08 Apr How Interns Can Foster Inclusive Leadership in the Workplace
Not many students realize this, but an internship—especially an international internship—is not just an opportunity to gain work experience. It’s also a chance to make an impact and help shape more inclusive workplaces.
If you’re asking, “What impact? I’m just an intern,” we totally disagree! All team members play a role in fostering a work culture where everyone feels valued and heard. You don’t need a leadership position to contribute to inclusivity. You are not just an intern. You are a part of the company. You can make a difference.
When you actively advocate for fairness, you set an example that encourages others, including company leaders, to do the same.
Why is inclusivity important in the workplace anyway?
An inclusive work environment ensures that everyone, regardless of background, feels respected and empowered to contribute. This in turn encourages creative ideas and innovation, strengthens teamwork, and boosts employee satisfaction—especially in global companies where people from different backgrounds collaborate.
When companies embrace inclusivity, they make decisions with everyone’s best interests in mind. That actually benefits not just employees but also customers, clients, and the business’s overall success.
What is inclusive leadership?
Inclusive leadership is about creating inclusive work places. A workspace where all employees feel heard, supported, and valued. These leaders recognize biases, encourage collaboration, seek diverse perspectives, and use their influence to ensure fairness.
While interns don’t usually hold leadership titles, you can still embrace the principles of inclusive leadership by listening to, learning from, and uplifting those around you. That’s easier said than done, though, so we’ve broken down the steps you can take to foster inclusive leadership during your internship.
How can interns foster inclusive leadership in the workplace?
Fostering inclusive leadership as an intern starts with small, intentional actions. By making inclusivity a priority in your daily interactions and professional growth, you set a standard that others can follow.
Here are five ways to get you started:
Acknowledge your own biases and commit to unlearning them
The root cause of challenges in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is bias, so a big first step to advocating for inclusivity is to check your own biases. We all have them, even unconsciously—preferences or stereotypes that we learned over time. These can largely influence how we interact with others, so stay self-aware.
Recognize your biases and challenge them. Learn to unlearn them. Listen to others, be open to feedback, and actively seek out different perspectives.
Embrace diverse perspectives
As an intern—especially one working abroad—you will be exposed to new cultural norms and ways of thinking. Rather than sticking to what feels familiar, see this as an opportunity to learn from your international colleagues and broaden your perspective. Inclusive leaders recognize and value diverse points of view.
Actively listen to your colleagues, work on understanding their unique experiences, and be open to opinions different from yours.
Practice allyship
Allyship means using your voice to support and uplift people from underrepresented communities. It means you make space for others and ensure that everyone has a seat at the table, literally and figuratively.
Pay attention to whose voices are heard in the office and who is overlooked. Being an ally can mean standing up against behavior that excludes others, taking responsibility for your own actions, or even building good (and genuine) relationships with underrepresented groups.
Advocate for equity
Yes, equity—not just equality. Equality ensures that everyone gets the same thing, but equity recognizes that different people have different needs to succeed. With the latter, everyone is able to meet their goals.
As an intern, you can work on being mindful in the workplace and question practices that might put certain groups at a disadvantage.
Take initiative
If you see an opportunity to promote inclusivity during your internship, take it. It could be by supporting a colleague’s ideas, calling out exclusionary behavior, or taking on a project that fosters diversity.
Most companies have DEI initiatives or groups, too. If you have the capacity, consider participating in their efforts.
By championing inclusivity and encouraging inclusive leadership during your internship, you’re already making a difference in your host company. But wait, there’s more.
Fostering inclusive leadership as an intern sets you up for success
We’ve established that you as an intern can advocate for inclusivity and impact those around you, including leaders. But one thing we haven’t mentioned is that by actively calling for inclusive leadership, you’re also developing skills as a future leader yourself.
Leadership is largely about the mindset and habits you build early in your career, and your internship is the perfect place to start. Whether you’re in college or exploring opportunities through international high school internships, hands-on experience in a diverse workplace can help shape you into a more inclusive leader.
The great and impactful leaders of tomorrow will be those who champion inclusivity today—so be one of them! Start practicing these habits, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming an inclusive leader.
Where can I learn more about inclusive leadership?
We’ll be direct: go for an international internship. Whether it’s an internship in Shanghai or an internship in Paris for international students, working in a global setting will expose you to different cultures, work styles, and perspectives.
You’ll collaborate with people from various backgrounds, navigate cross-cultural communication, and witness how inclusivity (or the lack of it, perhaps) shapes workplace dynamics. This firsthand experience teaches you how to adapt, listen, and lead with empathy—key traits of an inclusive leader.
An international internship challenges you to step out of your comfort zone, unlearn biases, and develop the skills to foster a more inclusive work environment. When you immerse yourself in diverse workplaces early in your career, you’ll be better equipped to champion inclusivity wherever you go.
The next step
Start your journey towards becoming an inclusive leader today. Apply for an international internship with Absolute Internship and make a difference in your career—and in the world around you.
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