Internship Spotlight: Paige Metcalf - The Women's Network

I want to begin by expressing my gratitude for the Arts Student Employment Fund Award , which made it possible for me to pursue my internship over the summer. I am a rising junior at McGill, double majoring in Sociology and Political Science, with an interest in gender inequalities and the intersectionality of career and academic fields. Throughout my two years at McGill, I have found the most fulfillment in courses that explore the gender dynamics of professional development and mentorship, particularly Sociology 270: Sociology of Gender, which I completed in the Winter 2025 term. Knowing how drastically these opportunities can change women's lives, I knew that this summer I wanted to contribute to an organization that empowers women in higher education, such as The Women's Network.

I was introduced to The Women's Network in the Fall of 2024 through one of my friends, who served as a campus ambassador for our local chapter here at McGill. As the "largest collegiate women's networking organization in North America, TWN cultivates and celebrates women's ambition by connecting members to industry leaders, professional development resources, and career opportunities. Through attending various TWN events on campus throughout the academic year, I was able to see firsthand the level of impact these networking opportunities and professional development workshops had on students. When I learned about the internship at The Women's Network National, I jumped at the opportunity to get involved with the. I was elated with the idea of contributing to the positive change that The Women's Network National was creating.

Throughout my internship with the Women's Network National, I served as an Account Management Intern, which meant that I was responsible for reestablishing three chapters that had been dormant for the past two years. My primary responsibilities included reaching out to current students to inform them that the chapter was relaunching, finding students who might be interested in applying for executive board positions, conducting interviews with interested students, and managing the chapter's Instagram accounts. As an AMI intern, I was required to balance administrative skills through DM and outreach management, as well as interview and social skills, which I developed through conducting personalized interviews every week. Additionally, I demonstrated creativity by devising new ways to engage students in the relaunch of the chapters.

One of the most rewarding parts of my internship was fully reestablishing the McMaster University chapter of TWN. I was personally able to interview the now-President of the McMaster chapter, and it was a fantastic experience to see her true passion and drive for the network, knowing she was going to make an amazing President! Through the ten-week internship and countless hours of outreach, I provided women at McMaster with the opportunity to connect with TWN's professional development network and resources.

Because my internship with The Women’s Network was fully remote, it was sometimes difficult to feel connected to my co-interns and truly see the impact my work was having on students at different Universities. After mentioning this challenge to my supervisors, I was able to schedule more regular check-ins with her and fellow interns, which allowed me to feel much more connected to those on my team.

This internship drastically increased my confidence, as well as my interviewing and networking skills. Most importantly, the internship demonstrated to me the value of creating and maintaining professional relationships, and it gave me the confidence to pursue opportunities I may not have considered before.

The financial support provided through the Arts Student Employment Fund Award enabled me to dedicate myself to my work with TWN without financial stress or the need to manage multiple jobs, covering my housing, groceries, and other living expenses. I would like to sincerely thank the Arts Undergraduate Society for their support of McGill students. My internship with the Women's Network was life-changing, and it would not have been possible without their generosity.