Summary
Deltek’s summer internship program is about more than professional experience—it’s an opportunity for interns to gain confidence, explore career paths and make a meaningful impact from day one. Through real-world projects, mentorship and collaboration, interns and leaders alike discovered that growth happens when people learn from one another.
For many students, an internship is a first opportunity to apply classroom learning in a professional environment. It's a chance to build new skills, explore potential career paths and gain hands-on experience. For managers, it's an opportunity to mentor emerging talent, share their expertise and help the next generation of professionals find their footing.
But as we reflected on this summer's internship experience at Deltek, one thing became clear: the learning wasn't one-sided. Across teams and departments, interns were trusted with meaningful work, encouraged to contribute new ideas, and challenged to step outside their comfort zones. Along the way, they gained confidence, developed new skills, and discovered what excites them about their future careers.
Managers experienced something equally valuable. Fresh perspectives sparked new conversations, thoughtful questions challenged assumptions and mentoring relationships served as a reminder of the impact that comes from investing in emerging talent.
The projects varied. The lessons did, too. But a common thread emerged throughout every conversation: growth happens when people are willing to learn from one another.
What Interns & Leaders Had to Say
From Observer to Contributor
Many students begin an internship expecting to spend their first few weeks watching from the sidelines. While learning and observation are important, Deltek interns quickly discover that meaningful experience comes from participating in real projects and contributing to meaningful business outcomes.
For Siena Gleason, a rising junior at Boston University, that opportunity came much sooner than expected.
"When I came to Deltek, I expected to help polish release communications and sit in on meetings. Instead, I was trusted to create major assets for upcoming releases and contribute meaningful work from the start. Seeing blogs I wrote published on Deltek's website has been incredibly rewarding. I've been treated like a member of the team, not just a summer intern, and I've learned so much by doing, not just observing." – Product Marketing Intern
That early trust helps interns build confidence while gaining firsthand experience in how their work connects to larger business goals.
Working alongside Siena throughout the summer, Logan Ferro saw firsthand how curiosity, initiative and a willingness to learn can quickly turn into real impact.
"I've been consistently impressed by how quickly our intern turned ideas into action. With every check-in, there was tangible progress on a capstone project, even while navigating a new organization and building something from the ground up. What stood out most was the thoughtfulness behind the work. At every stage, there was a focus on creating value that would continue long after the internship concluded." – Senior Product Marketing Manager
When interns are given meaningful opportunities and the support to succeed, they can begin making an impact from day one.
From Questions to New Perspectives
Internships are often framed around what interns learn from their managers. Yet many leaders found that the experience offered valuable lessons for them as well. Fresh perspectives, thoughtful questions, and genuine curiosity challenged teams to think differently about work they encounter every day.
Elaine Hess, a long-time Deltek employee, reflected on some of the most rewarding moments that came from seeing familiar challenges through a new set of eyes.
"What impressed me most was our intern's curiosity. He genuinely wanted to understand not just what we were doing, but why. The thoughtful questions he asked sparked great conversations and encouraged us to look at familiar work through a different lens. It was a reminder that internships are not just about helping students learn. Teams benefit from the fresh perspectives and new ideas interns bring as well." – Senior Director of Human Resources
The best mentoring relationships create space for learning in both directions. While interns gain practical experience, teams often benefit from new perspectives that inspire fresh thinking.
For Zaki Ahmed, a rising junior at Cornell, that openness made a lasting impression.
"Deltek gave me the opportunity to apply my unique academic background while collaborating with the HR team, who were always eager to hear my perspective. I was trusted to contribute to important discussions and decisions, and the feedback I received helped me grow both professionally and personally. The experience showed me that even as an intern, your ideas can make a meaningful impact." – HR, Legal & Operations Intern
When interns feel empowered to contribute their ideas, everyone learns something new.
From Exploration to Direction
An internship at Deltek provides much more than professional experience. It gives students the opportunity to test their interests, explore different career paths and gain clarity about what they want from their future.
For Morgan Giles, a rising junior at UVA, one of the most important lessons was learning that growth doesn't come from having all the answers before you begin.
