Our 2024 Summer Interns Say Farewell to UpHouse!

Winnie Carey – Business Development Assistant

I’ve always been interested in the impact of colour and the history of marketing, and I can confidently say that Under the Influence with Terry O’Reilly is the main reason I’m pursuing a marketing degree. But I realized quickly that my program was lacking in creativity and was confident my resume would get lost in the UpHouse junk folder.  

Yet there I was, May 13, 2024, as a business development assistant. Some of my first tasks at UpHouse were coming up with sticker designs and joining in on campaign brainstorms. From the moment I started at UpHouse, I knew it was filling my need for creativity and that I had found a community that would push me to always do better.  

My first major project was for a weatherization client. A topic so niche not even autocorrect has heard of it. My job was to learn the ins and outs of the industry, but I also learned so much about myself through this work. I learned how much I love research no matter the topic and, because I’m lucky enough to work with such amazing and creative individuals, I was constantly motivated to impress and help the people around me. 

I’m so lucky to be surrounded by an endlessly inspiring group of women and queer people full of creativity and passion. Never in my life did I think I’d say that my work in weatherization landed me a job in business development, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. 

Sydney Huston – Video Production Assistant

I have loved every moment of being a part of the UpHouse team. As soon as I walked through that door, I felt like a true co-worker rather than a student. During my first two weeks at UpHouse, I had already started working on client projects in some capacity. This not only fast-tracked my knowledge of the company’s steps and standards but also gave me confidence that my work was valued and that they trusted me with these projects already.   

My favourite project at UpHouse was our DrinkSense Summer Campaign. I was a part of the behind-the-scenes team and I was able to create the story arc and take the lead on the interviews. This was my first time seeing our crew on set and I absolutely loved every minute of it!  

The most important lesson I have learned from my experience at UpHouse is collaboration. School is set up to teach you to take on everything yourself. You must be able to do it all and do it all to a very high standard. Here at UpHouse, they have built a community based on collaboration and working together. I used to always think that working with people made me look weak or incapable, but it is the opposite. Working with others fosters creativity, efficiency, high quality, fewer errors and more fun. No matter how big or small the task is, they recognize the importance of that task and celebrate it. This is a skill I don’t know I would have appreciated or understood if it hadn’t been for UpHouse. 

Ashna Sharma – Marketing Assistant

Coming into the Marketing Assistant role this summer at UpHouse, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but after the last four months, I can certainly say it’s been challenging, rewarding and everything in between. I was given the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects, from managing print and design projects for clients to coordinating PR boxes for local influencers. 

One of the highlights of my time here was definitely having the chance to help out as a Production Assistant (PA) on a few of our shoots. Being on set taught me so much about the production process, but the best part was watching all the pieces come together in the end.  

Another aspect I loved about working at UpHouse is their commitment to uplifting organizations that are doing meaningful work. For example, Campus Manitoba is an organization that aims to increase access to open education, online courses and career path resources. Working with their team was super fulfilling both creatively and personally.  

Overall, UpHouse really puts trust in their interns to lead significant projects, which has seriously contributed to my learning and development, but if I had to choose the most memorable part about my experience, it would definitely be the people. The UpHouse team is made up of passionate, hard-working and incredibly creative folks who truly made this internship a standout experience.  

Juliana Dabalos – Marketing Assistant

A dull moment at UpHouse? Never heard of her. From strategy workshops to spending 10 hours in a boxing ring (for a video shoot, no actual punches were being thrown), every week of my 3-month internship was something exciting to look forward to. My summer on the Marketing team was the best mix of challenges, accomplishments and learning. As a current marketing student whose experience so far has consisted of volunteer work and case studies, it was fascinating to see actual campaigns being developed and carried out in real-time. 

I was onboarded with a team of four other interns and we felt like a family from the start. Everyone on the UpHouse team was eager to include us in workshops and brainstorms—making sure our Gen-Z voices were heard. I was pulled into multiple projects with clients from a wide variety of industries and I now know more about energy efficiency than I’d probably like to admit.  

Though I got to work on so many cool projects, the Spruce Up Your Story campaign was the most special to me. I was given the opportunity to see this project through from start to (almost) finish! Hours of coordinating, interviewing and brainstorming were put in to give deserving spaces and leaders a platform to spotlight their respective communities. I can’t wait to see the final product! 

Thank you for a summer to remember, UpHouse! 

Scott Maier – Public Relations Assistant

My summer at UpHouse is officially coming to an end. It was short and sweet, kind of like Pedro Pascal meeting your mother, or a leprechaun made of icing sugar. I learned a lot of valuable nuggets about agency life, working life, and really, life in general, while surrounded by so many smart-and-talented-and-awesome colleagues.  

I got to live the best of both worlds at UpHouse. I was hired as a Public Relations Assistant and I quickly became familiar with the nuances of pitching stories to journalists, writing news releases, managing crises (cue the emergency boardroom meeting on my first day), and experiencing the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes with getting your client’s story in the news. My highlight was writing news releases for a client donating money to revitalize community spaces in rural towns. It was great to be a part of such a heart-warming project and work with a corporate client doing good in Manitoba. 

I was also lucky to get swept up by the marketing team, who gave me so many cool opportunities. I was whisked into creative brainstorms, thrown into writing some fun social media copy, became a proofing whiz (an annual report really whips you into shape!) and was a driving force behind a few exciting, public-facing activations and events. I loved being involved in Mocktail Week with DrinkSense, since I’m a sucker for restaurant weeks and love seeing projects come to life in a real, tangible way. 

As my first professional agency experience, UpHouse set the bar so high – thanks to all my mentors and colleagues who made my time here special. I hope it’s not the end!