By Kendall Rolland:

When I was given the opportunity to be a guest writer on Popi’s blog and explain my internship at ISDIN, my immediate instinct was to write about our interviews, meetings, and presenting to the CEO as a 16-year-old.  As I sat down to write about those things, I realized that what really is worth writing about happened before all of that.

Before I left for Spain, I asked my mother if I would struggle with the language barrier.  In which

she responded hopefully, “Everyone in Spain speaks English. They have to learn it, don’t they?”.  However, on my first actual day in the ISDIN offices, I quickly discovered that this couldn’t be

farther from the truth, as all the presenters in that auditorium spoke solely Spanish.  I also discovered that my Morristown-Beard High School education in Spanish was hardly going to cut it here in Spain.  Instead of even trying to speak my wobbly sentences, I instead didn’t speak at all.  At that moment, I found myself sitting in an auditorium, thousands of miles away from home, wondering if I would even be able to contribute at all.

Being the granddaughter of Kevin Roberts, I understood that giving up on myself wasn’t an

option, and if I knew anything about myself, it was that I’m not a quitter.  So, I packed my computer and returned to the office the next morning.  And to say the least, my experience never failed me.  ISDIN gave my partner Alix and me interviews with dermatologists, scientists, and managers that provided a real insight into the Company itself.

It became abundantly clear to me that when someone says “The people make the place”, they actually mean it about ISDIN.  Every person we interacted with greeted us with a smile and left us with new knowledge about the workplace that will stay with me for life.  As the days continued, I found myself feeling like an actual employee.  Throughout my experience, Alix and I worked together specifically on ISDIN’s Acniben line and how it can be what teenagers reach for first.  We brainstormed campaigns, influencer participation, and community involvement for ISDIN, which ultimately translated to a presentation.

At this moment, Alix and I faced our final challenge, presenting our findings.  When I stood up in

that boardroom, looking back on all the faces that shaped our experience, I understood how much I had changed.  The girl who was afraid to say confidently “Me llamo Kendall”, was standing in front of senior executives, confidently sharing our ideas like I was actually hired at ISDIN.  After flipping to the last slide, we received a standing ovation, and the presentation landed just how I hoped that it would.

Looking back, I realized the lessons I learned at ISDIN had little to do with skincare.  Before this

internship, I assumed confidence came first and contribution followed.  I, instead, learned the opposite.  Confidence isn’t something we arrive with.  It is something built through being unprepared, uncertain, and even out of place.

I arrived in Barcelona wondering whether or not I belonged in meetings.  I left understanding that belonging isn’t given to you for just showing up; it is something you earn through the willingness to keep raising your hand.  Somewhere between struggling in elevator conversations, professional interviews, and really presenting, I felt less like an intern and more like a part of a family.

Although it was great coming home with enough products for everyone I know, the most

important thing I came home with was the realization that I had been asking myself the wrong question all along.

The question was never if I belonged at ISDIN, it was whether I was brave enough to act as if I did.

I want to give a huge thank you to all the people who truly made my experience so special.  First and foremost, Steph Barbier, who greeted me with open arms and truly cared for me the entirety of my stay.  I could not thank her enough for making me truly feel like part of the ISDIN family.  In addition, I would like to thank all the people who took the time to teach Alix and me about their positions and experiences.  That includes Jamie Piquero, the Derma Lab team, the project management team, and the lab team.  Next, a big and special thank you to Juan Naya for approving our visit to the ISDIN offices and listening to our ideas with an open mind.  Lastly, thank you to my grandfather for organizing this opportunity and making everything possible, and my grandmother for being my partner in crime and kept me grounded when it was sometimes difficult.