"One of the biggest lessons I learned this summer was that I didn't need to know everything before taking on a challenge. At the beginning of my internship, I worried that my limited knowledge of sales, government contracting (GovCon) and certain platforms would hold me back. Over time, I realized that being willing to ask questions, conduct research and remain open to feedback was more important than already having every answer. That mindset gave me the confidence to take on new responsibilities and trust my ability to learn along the way." – GovCon Sales Intern
That confidence often comes from exposure to real-world work environments, projects and professionals.
As Garrison Kedda, Morgan’s manager stated, internships help students discover what truly interests them and where they can see themselves succeeding.
"Getting exposure to real-world projects and professionals while exploring career options helps interns figure out what they actually want in a career, not just what looks good on paper. Sitting in on real conversations, seeing how a team operates day to day and working alongside people at different stages of their careers gives them something no classroom can: a clear sense of what kind of environment and role is the right fit for them." – Sales Development Representative
Sometimes the greatest value of an internship isn't knowing exactly where you're headed. It's gaining the confidence and clarity to take the next step.
From Uncertainty to Confidence
Learning happens quickly when interns are given opportunities to tackle unfamiliar problems, navigate uncertainty and stretch beyond their comfort zones.
For Rohan Saini, a rising senior at University of Maryland, this internship helped reinforce both his interests and his confidence in pursuing them.
"This internship confirmed that I'm interested in technology sales and customer-facing roles. I enjoy solving business problems, building relationships and learning how technology can help organizations work more effectively." – Global Sales Intern
While internships can help students identify future career paths, they also help build resilience. The most meaningful growth often happens when people learn to push through challenges rather than avoid them.
Linda Dininger, a first-year summer intern manager, shared some of the greatest development comes from learning to navigate ambiguity.
"What stood out most was our intern's tenacity. Finding the right AI tools for a summer capstone project wasn't straightforward, but they worked through multiple options, adapted when a path proved unviable and kept experimenting without losing sight of the goal. Over the course of the internship, I saw him become much more comfortable navigating ambiguity. Rather than getting discouraged when something didn't work as expected, he learned from it, adjusted his plan and kept moving forward." – Senior Product Marketing Manager
Growth isn't about having all the answers on day one. It's about developing the confidence to learn through the process.
From Colleagues to Lasting Connections
Projects, presentations and deliverables play an important role in any internship. But when reflecting on their summer experiences at Deltek, many interns pointed to something else as equally meaningful: the relationships they built along the way.
Through mentors, teammates, fellow interns and connections across the organization, interns gain access to perspectives and experiences that can influence their careers long after the internship ends.
For Jack McAuliffe, a rising sophomore at Cornell University, those relationships became one of the most important takeaways from the summer.
"As the only intern on the Sales Enablement team, I quickly learned the importance of building relationships across the organization. Connecting with people from different teams not only helped me succeed in my role but also made me feel like part of the broader Deltek community. One of my biggest takeaways has been strengthening my networking skills and gaining a deeper understanding of how different parts of the business work together." – Sales Enablement Intern
Jeff Skipper, who recently joined Deltek, noted one of the most rewarding aspects of mentoring interns is seeing how those relationships help build confidence, accelerate growth and create a sense of belonging that extends well beyond a single summer.
"It's amazing how much internships benefit leaders as much as they benefit interns. Mentoring Jack gave me the opportunity to share skills and lessons I've learned throughout my career with someone who genuinely valued that insight. And it wasn't just from me. Throughout the summer, Jack engaged with our entire team and leaders across the business, approaching every conversation with curiosity and a genuine desire to learn. Those relationships helped accelerate his growth, build his confidence and deepen his understanding of both sales enablement and Deltek's culture. My hope is that every intern leaves Deltek with meaningful connections, trusted mentors and the confidence that comes from knowing there are people invested in their success." – Director of Sales Enablement
The projects may end, but the lessons, mentorship and connections often continue long after the summer concludes.
We Appreciate You
The stories shared by our interns and leaders may have started in different teams and departments, but they all arrived at a similar conclusion: growth happens when people are given the opportunity to contribute, the confidence to try something new, and the support to keep learning along the way.
To our interns: thank you. Your passion, curiosity and contributions have made a lasting impact on Deltek and the people who’ve had the chance to work alongside you. We’re proud to be have been a part of your professional journey and excited to see where your careers take you next. Happy National Intern Day from all of us!
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