Christine Barkley

I attribute much of my success to curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to keep evolving. I’ve never been afraid to ask questions, seek out new opportunities, or change direction when I see a better path forward. I also believe strongly in listening—to research, to the people I serve, and to the needs I see emerging in the field. Internology itself continues to evolve because I’m constantly learning, testing ideas, and looking for better ways to create meaningful impact.

The best career advice I’ve received is to follow your passion and find your flow state. Pay attention to the work that makes you lose track of time, the problems you genuinely enjoy solving, and the places where your strengths and interests come together. Throughout my career, following that energy has taken me from education to career development, experiential learning, and ultimately entrepreneurship. I didn’t always know exactly where the path was leading, but each step brought me closer to work that feels deeply aligned with who I am and the impact I want to make.

Don’t wait until you feel completely ready to pursue an opportunity. Ask questions, build relationships, seek out experiences that stretch you, and be willing to learn as you go. I would also encourage young women to become comfortable using their voice and sharing their ideas. You don’t have to know everything to contribute something valuable, and some of the most important opportunities in my career have come from being willing to step forward, try something new, and trust that I could figure out the rest along the way.

One of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—in the internship field is addressing both quantity and quality. We need more internship opportunities, but simply creating more positions isn’t enough. Those opportunities also need to be intentionally designed, structured, and supported so they provide meaningful value to both interns and organizations. I see tremendous opportunity for employers, higher education, and workforce partners to work together to strengthen internship capacity. If we can help more organizations create internships while also giving them the knowledge and tools to build strong programs, we can expand access to meaningful career-building opportunities while strengthening early-talent pipelines.

The values most important to me are integrity, growth, impact, and above all, family. I believe in being honest, treating people fairly, keeping my word, and holding myself accountable. I also believe we should never become complacent—there is always an opportunity to learn, grow, and make things better. That mindset carries into my work, where I want what I build to create meaningful impact for organizations, students, and the institutions and communities that support them. At the same time, professional success is only one part of a life well lived. My family and the relationships I have with the people I love matter most to me. I believe in working hard, pursuing what you’re passionate about, making a positive difference, and being present enough to truly enjoy life along the way.