During my two years at UGA’s Full-time MBA program I was fortunate enough to spend my time as Graduate Assistant at the UGA Small Business Development Center in Athens. The SBDC gave me the unique opportunity to apply what I was learning in the classroom to make an impact on the local small business community.
It was clear to me right from my initial interview that the UGA SBDC in Athens consultants were invested in making sure I was building tangible business skills. They took the time to understand my goals and assigned me projects that were aligned with my interests and career development.
Some examples of the projects I worked on included:
- helping a local business figure out what was causing employee turnover
- participating in business strategy brainstorming sessions
- assessing company websites and recommending strategies to maximize online sales
After hearing that I wanted to work on my public speaking Laura, Michael and Stacy gave me several opportunities to present in front of large audiences. I was able to deliver presentations at a local chamber of commerce meeting and at a Startup 101 Workshop.
Apart from all the skills that I gained during my time at the SBDC I was most impressed with the warm and welcoming culture in the office. I never felt like “the intern” but as a contributing member of the team. My thoughts, ideas and work were valued.