Sometimes, you have to step outside of your box to discover the opportunities that leave the biggest impact. For me, that decision came in February when I applied to become a Team Lead for Adcom's Future Marketers program, a four-week marketing internship experience that pairs college students with marketing professionals to solve a collaborative client project.

My motivation was simple: I wanted to break away from my normal work routine while fulfilling a personal goal of becoming more active in leadership and community engagement. Although mentored in one capacity or another, this opportunity felt different. Throughout my career, I have served on the AIGA Cleveland Board, participated in portfolio reviews, spoken on panels and mentored aspiring creatives. Those experiences taught me that good leaders are rarely about having every answer. Instead, it is about helping others discover their own.

Waiting for the Opportunity

The time between my interview in February and receiving a decision at the end of April felt much longer than it was. I tried to stay realistic and avoid becoming too invested in the outcome. Outwardly, I played it cool. Internally, I genuinely hoped I would be selected.

When I learned I had been chosen as one of only eight Team Leads, excitement quickly gave way to responsibility. As the program approached, I found myself wondering whether I was prepared to guide a group of interns through such an important experience.

Fortunately, the program facilitators prepared us well. Team Lead training focused less on finding the "right" answers and more on navigating difficult conversations, recognizing teachable moments and learning how to support both the interns and one another. While the preparation eased many of my concerns, it also helped me improve my leadership skills, though a healthy amount of nervousness remained.

Learning to Pivot

Just one week before the program began, my co-lead unexpectedly stepped away, requiring our leadership team to reorganize. Instead of working with the partner I had anticipated, I joined two colleagues I had not worked closely with before. As a creative, adapting to change is second nature. Agency projects rarely unfold exactly as planned. Clients change direction, deadlines shift and unexpected challenges become opportunities to innovate. This experience reflected that reality.

Between meeting our groups, attending panels, participating in educational sessions and receiving the project brief, we had little time to settle in before getting to work. The brief itself came with its own ambiguity, which, honestly, felt like an authentic introduction to agency life. Despite the uncertainty, our team brought enthusiasm, curiosity and a willingness to go beyond, maintaining a positive attitude throughout. Within days, what started as introductions quickly became thoughtful collaboration, and our team found its rhythm.

Discovering My Leadership Style

Over those four weeks, I learned something important about myself as a leader. I discovered that I do not lead by being the loudest voice in the room. Instead, I lead with honesty and empathy, and by creating space for others. Space to ask questions without fear of judgment, make mistakes without embarrassment and explore ideas before they are fully formed.

Watching our interns grow was one of the most rewarding parts of the program, which was highlighted during the final week as we prepared for client presentations. After every rehearsal, the team received detailed feedback—from building stronger narrative tension to refining the language each presenter used. Rather than becoming discouraged, they embraced every suggestion and came back stronger with each revision.

During our very first meeting, I suggested that if the opportunity arose, it would be more beneficial to present first. You set the tone and establish the standard for everyone who follows. When presentation day arrived, I was thrilled to see that they had taken that advice and confidently chose to present first.

Watching them deliver their presentation was easily one of my proudest moments of the program. They told a compelling story, presented with confidence and received outstanding feedback from both the client and agency leadership. More importantly, they trusted the work they had put in. It reinforced something I have always believed: confidence isn't something you simply tell people to have—it's something you help them build.

More Than a Four-Week Program

Somewhere along the way, I had stopped counting the days because I was enjoying the experience so much. From daily check-ins with my group to collaborating with fellow Team Leads and connecting with the entire Future Marketers class, every week brought new opportunities to learn alongside the students.

What began as an opportunity to become more involved in my community reminded me why I value mentorship so deeply. I am incredibly proud of our interns, grateful for my fellow Team Leads and appreciative of everyone who made the Future Marketers program possible. As a creative, I’ve spent most of my career creating tangible things. What I did not expect was how much I would learn alongside the students. This program reminded me that one of the most meaningful things we can help cultivate is confidence in another person.

If the opportunity presents itself again, I will not spend months pretending to be indifferent. I'll apply with confidence, knowing that sometimes the best thing you can do is take the first step. You never know which opportunity will remind you why you enjoy what you do.

About the Author

Asha McClendon is a Cleveland native, a dedicated creative with 5 years in the creative marketing space. She finds joy in finding visual solutions for client branding, marketing and product problems through critical and creative thinking. Outside of work she enjoys interacting and cultivating the art and design space in Cleveland’s community.