By Joy Vann
Fatimah Akwari , a junior from Richmond, is an accounting major with a minor in fashion merchandising in ¹ú²úÂ×Àí’s Strome College of Business. She found the perfect internship that combines the two, offering valuable hands-on experience in each of them.
Through a federal work-study program, she has a paid internship as manager of The Monarch Way, the University’s student store that supports entrepreneurship by featuring student, alumni and staff-created products such as sportswear, streetwear, jewelry, crafts and artwork.
Akwari, who is also a Campus Ambassador, learned about the internship while serving as a counselor at the Envision Lead Grow summer camp for young women where she met Katina Barnes, assistant director of the Monarch Internship & Co-Op Office who encouraged her to apply. As a student midway through her college career, she felt like the time was right to get some work-based learning under her belt.
This past spring, Akwari was the store’s finance coordinator and this semester she was promoted to store manager. She prepares monthly sales reports, manages operations relating to cash handling and inventory, plans social events and created a budgeting plan for the store.
¹ú²úÂ×Àí News talked with Akwari about the internships and how they have provided experiences in everything from tasks that support her accounting and fashion merchandising studies to basic customer service skills.
Tell us more about The Monarch Way student store and what you do there?
We sell arts and crafts, clothes, candles, body oils, earrings — there’s a lot of things. I even sell my stuff there as well, like my crochet projects. It's free for students and it gives student entrepreneurs a way to promote their creativity, and other students want to come out and support that. We also host tabling events during the fall and spring and have different themes relating to Valentine’s Day and Halloween.
What accounting skills have you used in the internship?
I manage inventory of merchandise available for purchase through The Monarch Way and assist in the organization and distribution of information to entrepreneurs about their businesses and statistics. To satisfy requirements for my major, I am also in charge of creating sale reports and writing checks to the individual sellers.
What’s an unexpected benefit of working at The Monarch Way?
On less busy days, I get to take promotional pictures and videos in the store whether it's for the individual entrepreneurs or the entire store. It also gives me enough time to brainstorm how I can translate my classroom learning into improvements for current operations.
How does this internship further you on your career path?
This job relates exactly to my career path. Being an accounting major and fashion merchandising minor, my roles have given me an outlook on how I might be able to intertwine the two. Given that this store is surrounded by entrepreneurship, business, finances and retail management, it should reflect really well on my resume. The practical aspects will also stand out when looking for more accounting internships.
What have you learned while working at The Monarch Way?
Working there helped me learn how to manage my time better. My course work is pretty rigorous, and it’s helped me prioritize my activities. It’s helped me take more initiative and get as much experience as possible related to my major. It helped me get comfortable with money, writing off checks, email etiquette and learning the basic needs in my professional field. Through my time as a retail intern, I have learned the skills of connecting with customers, communicating effectively and managing business finances.
Do you plan to work in the fashion industry?
Not right now. My mom had a sewing machine and made beautiful African gowns, so it’s been instilled in me throughout my life. I crochet and during quarantine I started making clothing, like dresses, corsets, skirts, hats and scrunchies. I especially like African patterns and clothing. When fashion emerged as a minor, I was thinking of pursuing it more like a hobby. Right now, I just want to get out into the accounting field to get a true feel for it. Then later, perhaps I’ll be involved with a fashion store and designing.
How else has working at The Monarch Way been beneficial?
My supervisor, Dr. Paige Hill (also an assistant director of the Monarch Internship & Co-Op Office), has definitely encouraged me and given me new goals and responsibilities like doing the financial statements and I think that really helps. She also pushed me to take part in the Enactus organization on campus, which is entrepreneurial and business based, and she encouraged me to work towards my position as secretary on its executive board. This past spring, the organization took a trip to Harvard University for its Scholarship and Social Justice Conference. It allowed us to network with people from all over the country. As an entrepreneurial-driven organization, it allowed us to gather ways to incorporate passion into a profit with a mission.
Would you suggest other students pursue internships?
For sure. Even if you’re not now trying to get a job, working is a learning experience within itself. I would say get an internship as early as possible.