Name: Margot McNeely
Class Year: 2024
Major: Growth and Structure of Cities
Hometown: Eugene, OR
Internship Organization: Sidekick
Job Title: Marketing Intern
Location: Eugene, OR
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
Sidekick Enterprises, Inc. (sidekick.online) is a start-up founded in early 2021, based in Eugene, Oregon, which is developing and bringing to market an app called Sidekick designed to empower people to make new friends and pursue the hobbies they enjoy. The company’s mission is to foster connection, belonging, and joy. This mission is motivated by three primary concerns: first, that many people are lonely and find it hard to make new friends; second, that many other people are frustrated that they have certain interests that their existing friends do not share; and third, that existing social networking sites keep users online, isolated, and stressed out. Sidekick’s solution is to help users make friends through shared interests, understanding that the best way to make a connection is to do an activity together. The company has developed a prototype for the Sidekick app and is currently fundraising to develop a fully-functioning app and market it to potential users.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I applied for this internship first and foremost because I believe strongly in the mission of the company, described above. It is a mission that I can see connections to in my own life, as well as the lives of my friends and family. Furthermore, having worked with Sidekick last summer as an intern, I knew that my supervisors would be good mentors who would help me learn about the expectations of an office workplace. Finally, the fact that this is an internship at a start-up means that I get to take on many projects that an intern wouldn't usually be part of simply due to how small the team is.
Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?
Informal, convivial, mission-driven
Zoom, presentations, interests
What is most rewarding about your internship?
The most rewarding part of this internship was getting to have direct input on the final product that Sidekick is working to develop. Getting to sit in meetings with professionals – app developers, project managers, advertisers, etc. – and have my opinions and analyses heard and considered thoughtfully was incredibly valuable. During this internship, I felt that I was able to really make a mark at the company and help contribute to several key turning points in the development of the Sidekick app.
Visit the Summer Internship Stories page to read more about student internship experiences.