Internship organization and designation: Public Policy and Entrepreneurship Intern, Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)
Roles and responsibilities: Tina is leading a primary research project, overseeing a team that investigates the quality and accuracy of customer service from the Canada Revenue Agency to small businesses. Tina is responsible for the survey parameters, data collection, analysis, and report writing. The report will be published by CFIB in the fall of 2019. In addition, Tina provides secondary research support, investigating how to reduce restrictive red tape, along with best practices to revitalize main streets and enhance local economies. With over 110,000 members, CFIB is Canadas largest non-profit organization devoted to helping businesses succeed. CFIBs annual entrepreneurship program is highly valuablethe practical insights gained from learning from the perspectives of Canadas small businesses make it a valuable complement to the MEDI degree.
Whats next: Building on the knowledge gained from the MEDI program, and her previous career experience in journalism, marketing and community engagement, Tina was recruited to join the federal governments new Centre for Rural Economic Development to enhance prosperity in rural Canada.
How MEDI helped: The MEDI program added hard skills, including data analysis, business modelling, and strategic economic development planning to my resume. The MEDI program offered the flexibility to critically examine literature, and explore the strengths and weaknesses of business incubators and cluster development, alongside diverse topics such as urban food production, rural economic revitalization, and government interventions to encourage a clean energy transition. The MEDI program made me a more competitive and successful candidate for the CFIB internship.