The use of the word ‘entwine’ is deliberate, for interning at the firm means completely immersing yourself into the Lightbox community- you’re given consequential responsibilities, constructive criticism, your opinion is valued, and you can discuss whatever you want with whoever you want without the feelings of judgement and inferiority one might expect from a ‘café’ managing close to half a billion dollars in assets.

I wasn’t sure what to expect coming to Lightbox. I was nervous, eager to impress, and almost certain that the most significant responsibility that I would be given would be along the lines making sure Varun received his daily protein smoothie. I could not be more wrong. I began to realise how vibrant and accepting Lightbox was when, close to the beginning of my time there, I asked if I could step out for a quick lunch. I anxiously approached Varun and said,

‘I’m so sorry about this, but would you mind if I stepped out for just a little bit so I can have lunch with my mum’

‘Sure’, he said, ‘but only if you sing a song loudly for the whole office’.

Tina, followed by several others, was quick to jump on the bandwagon, saying,

‘Yes. You’re definitely going to have to sing- maybe even dance a little’

It was then that I realised that the next few months were going to be fun, and I would be happy here.

Lightbox taught me to meet almost anyone who’s willing to meet- a solid network is one of most important aspects of the job. Never be afraid to ask questions. Take time to speak to everyone in the office- they’re likely to be far more interesting than you. And most importantly, never- ever- underestimate the power of a good story.