Where Every Connection is a Gift

When Maria Gherman joined Makana Partners for her internship, she was a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Twente with a background in non-ferrous metal forming and international diplomacy simulations, Maria was eager to see how her analytical skills could translate into the high-stakes world of executive search. During her time with us, Maria supported sourcing, data management, and a wide range of marketing projects—from designing the cover of the Makana Issue to experimenting with AI videos. Her ability to turn complex data into clear, engaging visuals and her proactive approach to mastering new tools like Loxo were instrumental to our team's success. In this spotlight, Maria shares her experience navigating the high-context professional culture of Japan, what she learned about the strategic nature of candidate research, and how her time at Makana Partners has refined her professional communication and teamwork skills. 1) Before joining Makana Partners, what was your understanding of executive search, and what has surprised you most about the industry since starting your internship? Before joining, I thought executive search was mainly about filling roles and networking. What surprised me the most was how strategic and research-driven it actually is. I learned that it is about deeply understanding client needs and candidate fit. I was also surprised by how personalized the process for each search was. 2) You supported sourcing for roles. What did you learn about identifying strong candidates and approaching sourcing strategically? I learned that strong candidates aren’t always the ones actively applying. A big part of sourcing is researching, understanding career paths, and looking beyond job titles. There are many details to consider, such as the amount of time the candidate spent in a role or company, the skills they possess, or their progression within the company. 3) How did working with Loxo, including managing bounced emails and updating candidate data, change your perspective on the importance of accurate information in executive search? Using Loxo showed me how critical accurate data is in executive search. Managing bounced emails and updating profiles made me realize how small changes can impact communication and credibility. I became more detail-oriented and understood that clean data makes the entire process more efficient. 4) You worked on Makana Issue, including market trends content, article summaries, and contributor posts. What part of the e-magazine process did you find most interesting or rewarding? I really enjoyed working on market trends content and summarizing articles. I am most proud of the design of the cover of the last Makana Issue. I had the opportunity to utilize my creative skills and research various marketing aspects of visual presentation. Seeing the final version of the magazine come together was rewarding. 5) You created a wide range of marketing assets—such as job posters, filled-position announcements, AI videos, and data visualization posts. Which project are you most proud of, and why? It was exciting to turn information into engaging content that people could easily understand. Seeing those posts go live on LinkedIn made me feel like my work had a real impact. I am most proud of the filled poster design. I consider it eye-catching, and I am happy that I got creative freedom to work on this project. 6) How did creating data visualizations and captions influence the way you think about communicating insights to a professional audience? Creating visuals helped me understand how important it is to captivate from the first moment or first look. I learned that professionals prefer clarity; however, it is effective to package it attractively. I started thinking more about what message I wanted to communicate and how to present it in a simple, visually appealing way. 7) You managed multiple time-sensitive tasks, including LinkedIn scheduling and content calendar updates. How did you stay organized and prioritize your workload? I relied a lot on simple to-do lists and additional notes when needed. I prioritized tasks based on urgency and complexity, and I made sure to communicate if I needed clarity on deadlines. Planning my days in advance helped me stay on track without feeling overwhelmed. 8) What did working closely with consultants and the marketing team teach you about collaboration in a professional services environment? Working with consultants and the marketing team taught me how important communication is. I learned to ask questions, take feedback positively, and adjust my work quickly. It showed me how different teams bring unique perspectives to the same goal. 9) Looking back, which part of your internship challenged you the most, and how did you handle it? I had a good time during my internship. I think one of the most challenging aspects of my time here was adapting to the culture and style of communication. I found the high-context culture of Japan to be quite overwhelming at times. However, with time, it became easier, and I gained more understanding of the lifestyle. 10) What key skills or insights are you taking away from your internship at Makana Partners that you’ll carry into your next role? I learned a lot about marketing, the importance of how a message is conveyed and presented for it to gain traction and reactions. There are plenty of subtle details in digital communication, and I found it quite fascinating. I hope to learn more about this and develop this skill further. Another skill that I practiced a lot during my internship was communication and teamwork. Keeping communication clear is detrimental to harmony in the workplace for task flow, progress. I learned how to stay proactive and became more professional.