MoLo Solutions: Taking Internships to the Next Level

This is long overdue. But I want to pay it forward, express gratitude for what was a lasting summer internship experience, and share some of my insights interning at a hidden gem.

Located in Chicago's West Loop, MoLo Solutions is on a mission: to deliver top-notch solutions and industry service for complex shipping needs.

I'm one of those college students who had no idea what to do with my life. With virtually no relevant corporate experience, I had drive to seize any opportunity that presented itself. Upon months of rejection, I was lucky when I received my first ever LinkedIn InMail from a recruiter at MoLo. They were hiring their first batch of interns, and I was eager to be part of it.

Logistics, supply-chain, and the vast world of freight. I knew little-to-nothing about it.

But it didn't matter so much. MoLo was eager to hire students with an appetite to absorb. It was all we interns needed, a chance to learn and prove ourselves capable. It was perfect.

My role was straightforward: to serve as a matchmaker between customers looking to ship freight from point A to point B with carriers looking to move said freight. The nuances of the job itself are more complex, but I was responsible for building my own book of business.

The first thank you I want to extend goes to my former mentor, Harrison Bluestein.

I remember feeling overwhelmed, unsure of my actions the first week delivering real work results. Our internship class went through a comprehensive training program to prep us for the raw work out on the floor, and I was this newbie with three computer monitors and an office phone glaring at me. Should I hit the phones? Where do I start? I was clueless.

Harrison laid the foundation for what was ultimately my success that summer. He was patient, kind, and understanding. The first several tasks he guided me through felt intuitive, and it didn't take long to pick up on my responsibilities. Slowly but surely I began to own my results. Whenever I needed some assistance, Harrison didn't think twice about stopping what he was doing to help me out. For what it's worth, I take pride in autonomy, but you will not succeed without asking the right questions. He never once ceased to provide support, and I am grateful for that. Thank you, Harrison.

Harrison had been working in logistics for nearly 6 years at the time of my internship, and he was committed to becoming a Carrier Sales Manager. I had a new mission: to support Harrison's endeavor of being recognized as a top sales rep for the month, and to do everything in my power to help him become MoLo's next manager. You'll have to forge on to the end to see how that turned out.

The name of the game is to "book loads". There are hundreds of shipments to collectively cover throughout the day. I'll never forget booking my first load that very first week on the floor.

This is the right time to say thank you to Will Jenkins, VP of Strategic Partnerships.

The minute I booked my first load, I notice Harrison typing away on Slack while saying, "Time to tell the boss man", aka Jenkins. All the way from the other side of the floor, Will stands up from his desk and shouts: "Let's give it up for Will for booking his first load!' A roar of applause and cheering ensued from the entire team. It was like a scene from the The Wolf of Wall Street, just more work-appropriate. More important, it was a moment like no other that spontaneously made feel part of a unique team.

Will paved the way for MoLo's people, always taking the time to celebrate the wins. Thank you, Will, for your inspirational leadership, mentorship, the escape room and countless lunches you treated us to.

Finally, I owe a great debt of gratitude to the fearless leader and CEO, Andrew Silver.

I have never encountered a leader so committed to the company's values, its mission, its people and customers. Hell, one of my favorite Andrew Silver moments was when he declared, "People ask me who I prioritize first, employees or the customers. You know what I say? I prioritize employees first and the customers first." There's no such thing as too big of a challenge for Silver -- everyone is a priority.

Silver set the tone for MoLo's culture. I remember the first time us 30 interns sat down with Silver to pick his brain. He relayed they were never planning on hiring as many as 30 interns for their first internship class, but there were too many incredible applicants to turn away. "I wanted to hire all of you," Silver would say. He sat down with us and asked what he could do to make our internship experience even better. I remember sitting there thinking "Huh, I don't think it can get much better than it is." But a leader like Silver is committed to innovation, always thinking of the next move to support his people.

Immersed in an extraordinary culture with an even better team, I was booking loads left and right and cultivating my own book of business. Oh yeah, and what happened with Harrison?

My last month interning, we had booked over 250 loads together, ranking among the top sales reps for the month. Harrison was ecstatic, and I was thrilled to see him succeed. I wouldn't have performed as well if it weren't for his exceptional mentorship.

Harrison had applied for a manger role weeks before. I frequently checked in to see if there were any updates, but he was convinced that someone else had gotten it. He would show me detailed outlines of new ideas he wanted to institute, and I loved being a sounding board for any feedback I could offer.

Fast-forward to one of my last few weeks. Harrison earned the role of manager. I'll never forget the joyful look on his face and the company ceremony announcing his promotion. I am beyond proud of Harrison, I know how much we wanted it. He's more deserving than ever, and MoLo is lucky to have him leading the pack.

I could ramble for hours on my internship experience. Above all, I want to end with a final thank you for everything MoLo has done for us interns. Not only did I build community with extraordinary college-student peers, but I discovered a newfound passion for sales, was exposed to a distinguished team of leaders, and learned about what it really means to cultivate an enduring culture in the workplace. That summer set the tone for how I want to conduct my professional life myself moving forward, and I'm forever grateful for its lasting impact. MoLo serves as a model for any internship program out there.

If you're a college student or recent grad looking to delve into the world of logistics, sales, or operations and want to be a part of something far greater, then look no further: MoLo Solutions is the place to be.