I didn’t expect a random meeting at a Furman alumni dinner to lead to one of the most rewarding chapters of my college experience—but that’s exactly what happened.
When I met Lindsay Niedringhaus, Founder of TealHaus, at that dinner, her energy was magnetic. Her spunky personality and genuine passion for her work stuck with me long after that night. Months later, while searching for internship opportunities that would give me real-world experience and digging through my wallet, I stumbled across her business card. It felt like a sign. I reached out—and that bold move was worth it!
Soon after, I had a Zoom call with Kate Dabbs, the President of TealHaus. A few weeks later, I met Kate and another teammate for breakfast at Tandem Café. By the end of that meeting, they had offered me a fall internship. I was thrilled—and eager to dive in.
I knew my strengths were in data analytics, but I had no idea just how much I’d grow over the next several months. From day one, I was entrusted with meaningful work: building monthly analysis reports, conducting research, managing our CRM (HubSpot), and even creating content. Mollie Withers, Director of Business Affairs, became my direct manager. She sent me “weekly to-do” emails that guided my onboarding and gave structure to each new challenge.
TealHaus operates mostly remotely, so strong communication is a must. I had to quickly adapt to the platforms and rhythms that kept the team connected. Before long, I was deep into spreadsheets, creating video tutorials, giving presentations, writing press releases, and even helping plan events.
One standout moment was when Kristen McLean, the Client Relations Manager, invited me to assist with a major fundraising event. My job? Balloons and confetti. But more importantly, I got to witness firsthand the coordination and creativity that went into helping the client raise thousands of dollars through the planning and coordination of this event.
Every task—big or small—was rooted in purpose. I saw the impact of our work in real time. Watching clients thrive because of the strategies we developed was both inspiring and motivating. It reminded me that data and creativity, when combined with intention, can create real change.
As the fall semester wrapped up, Mollie and Kate reached out to ask if I’d consider continuing through the spring. My answer was an easy, “Absolutely.” I felt invested in the mission and energized by the opportunity to keep learning and contributing.
One of the most meaningful parts of my experience was the mentorship I received. My bi-weekly coffee chats with Mollie evolved into deep conversations about career, values, and life. She has become a true role model—someone I know will be in my corner for years to come. I was welcomed into the most supportive, driven, and inspiring team—a community that is as passionate about people as it is about progress.
TealHaus isn’t just a company—it’s a community. A team that’s driven, forward-thinking, selfless, data-driven, and deeply people-focused. I developed both my qualitative and quantitative skills, gained real-world experience, and—most importantly—found a sense of purpose in my work.
To say I’m thankful is an understatement. TealHaus gave me more than an internship. It gave me confidence, mentorship, connection, and a vision for how I want to show up in the world.
I wasn’t just an intern—I was truly part of the Haus.
-Jacqueline Giftos
