Hannah Clark Catalyst interview
Summer 2026 Catalyst Hannah Clark
It’s our pleasure to introduce Hannah Clark, one half of our Catalyst duo from our Summer 2026 session. As she approached the end of her time in the Abundance Experience, we asked Hannah to share her insights and reflections on her summer with Abundance.
We want to thank Hannah for all her hard work this summer and wish her the best as she enters Graduate School at George Washington University!
Will: I’m sitting down with one of our first Catalysts in the Abundance Experience program, Hannah Clark. Hannah! How are you today?
Hannah: Good. How are you doing?
Will: Good. The purpose of this interview is to gauge how this experience has been for you. How you were feeling coming into it, how you’ve grown personally and professionally, what parts of the experience made the biggest impact, the challenges you faced, the wins you accomplished, what set this apart from other internships, and then leave some time for reflection. When you first started the Abundance Experience, what were you hoping to gain from the internship?
Hannah: I was hoping to learn more about what it’s like being in a professional setting. I didn’t have too many expectations. I just wanted to learn and grow as I went. It opened the door for young people my age to have a space to grow professionally while working in a team setting and contributing something meaningful. It didn’t feel like busy work; I felt valued, which I didn’t anticipate.
Will: Looking back now, how has your perception of the program changed?
Hannah: It’s changed in how much I got out of it and how much I’ll take with me down the road. I learned a lot about myself as a young professional and what my capabilities are. It helped me use what I already knew, while also pushing me to learn new things and work with someone who has different strengths and weaknesses than I do. It’s just been enjoyable.
Will: Where have you seen yourself grow professionally, and where have you seen personal growth?
Hannah: Professionally, it helped me realize what path I want to take and that there’s a space for all my strengths to come together: digital creativity, hospitality, and my Master’s in Global Communication. It helped me narrow down what kind of impact I want to have. Personally, I’ve grown a lot in maintaining a consistent schedule, balancing work with everything else in life, and staying consistent without burning myself out.
Will: You mention “impact” a lot. What does impact mean to you?
Hannah: It means being able to go into work and interact with people in a way that has meaning or purpose, something they can carry with them, learn from, or that I can learn from too. I want work to be more than just cut-and-dried. I want to build off people and learn from them.
Will: Where do you think your work ethic comes from?
Hannah: A lot of it comes from growing up riding horses. It was such an expensive sport, and I had to do whatever it took to make it happen. Working with horses gave me a foundational work ethic because you have to show up — horses can’t take care of themselves. That carried into sports, track, and college. I also think being in the right environments and around the right people matters. It’s hard to feel driven if you don’t care about what you’re doing.
Will: You’re going to pursue your Master’s degree. What skills from this experience will you take into your program in the fall?
Hannah: So many. I’ve learned a lot about communication: pushing my ideas forward, letting my voice be heard more, listening better, and responding in ways that resonate with people instead of making it about myself. Working on a project with Alyssa taught me a lot about bouncing ideas off someone else, collaborating, and even how vulnerability can create a better working relationship. A lot of that will stick with me in grad school and beyond.
Will: How has your partnership with Alyssa shaped your experience, and what will you take from that into future collaboration?
Hannah: I’ve always wanted to work in a team setting, and working with Alyssa has been amazing. We started at the same level, but we knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We brought out the best in each other. During hard moments, it taught me how to express things, what to express, and how to find a win-win instead of just sticking with one person’s idea. That “we’re all in this together” mindset is something I’ll really take with me, especially going to DC where things may feel more competitive.
Will: Was there a particular project or experience that stands out as a defining moment for you?
Hannah: Just coming up with this whole thing and then seeing it turn from ideas and pictures into something real. Planning with Alyssa, taking pictures, doing the pamphlet, and then seeing it all come together was really rewarding. Working through Power Pages and the prototype was also exciting because it showed me what I’m capable of with technology.
Will: In simple terms, what exactly did you and Alyssa do for the project, and where are you hoping to leave it for the next group?
Hannah: We were tasked with improving the onboarding process. We wanted to make a system that was customizable to clients and their preferences while still aligning with the company’s mission. We created more welcoming materials, reworked physical items given to clients, and built an online option. We also thought through ways to improve communication, reduce unnecessary back-and-forth, and make it easier for CRMs to track where a client is in the process.
