Behind-the-scenes with Wonder’s Interns

We recently sat down with this year's cohort of incredible interns from The Event Academy, Gemma Hayde and Molly Griffiths , to chat about their time with us. From learning the "secret language" of events to coordinating on-site operations, here is an inside look at their journey and what they accomplished during their time with Wonder.

So, we’re handing over the mic to Gemma and Molly to get their view on what it's actually  like to intern at your first events agency.

What brought you to Wonder?

Finding your feet in the creative industries can feel daunting, but both Gemma and Molly were looking for something that broke the mold of the typical corporate internship.

For Molly, events had been on her radar for a while. "I’ve always had experience design in the back of my mind," she explains. "I’m the kind of person who is constantly looking at spaces thinking, 'What could we do to improve this?', so Wonder’s extensive brand experiences and friendly, welcoming culture felt like the perfect place to grow."

Gemma’s path to Wonder was a little less linear. "I spent a long time in hospitality, dropped out of university, and was doing a lot of trial and error trying to figure life out," she shares. "When I stumbled into events, I realised it was the perfect middle ground. You get to be up and active, but you still have a desk base, it’s not all one or the other. What brought me to Wonder was the team itself. They were so bubbly and informal right from the start, which instantly took the pressure off."

What did you actually learn?

You can study theory all day, but nothing prepares you for the energy of a live event build. Both interns arrived hungry for the knowledge and reality of event delivery.

"I wanted all the little practical things you could never be taught in a le/cture," Molly says. "Like the exact, frustrating science of double-sided taping giant carpets down so they don't budge under thousands of feet. You only learn that stuff by doing it."

For Gemma, it was about transferring her skills and learning about the operational process. "I wanted to see how my hospitality skills would actually transfer to a live event environment. I wanted to learn the behind-the-scenes admin like learning how Purchase Orders (POs) actually work and how the gears turn operationally to make the magic happen."

What were your biggest highlights?

When event day finally arrives, the months of planning transform into pure adrenaline. For our interns, this was where everything clicked.

"Being on-site is a whole different beast and being handed a radio was the ultimate highlight," Molly recalls. "It built my confidence so fast to be communicating site-wide. There’s a huge level of trust placed in you here. Working directly with suppliers and seeing a project through from the first sketch to the final teardown was incredible."

"Seeing months of planning suddenly exist in the real world is a massive 'oh damn, this is cool' moment," Gemma agrees. "We worked on the Google Cloud London Summit, which felt like learning a completely different language at first. But when it all came together, it was amazing. And honestly, the 'here to help anyone' work ethic is so real here. Plus, celebrating a successful delivery with the team afterward? Unmatched."

What advice would you give to anybody starting an internship in events?

After experiencing the exhilaration of event delivery, both Molly and Gemma have walked away with real world experience and some invaluable advice for whoever steps into their shoes next.

A few of their recommendations are:

• Build your own glossary: "Ask questions, no matter how stupid or small they feel," Molly advises. "That’s how you learn the industry jargon. I actually kept a running note on my phone and wrote down every new abbreviation or buzzword I heard each week so I could study them."
• Ride the wave: "Don't panic during the busy times," says Gemma. "Even when everyone is working hard, the team wants to help you. Learn to just go with the flow and stay adaptable."
• Be a people person: "Talk to everyone and start conversations," Molly adds. "It’s a tight industry and it really pays to know people. Be proactive!"
• Steal their knowledge: "Make the most of the people around you," Gemma concludes. "Everyone at Wonder has an incredible story and a wealth of knowledge. Don't be afraid to tap into it."

Looking ahead…

We are incredibly proud of the growth and energy Molly and Gemma brought to Wonder. They didn't just support our events; they became a true part of our team.

As they take their next steps, they carry hands-on experience in supplier management, live on-site communication, procurement administration, and large-scale event logistics. A big thank you from everybody at Wonder!