As a senior at Central Piedmont Early College High School, Sione Gabourel balanced college coursework at Central Piedmont Community College, a year-long apprenticeship at Wells Fargo, and Prelude Learn & Earn Intern Seminar coursework.
She worked on the Wells Fargo Early Careers Recruiting Operations & Enablement team, learning about talent acquisition while supporting a team of experienced recruiters to create a strong talent pipeline for the company.
Her takeaways? Perseverance, flexibility, and experience managing real responsibilities on a team. Lessons she'll take far beyond the end of the apprenticeship.
Sione, we're so proud of all you accomplished in your apprenticeship, and we're cheering you on as you begin your next chapter at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte!
Imagine it’s your first week on a new team.
And your first one-on-one with a manager. Ever.
Instead of being one of many students in a classroom, it’s just you and your manager.
You’re responsible for getting what you need from the meeting.
Do I understand what they’re asking me to do?
Have I asked the right follow-up questions?
Do I know the next step and the timeline?
Have I taken good notes?
Did I build rapport along the way?
Over the past few weeks, interns across the country had their first manager meetings. They practiced a skill they’ll use in every job, every office hours session, every team huddle from here on out.
Over the next few weeks, they’ll accelerate up the learning curve. They’ll move faster, ask sharper questions, and build confidence. As our Managing Director of Programs, Beej Shah, explains - we love watching this process unfold year after year. Interns, you got this! 💪
Meet Aaliyah Jimoh, a high school intern in @insideaudible tech department, and a senior at @kippnj Newark Collegiate Academy.
Last week, Aaliyah and her fellow Future Leaders joined teams across the company - from Marketing to Legal to Tech.
When we caught her on her way into work, Aaliyah shared that her team has already made her feel welcome—and that she’s diving into tools and platforms she’s never used before.
We’re excited to follow Aaliyah’s journey this year as she and her fellow interns build new skills and contribute to their teams under the mentorship of their managers and colleagues!
As an Future Leader at @insideaudible , Ariel Franklin interned in the Business Affairs department, where she completed projects such as analyzing the budgetary impacts of upcoming contracts changes.
In addition to growing her analyst skillset, she shared that she gained invaluable professional experience and confidence within a supportive learning environment fostered by her colleagues.
Ariel, congrats on an amazing year! We're wishing you all the best at the University of Maryland this fall!
@joinprelude gives high schoolers a head start on careers. 💼✨
Students land paid internships at top companies — gaining experience in coding, UX design, marketing, and more.
They’re not just earning a paycheck. They’re building confidence, sharpening real-world skills, and seeing what success looks like on the job.
With 98% completing internships during the school year, their odds of landing a job after college more than double.
This isn’t just about work experience. It’s about launching careers early—with purpose.
The end of a wonderful school year!
Congratulations to all of our graduating seniors -- you're walking across the stage having earned both a high school diploma + a year of work experience. Amazing!
It was a joy to celebrate all of our Prelude students and also their mentors and managers at their final showcases this spring.
We can't wait to see how you build on this experience in your next chapter 🎓 💐
Each year we see interns build confidence, find their voice, and form connections they never thought possible.
The first time an intern speaks up in a meeting.
The first time they have a colleague coffee chat.
The first time they realize that teammates want to hear what they have to say.
Tiny moments of bravery and human connection lay the groundwork for lasting confidence. As Beej Shah explains, students walk into rooms with confidence, ready to connect, contribute, and grow.
Aiden Lott's "About Me" section is one of the best you'll find on LinkedIn.
"I am deeply fascinated by the intersection of technology and the physical world. Whether coding innovative solutions, exploring animal adaptations, or unraveling complex challenges, I approach every opportunity with a desire to learn and grow.
My ultimate goal is to build a future where my ideas not only solve problems but inspire others to push boundaries and think differently."
--
His ability to articulate his sense of purpose and professional brand is well beyond his years.
We're so glad to have Aiden in the Prelude community!
Taking ownership when you’re new isn’t easy. You don’t always know the rules, and it’s natural to wait for direction.
But strong interns set themselves apart by stepping up, and Taniyah Heyward is doing just that.
Through her internship and Prelude coursework, she’s learned not to wait for an invitation to make an impression. She’s owning her work, her growth, and her professional identity. She’s building a reputation as someone who takes initiative, builds connections, and can be counted on.
Any team would be lucky to have her.
We mailed Devin Mitchell a mic 🎙️ and an invitation to takeover our Prelude feed 💥
Gabriela Serrano jumped in to share the most important skill she's learned from her Prelude coursework so far....
** Networking **
"I use that every day now. And, it's going to help me in my future professional life."
High expectations. Real opportunities. Incredible results. ⚡
Like most high school students, Gihan Montgomery had never used design software before.
That was before his internship as a part of the Audible Future Leader’s program, where his team in User Experience showed him the ropes.
“Now I feel like a pro with it. You could just give me something, and I will give you whatever you ask for.”
Young people are ready to take on big challenges. They just need access to experiences that let them prove it.