Hannah and Alyssa with the diagram of their project.
Will: Early in the experience, you and Alyssa were encouraged to gather knowledge from other team members. Is there a conversation with a team member you’ll always remember?
Hannah: The meeting with Toner was really monumental. He broke down what’s needed now versus later, and that completely changed how we viewed and approached the project. Clarification from Ann was really helpful too, and talking with Laurie helped us understand her role and what improvements she’d actually be willing to take on. Talking with the CRMs helped us understand what tasks they’d realistically want in a portal.
Will: What’s a memory from this summer that you think you’ll still be talking about years from now?
Hannah: Probably when Alyssa and I ran the Box meeting by ourselves, and Andrew asked, “Where’s Ryan?” because he thought we were joking. It was really funny, and we were proud of ourselves afterward because it ended up being a really good meeting.
Will: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during the internship?
Hannah: Besides technology challenges, one of the biggest was figuring out how to work through ideas with Alyssa and get to a win-win. We spent almost a whole day just drafting one email to explain what we wanted the portal to be. Another challenge for me was using Codex and figuring out how to articulate what I wanted it to do. There were moments where I got really frustrated when I wasn’t getting the results I wanted.
Will: Was there a portion of the project that surprised you in terms of what you were able to accomplish?
Hannah: Honestly, all of it. It’s wild to see where we’re at now and how we turned ideas into something real. One thing that stood out was shifting the framing from groundwork for a new client to profile completion and profile building. That felt like a really cool breakthrough.
Will: What makes the Abundance Experience different from other internships?
Hannah: It really isn’t like a normal internship. There’s so much room to grow as an individual and as a young professional. It’s not just about doing the project you’re assigned. Even reading the books was really valuable. I was thinking about how the author talks to supervisors, CEOs, and presidents about these habits, and here I am as a young professional already learning them. That feels really special.
Will: How would you describe the culture at Abundance to someone considering applying?
Hannah: It’s very team-based, and I love that. It’s so friendly. Alyssa and I have talked about how even in the first week we weren’t nervous because it felt so comfortable and welcoming. It helped me learn that a professional environment doesn’t always have to feel stiff or scary.
Will: If a future intern asked for one piece of advice before starting the program, what would you tell them?
Hannah: Don’t be shy. Be yourself. When you’re yourself, the right people will come around, and you’ll feel more welcomed. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and take in as much as you can.
Will: A large part of the internship is mentorship. What has that relationship been like for you, and what has it taught you about yourself and mentorship as a whole?
Hannah: Having that was amazing. In my last couple of years of college, I didn’t have an advisor, so not having someone older to turn to was frustrating. Having that guidance here has been so helpful. It gives you a safe space and someone you can confide in when you need advice.
Will: If you could thank one person or group for making this experience meaningful, who would it be and why?
Hannah: I’d definitely say, Alyssa. We worked so well together, and having someone go through this with me made it more enjoyable. It helped to reflect personally and professionally with someone who understood the experience from the same playing field.
Hannah and Alyssa, our inaugural catalysts for the Abundance Experience!
Will: What will you miss most about the Abundance Experience?
Hannah: A lot. I love the environment and the people. It’s such a great place for someone starting. I’ll miss being able to talk to people, step away when I need to, and not feel like I have to be at 100 all the time. Having that support really helped me avoid burnout, and I’m going to miss that a lot.
Will: If you could summarize your entire internship in one sentence, what would you say?
Hannah: Gaining meaningful experience professionally and individually while also being able to grow as a young professional.
Will: Is there anything you’d like to leave as a lasting thought?
Hannah: Just that it’s been such a blast. I’ve had so much fun. I know some interns feel run into the ground by the end of the summer and are excited to go back to school, but this experience made me enjoy coming to work. It reminded me that work should be fun, and you should love what you do. That’s a feeling I want to carry with me.
Hannah and the Abundance Team at our Summer Party.
Will: Thank you, Hannah. Best of luck with grad school. We’re going to miss having you here every day, but you’ll always be part of the Abundance family!