Q&A with New York summer intern Olivia Bulzomi

We recently sat down with Olivia Bulzomi, a rising senior at the University of Delaware and a summer intern in our New York office, to learn more about what attracted her to Infinite Global and what she’s hoping to learn during her time with us this summer.

Tell us about yourself.

I am a rising senior at the University of Delaware in Newark, Del. I am pursuing a BA in International Relations, with a concentration in Development, and a specialization in the Middle East. I have three minors: Social Entrepreneurship, English, and Italian.

I have a lot of different interests, and my course load allows me to explore many, if not all, of them. At Delaware, I am involved in the Honors Program and the Horn Entrepreneurship Program. I have been the President of my sorority, Phi Sigma Sigma, for the past two years. I am also a member of Gamma Kappa Alpha, the Italian National Honor Society, and have participated in two Winter Session Study Abroad experiences – one to Paris, and one to Berlin and Munich this upcoming January. I will graduate following my course on International Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystems in the winter.

What drew you to Infinite Global’s internship program?

I’ve been interested in both law and communications for quite some time. I went through phases where I thought I wanted to be a journalist, and then a lawyer, but ultimately decided that I didn’t want to box myself in too much.

Last summer, I was the editorial intern for The Law Report Group’s The Cybersecurity Law Report, where I conducted research in the field of cybersecurity and data protection from a legal perspective and learned about new regulations, like the EU’s GDPR. I became very familiar with drafting articles for the publication’s readership and contributors, who are all legal professionals, and found that I really enjoyed tracking the news and following trends in the industry.

Infinite Global has provided me with more of this experience and has brought me even closer to the client. I have found the increased communication overall to be extraordinarily dynamic and fast paced, which were qualities I was seeking when considering an internship program.

I was also very comfortable during the interview process here. I had never had a video interview before, so I was nervous, but seeing everyone’s faces put me at ease and I got the feeling that everyone genuinely enjoyed working together.

I’m always looking to learn new things, especially as a student with such a broad range of subjects that I am studying, and this program seemed to be challenging while still providing me the opportunity to grow in a new field where I felt open to asking for help.

How did you become interested in PR?

I had little PR experience before this internship, but I really enjoy working closely with people to solve problems and connect on a deeper level. I like the collaborative aspect of the field so much and feel like it will be a good fit for me going forward.

What was your first week like?

My first week was great! I instantly felt relaxed in the office because I recognized everyone from my interview. It took me a little while to get adjusted to the neighborhood, but I love being so close to the United Nations and a lot of green space in places like Bryant Park.

I went out to lunch a few times with people from the office, which was such a fun way to get to know everyone and to explore the area. I had a lot of trainings but jumping into tracking the news and thinking about what might interest clients has helped me familiarize myself with the company greatly.

What are you most excited about doing and/or learning?

I’m excited to learn about Infinite Global and the PR field by diving straight into my responsibilities. I’ve been here six weeks and already am feeling comfortable because of the support and trust everyone in the New York office has shown me. I’m so in awe of everyone’s ability to communicate effortlessly about so many different aspects of the job – from drafting pitches from a certain viewpoint, to discussing a news story, to describing a client – and I’m looking forward to learning from everyone here.

Has anything surprised you so far about the industries we work in or in public relations generally?

I was surprised at all the planning and work that happens in the background. Prior to this position, I never really considered or appreciated the effort that results in things like an attorney’s contribution in an article. There is a great deal of forethought on the PR side to anticipate what the benefit is for the client. The result looks effortless, but there is a lot of work behind the scenes.