Thank you, Elm

As many of you know, I joined Elm Communications as an intern almost two years ago. What started as an internship soon turned into a part-time role as I finished university, and then a full-time role for my first year out of uni. Sadly, this week is my last week here, and I’m feeling all the feels as I reflect on my incredible experience.

When Mel asked me to write one final blog about my time at Elm and the lessons I’ve learned, to be honest (it is one of our values!), I’ve struggled to sum up two years of learning and growth into a single post. It feels slightly impossible. I don’t know what words can exactly describe it. But I am here to give it a red hot go.

I wouldn’t consider myself particularly “woo woo” (although I do love Taylor Swift tarot cards – thanks Amy!), but looking back, joining Elm feels like a little twist of fate. While applying for internships, a Google search for communications agencies in Canberra brought me to the Elm website, and I couldn’t have even imagined what the next two years would bring. It hasn’t been your conventional office job – I will never get over people’s faces when I tell them, “We work hybrid, sometimes from home, or from the office, which is at our Director’s house” – but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. My time at Elm hasn’t been just an internship, a part-time job or a grad role – it has been an experience that has shaped how I think, work and see the world of communications.

Distilling everything I’ve learned at Elm into a few key points is challenging. I could talk about the importance of environmental scanning or the critical role of measurement and evaluation. I’ve gained insights into engaging with diverse audiences, understanding different operating models for communications teams, and even some of the nuances of team culture and behavioural insights. There have been so many weird, wild and wonderful things I have learned from working on such a wide variety of projects with a range of clients. And let’s not forget the crash course in government terminology—I’m now fluent in more acronyms than I thought existed!

But what underscores my time at Elm the most and what I believe I will take with me no matter where I go is the inherent value of communications in every organisation. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always known communication was important, but the past two years have made me genuinely passionate about it.

At its core, strategic communication is more than just getting a message out—it’s about aligning communication efforts with an organisation’s goals, understanding audiences, and creating meaningful connections. It’s about being intentional: every email, campaign, or engagement serves a purpose that drives the bigger picture. Strategic communication helps organisations navigate challenges, build trust, and demonstrate their value to stakeholders. I’ve come to appreciate how critical it is to think strategically about communication—not just what you say but why, when, and how you say it. Strategic communications is not a nice to have; it is a critical function that helps organisations achieve their goals.

This understanding has even seeped into my everyday life. I now find myself asking my parents whether they’ve involved their workplace’s communications team when challenges arise because I’ve seen how good communication solves problems and builds relationships.

I can’t write this blog without mentioning the Elm team. The people you work with can make or break a job, and the Elm team made this one extraordinary. From day one, I felt welcomed and supported by a team that genuinely cares about their work and each other. The culture of collaboration and encouragement at Elm is unmatched. Everyone’s strengths are valued, and I was given the space to learn, fail and succeed. I have heard grad role horror stories where people aren’t listened to or given opportunities to learn. My experience couldn’t have been further from that. I was trusted, challenged and empowered to contribute meaningfully to projects.

And, of course, there were all the fun things – weekly tarot cards, matching tracksuit pants, Mel’s endless snacks, and, of course, Charlie and Murphy, the most supportive office dogs I could ask for (how does one work in an office without dogs? Asking for a friend!). To the Elm team: thank you for being incredible mentors and colleagues. I feel so grateful that you believed in me, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and helped me grow in many ways.

As I leave Elm, I carry with me the skills and knowledge I’ve gained and the memories of working with an amazing team. Thank you, Elm, for an incredible (almost) two years. I’m excited to see what the future holds, knowing I have such a strong foundation to build on.