episode at the show notes. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow the show so you don’t miss any future episodes. And while you’re there, it would mean the world to me if you would take a few seconds and leave me an honest review. This will help other high-achieving women find inspiration, connection, and strategies to live and lead with purpose and intention. See you here next week.