Summer in the city can represent many different things to working New Yorkers. Happy hours outside, summer or casual Fridays and the feeling of being overrun with eager summer interns looking to gain experience toward their future careers. With this in mind, we thought it would be fun to chat with some of Made Music Studio’s former interns who have all remained and chosen to make their career creating music and sound for the world’s biggest brands. In fact, our small but mighty team boasts five former interns who have now been at the company for a collective 72 (!) years.

Made Music Studio’s roster of interns-turned-senior-full-timers include:

● Danielle Venne, Executive Creative Director, Music Production

● Mike Burke, VP, Business & Product Operations

● Mike Stango, Director, Global Brand Partnerships + Client Success

● Mickey Alexander, Senior Music Producer + Creative Director

● Joseph Ohegyi, Director, Content Studio

We spoke with this group to learn about their experiences, lessons for future interns and entry level employees and what they would tell their former intern selves based on what they know today.

Make Connections IRL

With so many businesses being hybrid these days or even entirely remote, it’s more important than ever to make connections in person. Set up a coffee with a past colleague, grab lunch with the department head you want to learn more about, take the elevator with your new coworker.

*Before MMS’* ***Mike Burke*** *became VP, Business + Product Operations, he interned at our previous studio in Midtown, Manhattan. If this photo was placed on the board, staff knew he was the intern on duty that day.*

It may not be for everyone, but putting the extra effort in to show up in person can make a meaningful impact, whether it’s when interviewing for an internship, making connections or when you land the job. This is how Mike Burke, our VP of Business and Product Operations, makes the most of the hybrid experience.

“In an age with so many digital access points like LinkedIn or Zoom, it can mean a lot for someone to reach out for an in-person conversation,” he says. “There’s more weight there because it’s an implicit human interaction and signals a real effort to build a relationship. Try to make the human connections, look someone in the eye, get out and network.”

Say Yes and Be Curious

One trait our past interns have in common is a sense of curiosity. While challenges may be presented at a new job — maybe trying a trending AI tool, or completing a project within budget — one of the best ways to grow in your career is to keep an open mind and give it a go. After all, you’ll almost always have a team or a manager to support. You may make mistakes, but when you say yes, you'll learn a lot, and perhaps make a few discoveries along the way.

***Joseph Ohegyi*** *(Director, Content Studio) is one of Made Music Studio’s longest-tenured team members, with over 15 years of experience at the company.*

MMS’ Joseph Ohegyi began as an intern in 2008 with an initial interest and education in music composition. Early on, he took on odd tasks like designing decks and other presentation materials, utilizing his creative background to support the team any way he could. The result? He now leads design and content for the entirety of our brand.

“I would say my M.O. has always been to not really say no to anything,” he says. “You'll learn a lot more in trying to figure out how to do it. Just say ‘yes’ to challenges put in front of you, and then try to figure out how to get it done with whatever means you have.”

Be Memorable AKA Wear a Suit (or Don’t)

It’s competitive out there — landing the internship and then hopefully making it more permanent can often feel like an uphill battle. While passion and enthusiasm have their value, leaning into who you are can go a long way in separating yourself from the pack.

Our ECD Danielle Venne joined as an intern in 2006 after receiving her Masters in Music at NYU, looking to learn more about the business and technical side of the industry. She offers advice as an intern and also as someone who’s managed interns as our head music producer: “Don’t be afraid to be unique and have your special interests lead. Timing with internships may not be linear and a job may not always be available, but if you’re interesting and memorable, those relationships might come back years later when there is a spot.”

Danielle recalls when Made Music Studio’s Mike Stango (Director, Global Brand Partnerships + Client Success) arrived to his interview wearing a full suit based on family advice. What he did not know was that Made Music Studio encourages personal style and taste rather than suits and blazers. Still spoken about today, almost 10 years later, his suit made him memorable as potential interns flowed through the studio. By trying to look the part, Mike ended up standing out — and became part of Made Music Studio lore in the process.

Be a Creative Chameleon

Even you have lots of experience in your chosen field, new technology, colleagues or even departments will continue to shift how you collaborate at work. Being adaptable in these situations will show how valuable you are not just as an intern, but as a team member.

*MMS’* ***Mickey Alexander*** *says musical inspiration can come in many forms — even a toy piano. (Listen extra closely to the* ***AT&T*** *sonic identity and you might hear it.)*

Made Music Studio’s own creative chameleon Mickey Alexander is a Senior Music Producer by title, but become one of our long-timers because of his ability to flex his skills across projects and tools. “One day we’re designing tiny sounds for products used by millions, the next we’re creating sound and music for museums. It’s this audio nerd’s dream job.”

But things have changed since he started as an intern nearly 17 years ago, especially with the introduction of hybrid work and changes in music production. “There’s so much flexibility and fun technology to explore that allows us to compose, record, mix, and test things — I’ve composed some of my most successful musical pieces on a laptop from the seat of an airplane!”

Find a Mentor

Not every company offers a formal mentorship program, and it takes a certain amount of workplace comfort to reach out to the C-Suite for an informational meeting. But even finding a colleague whose work inspires you, or learning about other departments can be a form of “finding a mentor.” Maybe you’re not interested in Operations, but asking the right questions during an interdepartmental meeting may lead you down a career path you wouldn’t have expected.

Mike Stango, who joined as an intern out of St John’s University in 2016, sought out Made Music Studio in pursuit of being a composer and producer. But he was determined to learn much more than that to get a full understanding of every department. During the internship he found a mentor in a new senior hire and took it upon himself to absorb as much as he could from her: “I wanted to talk to her as much as I could and learn from everything I can. ‘How did you even get here?’ ‘What are the steps you took?’ I even directly asked her, ‘what do you do in an interview to do well and get picked?’” He took the advice: when a role opened up on the client success team, he used all of her tips and got the job. He’s been able to grow in the role since, and operates on both the CS and brand partnerships sides of the business.

“The biggest thing I could say is like you get out what you put in,” he says. “And I think that goes beyond the internship, that’s important to remember in life as well.”

Header photo by Ben Arons