Staff Spotlight: Julia Hurtado

It has to be when I went to Rome. I'm a big history person and I love carbs, so Rome was my place! I got to explore the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, the Trevi fountain and literally all the piazzas and went to Vatican city. Also, I got to eat my heart out in pasta, pizza, and gelato. It was a surreal experience to see and experience such historical things for myself. I think about Rome a lot still and I have plans to return.

I have become more confident in my ability to do great work and pitch forward any ideas that I think would help us better improve. Additionally, I've become more responsible, timely, professional, and just learn to accept failure when it happens and move forward. Also, I learned to not shy away from hearing what I needed to improve on and use that information to really grow within my field. All things that I feel helped me grow from being a shy and timid graduate to someone open to improving herself and being confident along the way.

One of our interns got the opportunity to fly out and represent her host company in Milan, all expenses paid. While she was there, she met other professionals in the fashion industry like her and they connected and it turns out they had an office in her city back in the US. She then was able to use that network connection to secure some designs for her final year project.

Not only did she get to fly to out to Milan, but she also met important people in her field who helped her later on both in her career and while she was studying at University. Talk about connections!!

I would do our 6-month graduate internship in London. I really like this program because it is a sustainable internship with it being a paid internship. It also fully immerses you into the London work culture and lifestyle. You truly get a full understanding of what it means to be a part of the company and are treated as a full-time staff member as well.

I think the length of it, the fact that it’s paid and that you are doing the same work as graduates are doing really gives you an advantage over your peers and a great internship experience.

What I love about my company is that it focuses on sustainable internship experiences and a one-to-one experience for our interns. It is not a secret that studying or interning abroad is very pricey, and because of that, it often limits people from it. Capital Placement is working on getting paid internships for our interns participating in our graduates' programs for 6-months. This allows our interns to get work experience, make some money and survive in some of the world's most expensive cities.

By focusing on sustainable internships, we can open the doors and opportunities for so many inspiring students and graduates who may not have had the chance. I'm was especially proud of our team when we decide to introduce a scholarship to further help students intern abroad. It was great to be a part of a team that wanted to help others.

I think the biggest factor is, to be honest. This factor will determine the type of company you are and the environment you create for yourself and your employees. Additionally, it will also help a company because their customers know they are honest and will, in turn, allow customers to comfortably trust and respect your mission. In the end, being honest will help a company stay successful in the long-term.