enFocus Interns apply and develop new skills through hands-on learning

Our interns have tremendous talent, and we strive to guide their capabilities so they can leverage their skills to their fullest potential. In this week’s blog, you will learn about four of our current interns, what they bring to the table, and what skills they seek to develop during their full-time internship.

For both civic and industry interns, analytical skills equip them with the problem solving skills they need to break down challenges, and gives them the necessary knowledge to propose solutions. As a graduate student at the University of Chicago majoring in Analytics and Applied science, Zhewei (Wyatt) Shi is eager to apply his business experience to drive innovation for our enFocus partners. He shares, “I believe my technical skills will be a valuable asset as I work on enFocus’ projects and help provide meaningful solutions that can drive productivity.” Utilizing tools like Python, SQL, and BI software, he hopes to advance his capabilities as he aspires to be a skilled consultant who can help companies across different industries.

Wyatt enjoys working on handmade crafts in his spare time.

Matthew Friesner from Middlebury, Indiana, also brings strong analytical skills like start-up-oriented problem-solving methodologies from experiences with Start-Up Moxie and the Lacy School of Business. He hopes to apply his knowledge to make solutions a reality. Matthew shares, “I am looking forward to becoming more advanced with data analysis and reading into the story behind data sets.” During his time at enFocus, Matthew will receive hands-on learning to develop data set positioning. He is excited to learn about enFocus’ unique model, with hopes that one day he can create a future venture of his own.

Matthew, a Startup Moxie alumni, receiving a RISE expo check for his company “Bunker Shelving.”

Civic Fellow Morgan Lamon from Fort Wayne, Indiana, is looking to expand his experience project management. Luckily, Morgan will get to work on two project teams over his eight-week internship. He shares, “I am looking forward to developing workflow skills and project management skills, and continuing to develop my ability to communicate with a diverse group of people with various viewpoints and ideas.” His ability to work independently or contribute to a team will be practiced as he works with Fellows and Project Managers to fulfill project deliverables. We look forward to seeing how he advances his communication skills working with different team members and Sponsor partners.

Morgan after he climbed to the top of Mount Vesuvius in Napoli, Italy.

Likewise, Erika Schoeller, an Entrepreneurship Major from West Chicago shares, “I am eager to develop my collaboration skills. Moreover, I want to improve building a community where everyone can support and learn from each other.” Erika’s qualifications in design will allow her to creatively collaborate with the enFocus team and contribute to key marketing functions at enFocus. Erika wants to become well-versed in design as she pursues development for a nutrition app.

Erika presenting on her "Mindful Eating Module" at North Central College Rall Symposium 2023.

Zhewei, Matthew, Morgan, and Erika all bring unique skills like analytical abilities, project management, collaboration techniques, and communication proficiencies to the enFocus team. Now, we are committed to advancing their knowledge so that they may reach their professional goals. As our interns learn and grow, we hope that our region will also benefit from the skills they collectively bring to our communities. Check back next week to see how our highly-skilled interns are fueling entrepreneurship in our region!

Want to know how our talent can use their skills to overcome your greatest challenges? Visit our services page to learn more.