As we have gotten further into the summer, life in Sweden has slowed down even more. Many people have left for their summer vacations, including most of the employees in my office, and the overall atmosphere has become much more relaxed. I spent the past week following suit and taking some time to recharge. I went on walks around my neighborhood, explored different areas of the city, and enjoyed dinners with friends throughout the week. These moments have allowed me to appreciate the balance between work and personal life that seems to be deeply valued in Swedish culture.

One of the highlights of my summer was attending a Bad Bunny concert this past weekend. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and easily one of the most memorable events of my time abroad. The entire stadium was packed, and the energy was incredible from beginning to end. People were singing, dancing, and fully immersed in the performance throughout the show. I had been looking forward to the concert for months, especially since he is not touring in the United States. Being able to see him perform while studying abroad was an opportunity I am extremely grateful for. In addition to the concert, I have continued exploring Stockholm and recently spent time in Gamla Stan shopping around. Taking advantage of these experiences has helped me feel more connected to the city and appreciate the cultural opportunities available to me during my internship.

Although the workplace has become quieter due to summer vacations, I have noticed an interesting shift in my work environment. Since my supervisors are currently on vacation, I have had to take on a slightly different role within the team. This experience has caused me to reflect on my leadership style and how it has developed over time.

In previous leadership positions, I typically adopted a highly collaborative approach. Whether I was working on a class project, student organization initiative, or group assignment, I always prioritized communication and teamwork. I liked to check in with team members regularly to ensure that everyone was on the same page and had a clear understanding of our goals. Because these projects often involved a shared objective, collaboration and continuous feedback were essential to success. I would usually begin by discussing the project as a group and identifying what tasks each person felt most confident handling. Throughout the process, I would schedule regular check-ins to monitor progress, address challenges, and ensure that everyone felt supported. This approach allowed team members to contribute their strengths while also maintaining accountability and transparency.

Since being abroad, however, my leadership experience has evolved in a slightly different direction. I do not hold a formal leadership position within my internship, and most of the time I operate as an equal member of the team. Rather than leading an entire group, I have found myself stepping into leadership roles when specific situations require it. One example of this has been task allocation and project coordination with another intern in the program.

At the beginning of the internship, our responsibilities were very different. Her work focused primarily on website development, while mine centered on product research and marketing. As the summer progressed, however, many of her website-related assignments were completed, and she began assisting with marketing projects similar to those I was already handling. At the same time, my workload continued to grow, creating an opportunity for us to collaborate more closely.

My supervisor often provides me with a list of assignments and asks me to divide the work between the two of us. This dynamic has required me to balance collaboration with leadership responsibilities. In addition to assigning tasks, I frequently help train my fellow intern on the marketing platforms and programs we use. Typically, I focus on the primary project while delegating tasks that support the overall objective. Initially, this arrangement felt somewhat uncomfortable because I was not accustomed to directing the work of a peer in a professional setting. However, as we communicated openly about our roles and expectations, the process became much more natural.

There are still many projects that require us to work together. For example, we have collaborated extensively on the fourth-quarter marketing plan, brainstorming brand highlights, event concepts, and social media content ideas. These projects have reinforced the importance of teamwork while also giving me opportunities to practice leadership skills in a workplace environment.

Overall, this experience has strengthened my confidence as a leader. It has taught me how to manage workloads more effectively, delegate responsibilities, and ask for help when necessary. Perhaps most importantly, it has enhanced my communication skills. While communication has always been a priority in my leadership approach, applying those skills in a professional environment has been especially valuable. The trust my supervisors have placed in me has encouraged me to take initiative, share my ideas, and guide projects as needed. As a result, I feel much more comfortable expressing my thoughts in a professional setting and stepping into a leadership role when the situation calls for it. This internship has shown me that leadership does not always require a formal title; sometimes it simply means recognizing a need, supporting others, and helping a team achieve its goals.