Kristin’s Internship Journey at Owlin
At Owlin, we couldn’t do what we do without the incredible contributions of our team, including the fresh perspectives of our interns. In our interview series, The People of Owlin, we spotlight the individuals behind the company, diving into their daily work, growth, and experiences.
In this edition, Kristin, our Marketing Intern, shares her experience adjusting to a fast-paced fintech environment, learning the ins and outs of B2B marketing, and taking the lead on projects, including her first case study video.
Let’s get to know her better!
How’s your internship going so far?
It’s going well! It was busy at the beginning, and I found it hard to get used to the 9-to-5 routine, but now I’m used to it. I really like the two-week sprint planning and the daily check-ins; it helps keep me on track. It reminded me of how we worked at university, so it felt surprisingly familiar, which I didn’t expect from a company.
There’s been a lot of learning, and it’s still ongoing because it’s such a specific and complex industry Owlin operates in. I also like that I’ve had the freedom to shape my work, like doing things that support my university requirements or help build my portfolio. I’ve also started using HubSpot for the first time and have been exploring the HubSpot Academy.
What’s been the highlight of your time here at Owlin?
The highlight has been working on the case study video. I wasn’t sure I could do it alone, but everyone was really supportive and just told me to go for it, and it turned out to be a great experience.
I also really enjoyed the team outing; it helped me connect with people more. And honestly, the daily lunches are a small highlight every day; I really like those moments.
What are some new things you’ve learned over the past few months?
So many! I’ve learned a lot about the industry, like adverse media screening and monitoring, things I never heard of before. I now better understand how important it is for companies to stay up to date with news and regulations, and how useful Owlin’s product is.
I’ve also picked up new tools like HubSpot, WordPress, Monday.com, Slack, and Google Calendar. Plus, I’ve started thinking more like a B2B marketer, since university was always B2C-focused, so this has been a big shift.
Another big learning point has been how Owlin works day-to-day, how teams collaborate, how tasks are divided, and how marketing connects with other departments. I’ve also learned to look for content opportunities constantly.
Have you faced any challenges, and how did you overcome them?
At first, adjusting to the 9-to-5 rhythm was a bit of a change, but I’ve settled into it now. A bigger learning curve has been building confidence in my ideas and finding the right balance between taking initiative and asking for direction. I sometimes hesitated, either doing things fully on my own or waiting for input, so figuring out that middle ground has been important.
Also, since the industry is quite niche, understanding the context behind certain topics wasn’t always easy. But with feedback and support, it’s gotten a lot clearer.
What surprised you most about working at Owlin?
I was surprised by how fast-paced and structured it is. I didn’t expect a startup to have such organized sprint planning and routines.
Also, how connected everyone is. We have meetings with different teams. Even though I don’t always understand the technical parts, it’s nice to see how everyone works together toward the same goal.
Another surprise was how international the team is. I mainly expected Dutch colleagues, but it’s actually super diverse, which I love. And finally, just how friendly and welcoming everyone is. I felt like I could blend in really easily, and that made a huge difference.
