26. 08.2024
It’s my first day of work at qid as a marketing intern. I knew the drill—or at least I thought I did. I entered the office precisely at 11:17 am, expecting a standard first day of quick pleasantries, a 10-minute orientation, and some dull Excel task.
My expectations were shaped by stories from seniors who would complain of being dumped with monotonous tasks that seemed to stretch on forever. Fulfilling sophomore internship stories were a rare find.
But then, 11:19 am hit. I dropped my bag, took my seat, and waited for my task for the day. Instead, Manu, Co-Founder and MD for qid , walked up and greeted me. There was no rehearsed script, no rundown of tasks and timelines. Instead, he sat down and just talked. He asked me about what I had for breakfast, my favorite meme trend, and we bonded over everyday conversations that felt refreshingly genuine.
It wasn’t long before we dived into a deeper discussion about the brand. With every word Manu spoke, his passion for identity spoke through. He linked every little detail back to a greater purpose: the indispensable nature of identity. “Every person deserves to know and be known by their true identity,” he said, with a conviction that was impossible to ignore.
Later, we discuss my plan for the month and he gives me Homework?
To watch the movie Whiplash. I’d heard of this movie but never watched it.
At first, I was taken aback—how does watching a movie fit into marketing? But Manu had a reason. He wanted me to understand the drive to push boundaries, and the discomfort that comes with striving for excellence.
When I showed Manu my work on this blog, I anticipated feedback. Instead, Manu looked at me and said, “There are no two words in the English language more harmful than ‘good job.’” And we laughed.
At that moment, I realized this internship would be anything but ordinary. Manu wasn’t here to hand out participation trophies or offer empty praise. He was here to push, challenge, and make me uncomfortable in the best possible way.
So here I am, a week into my internship, already doing things I never imagined and learning lessons far beyond the basics of marketing. If my first task is anything to go by, this is going to be one hell of a ride.
