Forging a new mentorship and training model for the post-COVID era

For most of our existence, MRC has integrated remote work and distributed teams, but the pandemic era still meant some big changes for us. With our entire workforce now working remotely for the foreseeable future, we’ve been experimenting with new ways to connect and to ensure that our team has ways to grow together. Mentorship and training have always been an important part of our model. We don’t necessarily search for folks experienced in project management and EVM; instead, we search for the right people and plan to spend a year or more training, educating and working with them to build the needed skills in ways that resonate with each individual. This is especially true for the interns we bring on to the team. COVID forced a change in many areas, and it has changed how we train, mentor and work with our interns. 

For an intern, things can feel overwhelming and intimidating no matter their field. An intern starting in our specialized field during an ongoing pandemic needs an extra level of resilience. Lucky for MRC, we found exactly that in our intern Vayl. 

Vayl graduated from the University of Vermont in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in physics, with minors in math and astronomy. She knew that the engineering and research paths weren’t where she wanted to be, but she was interested in a field adjacent to physics and astronomy. Vayl’s mother knew Manny and Pamela Abela through her work and put her daughter in touch with them to discuss a potential internship. Vayl also chatted with MRC team members Brandi Gingery and Sally Wine and saw the passion and energy they have for their work. That’s when she began to consider a career in project consulting. 

Vayl admitted that starting an internship during a pandemic meant a learning curve during training. Without a background in EVM, she had to start with a few foundational technical skills. During training, she pushed through hours of videos and then participated in discussions before taking what she’d learned and applying it in a real-world setting. Vayl said that one of the most important things she’s learned so far is that “the difference between a good job and a great job is double-checking your work.” 

Though the process has had its “ups and downs,” Vayl said that the remote working and training process has given her the opportunity to collaborate with more people than if she were working solely in person. She added that while remote work can occasionally be lonely, she feels that MRC has been “incredibly welcoming and so generous with their time and patience in making sure that I am set up in a good working environment.” 

Vayl’s experience as an intern is helping MRC develop better training programs for the long term, guiding us toward the right balance of accountability, support and learning. We need a model that is moldable for any intern – something we’re able to flex for individuals, rather than trying to force them to fit a cookie-cutter setup. We need a process that fits with our flexible people-first culture. It’s an ongoing learning process for everyone, and Vayl’s experience and feedback is integral in the development of such a process. 

Through all the bumps and growth opportunities, Vayl’s internship has already been hugely beneficial both for her and for MRC. 

“Overall, my first two months have been a great experience,” she said. “I am so incredibly grateful to MRC for taking me on as an intern.”