Sweet on Work: Attending Company Events

It's been about a month since I've started work at Cosmopolitan, and I absolutely love it. I’ve gotten to know the world of books — from PR contacts to how to track the titles most relevant to our readers — and it’s been a lot of fun. As an editorial intern in the books department, I’m at the forefront of the publishing industry; I’ve gotten to see this summer and fall’s newest releases before they hit bookshelves.

What’s different about this summer compared to others, however, is working at Hearst and living in NYC has made it much easier to attend corporate events. Case in point: a Seventeen magazine event last week, where Hearst interns were invited to meet and listen to the top finalists of the magazine’s Pretty Amazing real-girl cover contest.

That day I came, dropped my lunch off in the Cosmo office and headed to the Hearst auditorium to sit in the audience and be filmed for event video coverage. The rows were filled with young, well-dressed girls (very Devil Wears Prada; all the interns looked amazing!) — I was lucky to snag a seat next to another Cosmo intern just before the event began. A fun Cafme cameo though: Carolann from Seventeen was at the end of my row!

Seeing Seventeen’s EIC, Ann Shoket, so close to me just didn’t seem real nor has seeing any editor-in-chief. My desk is by Kate White’s office in Cosmo, and from its windows, I can see her, dressed fabulously, hard at work meeting with people or taking calls. I’m so close to the pulse of the magazine. It hasn’t fully processed. Around the office, Kate herself is so personable and approachable — and her example really spreads to everyone else. Cosmo is a great, nurturing place to work. I’ve been lucky to have had internships in such supportive, relaxed environments. Unfortunately, from the stories I've heard, I know all too well not every office is like that. Embrace the ones that are.

The Seventeen event was especially striking though and a highlight of my first month at Hearst. So often I would read about events like it in my Seventeen or Teen Vogue magazines in high school. I never fathomed I would attend one. But there I was, an intern at Cosmo, sitting in the audience. It was real.

We heard each of the girls talk, had a chance to ask them questions and when the event ended, were all invited to a cupcake reception. I was especially excited for this: I had been really homesick for D.C. cupcakes (I gave up on New York’s after trying one or two places), and I found at the event Georgetown Cupcakes had been shipped from the District (see my cupcake pictured above). How did I know? The Georgetown Cupcake symbol on the liner. I smiled, ate my strawberry cupcake — the flavor Ann recommended and that I had been eager to try at home — and wandered back up to Cosmo’s office. It was back to work, but it was a fun field trip.

I'm so excited to see what comes next at Cosmo. Whether it's attending events like Seventeen's or just making copies for my editor, each day has had distinct character, character that has made my internship here one of my most — if not the most — memorable yet. I hope all of yours have been the same!

Until next time here's to work and fun — they can and do exist together!