This summer Kimberly Grant (22) who is studying Allied Health with a concentration in Medical Science at the University of Tampa (UT) has been interning with Maria Phillip, the Vice President of Client Experience & Operations at Cayman Enterprise City (CEC). Grant is learning all about database management for companies set up within CEC and for prospective clients who are looking to set up their business within Cayman’s special economic zones. This summer Grant has been assisting with the client experience portal and helping to ensure data is organised and up to date with current protocols.
Grant and the CEC Client Experience team are no strangers as Grant is a returning participant of the Summer in the City internship programme which takes place during the summer months and connects local talent with opportunities within CEC and the special economic zones. “Over the course of my four-year relationship with CEC I have learned a lot of skills that are not only applicable to the working world but to everyday life," explains Grant. "Initially when I started working with CEC, I was very shy and introverted. Over the course of my internships and fostered by a supportive and friendly working environment, I was able to come out of my shell, become more outgoing, and even enjoy engaging with clients and the wider public.” This summer Grant was invited to present at the Summer in the City networking event where she spoke to students and special economic zone members about her experiences interning with CEC.
Throughout her internship placements Grant has noticed immense improvements not only in the skills she has but also in the skills she has gained – specifically her eye for detail, time management and organisation skills. By working one-on-one with her mentor and with the client experience portal, Grant has developed methods to ensure that she completes tasks in an accurate and timely manner.
Now more confident than ever, Grant continues to grow and develop her interpersonal skills through volunteering with organisations such as the PEACE volunteer center and with the Cayman Islands community. Last year Grant took part in an alternative break program where she went to Cleveland, Ohio and assisted individuals and families in need. Grant was able to apply her newly improved interpersonal skills as she assisted individuals with severe medical complications. "This interaction has inspired and further solidified my decision to work in the medical field. My ultimate goal is to become a Physician Assistant (PA) and return to Cayman to work when I complete college." said Grant.
PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider. This career path requires individuals to have great organisation and interpersonal skills, consistency as well as being detailed oriented. These are the skills Grant has been able to obtain and sharpen throughout her CEC internship placements and by being exposed to the inner workings of CEC's Client Experience department. "The skills I've learnt are easily transferable to my studies and will undoubtedly help me to develop my career in the medical field," explained Grant.
Grant plans to return to UT in the fall for a challenging final year. After graduation Grant will return to Cayman to work with the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority (HSA). She aspires to generate a positive impact through her bubbly and cheerful personality which we know she will spread to her co-workers and to the wider Cayman Islands community - staying true to the notion of CaymanKind and the excellent healthcare system that Cayman provides.
About the "Summer in the City" Internship programme.
The “Summer in the City” internship programme is open to Caymanians between the ages of 18-25 and lasts for one to two months during the summer months. Areas of placement include: Internet Technology, Science & Technology, Commodities & Derivatives, Maritime & Aviation Services, Client Services & Business Operations, Marketing & Communications, Urban Planning & Development. For more information email info@caymanenterprisecity.com.
