The BIG day!

Today was the day most of the interns have been preparing for since the beginning of our internship. There was such a buzz around the office, interns...avps...svps..everyone was busily preparing for the presentations this morning.

I arrived at work around 8:30 to finish a few things on my powerpoint. Once everyone started to arrive, we began practicing in front of each other. Audrey helped Carter and I reword a few phrases and then sent us on our way.

I guess I really didn't realize it on the Outlook invitation, but the presentations were in the executive conference room. It may not seem like a big deal, but once i realized it...it was so exciting! The exec conference room is right next to Martha's and they are fishbowl style. It made the presenting to the CEO aspect so much more legitimate. :) Here are a few photos of Martha's offices. If you look in the background, there is the exec. conference room. The first link has a few photos of my building.

Martha's Blog - Starrett Leigh
NY Mag article - Martha Stewart's SL office

After we sat down, Robin Marino, co-ceo and president of merchandising, introduced herself gave a short speech about the company and the importance of what we are doing. She is a very busy lady, so we had a very strict schedule to tend to. She asked if anyone would like to start. Something I have learned through school is to always volunteer to go first. Since it was also one of Audrey's final words to us, I stood up and said I'll go! It was a combination of I do not know what I am thinking and complete confidence. I wanted to set the tone.

While preparing for my presentation, i wasn't nervous about presenting, i was nervous I was going to put people to sleep. So it was another thought if I went first it would actually seem interesting.

I'm not going to lie, I do not remember a lot of my speech, it was a whirlwind standing in front of 12 interns, the CEO, and all the interns SVPs and AVPs. I think I did a pretty good job based on reactions. I'm not sure if I mentioned it yesterday, but my presentation proposed pricing our home decorating products at a lower price to be truly competitive in the market. Once I was finished, Robin completely agreed with what I had to say and said thank you, it was very well expressed. This comment meant a lot to me because I have looked up to Mindi and Theresa, the SVP, and how they are so well spoken about everything. I was so pleased Robin thought somewhat the same of me.

Everyone did such a great job with their presentations. During lunch, Carter, Theresa, Mindi, and I were talking and they seemed so proud of Carter and I. I think that was what I truly wanted. I wanted to impress Mindi and Theresa. While everyone else matters, they were the really important ones. I wanted to prove to them I could do it. Once we got back to our desks, Theresa came up to us again and told us we rocked it. You have no idea how happy I was. Theresa and Mindi were super excited Carter and I were two of the first three to present. I didn't realize this at the time, but when Robin asked if anyone wanted to go first, they must have been looking at Carter and I to stand up. Boy, am I glad I did!

The rest of the day was filled with the excitement of our presentations and computing rug sales. wooho! I really couldn't believe what I just did. Who knew I would be presenting to the CEO of MSLO? Any presentation I do now will be a breeze. Can it get much harder than what I went through today? I prepared for pretty much anything now, at least i think so....

After work, Carter, Marissa, Chase and I went out to eat to celebrate. Per Carter's suggestion, we went to Mexican Radio in Nolita. We had soo much fun here. We were seriously there from 6:30-11:30. Who knew a dinner would turn into a 5 hour discussion about MS, our summer, and anything under the sun. Of course the margaritas and mojitos were flowing. And I tried telling everyone how much better margaritas are on the rocks versus frozen. I think Chase finally agreed, but no one else did. Thanks dad! =) Around 11, Sarah, another intern, arrived with her cousin and we moved to another bar called Firefly.

I wish more interns would have came out, but we had such a fun time. We were out til 3:30am or so. I am really going to miss these guys. I wish we would have done more things outside of work together. I feel as if I did something with one or two interns every week, but we never all went out together.

Today was such a whirlwind day for me. It is hard to believe it all happened in the same day. Even though I have tomorrow still, it was a great way to end it all.

-Sam