While a student at the University of Missouri, I interned at the State of Missouri's Department of Economic Development, Division of Business Development and Trade, under the supervision of Bronwen Madden. Despite being an undergraduate intern, Bronwen treated me as a regular work colleague empowering me to go beyond my normal tasks in order to get a broader experience out of an internship. Bronwen is an encouraging and inspiring leader who continued to serve as a close friend and mentor after my internship. If it weren't for Bronwen's encouragement, I would not have had the guts (or courage) to pursue a dream of serving in the U.S. Foreign Service (I currently serve in the U.S. Foreign Service). Lastly, her most impressive quality is her ability to innovate to make the office run more efficiently and more effectively. Bronwen is a natural leader, teacher, and mentor.