Running a business is a whirlwind of tasks, sales, logistics, marketing, and more. Yet every summer, I make time for something that might seem tangential to the day-to-day: mentoring high school interns. For nearly a decade, I’ve been partnering with a local high school, giving students real-world business experience. These are often their first “official” internships, and I try to ensure it’s more than just coffee runs. If anything, my goal is to pay forward the incredible mentorship I received in my own early career.
How It All Started
Back in 2017, I connected with a local high school in Los Angeles through an old roommate’s mom, who knew the school’s internship director. (Networking wins again!) After meeting her, I offered to host 1–2 interns each summer, promising them real work that would impact the business, rather than relegating them to busywork. Reflecting on my own high school and college days, I was lucky to have a few fantastic internships. The mentors I found then still guide me today, so this feels like the natural next step: give kids a head start like I had.
I usually interview about 4–6 students before summer break. Since this might be their first formal interview, I keep it casual. I’m not expecting them to have experience, so I focus on enthusiasm and curiosity: Do they show genuine interest in how businesses operate? Are they excited to learn? If the answer is yes, I typically give them a shot. After all, I was once that kid, eager to soak up whatever a pro could teach me.
My internship program generally spans 2.5–3 months, essentially the summer. Students often have family trips, so I stay flexible. All my interns receive project-based tasks. I learned early on that if they don’t see something through to completion, they can lose interest quickly. So I assign them a clear start-and-finish project—maybe researching a market trend or organizing influencer partnerships and have them present updates weekly. This way, they see tangible progress and stay engaged.
I always start by asking what they want to learn. If someone’s keen on social media marketing, I might have them build out our influencer/affiliate marketing strategy, find a box supplier for influencer kits, or even help design the box itself. If they’re curious about other parts of the brand, like inventory or finance, they can shadow me on those tasks too. The key is to let them explore so they can figure out what lights them up.
Though most interns only stay for the summer, some come back or stick around beyond their initial stint. One intern has been with me for four years—she’s now running her own startup, and I’ve transitioned into more of an advisory role for her. We do monthly check-ins, and hearing her updates is a total joy. Moments like this remind me how impactful a simple summer internship can be.
Challenges & Benefits
Interns are, by definition, inexperienced, and juggling them can be tricky. They go on family vacations, they’re learning time management, and sometimes projects drag. But I don’t sweat it—these kids aren’t employees. My goal is to inspire, not to crack the whip. The main reward is seeing them grow, discover their passions, and leave with confidence to tackle bigger challenges in college or beyond.
Some of my interns have gone on to pursue business or entrepreneurship careers, and others stay in touch to show me their progress. It’s seriously gratifying. I don’t need them to credit me for their success, just knowing I played a small role is enough. The satisfaction I get from helping a young person find their path is more than enough “payment.”
You might think this is all for the students, but Tantos benefits too. In a startup, there’s always a backlog of tasks, research projects, minor marketing initiatives, and administrative odds and ends that can fall by the wayside. Having an intern tackle these frees me up for higher-level work. Beyond the extra set of hands, I love their fresh perspectives. They ask questions I might never consider, and their sense of wonder reminds me why I love building brands in the first place.
Paying It Forward
If you’re thinking of starting an internship program, go for it. Reach out to a local high school or college, talk to the internship director, and see who they can connect you with. Don’t be afraid to vet the students and ensure they’re truly interested. And make sure you can offer them meaningful work, nobody wants to spend a summer fetching coffee. Assign projects that begin and end within the internship timeframe; it gives them a sense of accomplishment. Lastly, be patient. They’re not polished pros yet, and a little grace goes a long way.
At the end of the day, these internships are about paying it forward. I was lucky enough to have mentors guiding me early on, and if I can pass that on to even one intern each summer, it’s worth every bit of time. Who knows—maybe in a few years, I’ll be the one asking them for advice. That’s the beauty of mentorship: it’s a gift that keeps on giving.
