CHARLIE’S INTERN EXPERIENCE.

From Intern to Account Executive: My Journey into Healthcare Communications 

Six months ago, I joined Verve as an intern in their Optical team, with a background in marketing and campaign management but no prior experience in the healthcare industry. What started as a leap into the unknown has turned into a rewarding experience, opening my eyes to a whole new industry and leading me to step into a new role as Account Executive (spoiler alert!).

Hitting the Ground Running 

From day one, I was trusted with real responsibility. I worked across two client accounts, learned to manage and maintain client portals, responded to queries, and even had the chance to present my own ideas and research. It wasn’t just about supporting the team – it was about being part of it. 

During my internship, I developed technical skills by learning platforms like WordPress and Mailchimp, and had the opportunity to attend events like 100% Optical – where I saw firsthand how the industry is evolving and innovating. I was even one of the lucky people to try out the new Nuance Audio glasses from EssilorLuxottica—it was incredible to actually put them on and experience the technology for myself! There’s a lot more excitement in the world of optics than I ever thought! 

One of the highlights was helping prepare a presentation for the PM Society Awards, Agency of the Year (headcount under 30) category. It was great to see how much work goes on behind the scenes, from creating the structure of the presentation to the rehearsals. Presenting to a board of people was something I’d never done before and it was great to be able present with the support of the team. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me a valuable experience which led to being invited to the awards ceremony with the team – it was a great evening out! 

Culture That Encourages Growth 

What truly makes Verve special is the people. From my first day, I felt welcomed and valued. Being part of a small team means there’s a genuine sense of community whether it’s celebrating birthdays, joining in for lunch or after-work socials, or even being invited to the Verve Christmas party just three weeks into my internship (a two-day trip to the English countryside, no less!) all of which makes it easy to feel like part of the team early on and build those connections with the team.  

Verve also invests in its team’s learning and development. Weekly insights emails and regular “journal clubs” help us stay connected to the wider world of health communications. As someone in the optical department, I love being exposed to these different areas and these sessions give me insight into what some of the team at Verve are working on, even when I don’t understand the scientific paper.