Gen Z is in the workplace now… and so am I.

During university, everything was kind of in “trial mode.” You always had the chance to try again. Social media projects were my personal “fun,” with little to no guidelines, rules, or expectations. I was excited to bring the same energy to work. However, things were not what I expected.

In the past, I was so accustomed to seeing results and getting validation from my work as soon as I posted it. (Approval process? Never heard of it.) But suddenly, I was introduced to new workflows, software, and industries. The production cycle was longer: from trend research, brainstorming, script writing, copywriting, to editing many versions of the video drafts…it took some getting used to.

During my first few weeks at LOMA, I had to re-evaluate something—not just for work, but for life in general: What is the correct way to measure success? Is it the numbers? Not applicable in this scenario.

After we posted my first campaign, I was a bit discouraged by the engagement, since it didn’t get as many likes as the other campaigns and definitely took longer than my previous projects. And then I realized, social media marketing is not just about flashy trends; it’s also about knowing who you are and the story that you want to tell.
It wasn’t because of technical skills; I just did not have sufficient knowledge of the event industry to tell the right story.

I learned how to measure success in a way that is not just numbers. Am I receiving good feedback from other team members? Did I optimize the workflow compared to previous projects? Did I find new ways to make videos that balance trendy, funny, and professional at the same time? Absolutely, and I am still learning.

The nitty-gritty of SOP, approval processes, and project management used to give me the “ick” back in school. (What do you mean I can’t just text my boss or wave my phone in her face to get things approved?? Sorry, Loren!) But now, I approach work—and even my day-to-day tasks—in a much more organized, productive and professional way.

First-Ever Business Trip Goes Kind of Wrong, but in a Good Way

An interview campaign was cancelled at the last minute due to issues with my flight ticket, and filming was restricted because of sensitive topics. Instead of panicking, I leaned into the chaos—and that’s when I realized one of the biggest lessons of my internship: embracing the unexpected.

Finding creative angles to film on site without disturbing other guests, reaching out to new interviewees on site, and writing a script with a completely different tone of voice were all things I’d never had to do before. Being able to navigate through these issues on-site was definitely one of the most challenging but rewarding moments I experienced throughout this internship.

I’ve Been LOMA-FIED

What I admire about the team at LOMA is that they are not afraid of challenges, are comfortable taking risks, and can stay calm when they have a million things on their plate. It’s always the hardest in the beginning, and I am more than grateful to everyone on the team, especially my manager, Yashita, for trusting my ideas and guiding me through this tough process. Now, looking back, I’m grateful for every challenge, every lesson, and every “happy accident” that shaped my experience.

I may no longer call myself a student at university, but my time at LOMA taught me that I will forever remain a student of life.