Guest post written by Anna Hernandez who has been interning with Zealyst this summer
I have been working with Zealyst for a few weeks now, and I have already learned so much from the loving group that resembles a family more than a business. Just a little over a month ago, I moved to Seattle from Chicago (Go Bears/Cubs!) to spend the last couple of weeks before my big eight-month trip abroad with my sister and brother-in-law. But, after that first initial week of exploring and getting to know the city, I began to feel a little useless. That’s when I found Zealyst (or at least when I was connected with the wonderful Martina). I soon set things up with her and made the trip over to Zealyst Headquarters. I walked into the colorful office to find dogs jumping around me and a overwhelming amount of zebras, ranging from pictures to coffee mugs (I hadn’t heard the story yet). Then, I met the group who makes the magic of Zealyst happen and right away, I knew I would love helping out here for the next couple of weeks.
Though I consider myself the lowly intern, they never treat me as such (Britta likes to call me the “essential” intern). I can’t even remember how many times she has apologized for tasking me with the incredibly easy job of digitizing data from their past huddles. A few weeks have passed now and I have fallen into the routine of coming to the office twice a week, chatting with whoever is there, playing with the puppies, and stretching at 11:11. I’ve even had the opportunity to attend a huddle and see Zealyst from the outside, the overall outcome of the brainstorming and whiteboard sessions the group puts so much effort into. My days of scanning may be over, but I have turned my attention to researching an ancient connection to the idea of networking. I am studying anthropology and archaeology in college so we figured it would be an interesting way to bring my interests into the fold.
My experience at Zealyst has truly opened my eyes to the world of startups. Previously, I had only a vague idea and I usually associated the idea with a boring world of business and making money (and Facebook, of course). I have realized there is so much more to it and just exactly how fun and enjoyable working to bring an idea or passion to life can be. Add that to my now constant curiosity about the subject and I’ve ended up asking my brother-in-law, the quintessential entrepreneur and the guy I have to thank for connecting me with Zealyst, a million questions about it all (he’s now hoping I follow in his footsteps). Britta and Martina definitely gave me the best introduction to startups that a girl could ask for and I am all the better for it. I wanted a way to be useful and I was able to do that at Zealyst. And in return, I acquired new knowledge and experience, got an inside look into the world of a startup, and got to be a part of one amazing zeal.