1. Initial Phone Interview – Warm and Engaging The first step was a phone call, which was excellent. The conversation flowed naturally, I felt welcomed, and it gave me a strong sense of the company’s mission-driven culture. It was an encouraging start that reflected Blackbird’s commitment to meaningful connection. 2. Zoom Interview – Informative but Uncomfortable Due to Recording The second stage was a Zoom interview. It was informative, well organized, and I appreciated the professionalism of the team. However, this portion of the process was recorded, and I felt genuinely uncomfortable with that aspect. While I understand the need for internal review and alignment, being recorded during an interview can feel intrusive and may not align with everyone’s comfort level. That said, I appreciated that I advanced to the next stage. 3. Final In-Person Interview – Strategic Case Presentation The final step was an in-person meeting where I presented a strategic case study on: “Accelerating Blackbird Collective’s footprint and impact through Events and Partnerships.” This stage was intellectually stimulating and reflected the company’s transition into a new phase of growth. Blackbird House is a small, mission-driven brand undergoing evolution, and the case required me to explore how to: build a more proactive partnerships engine, expand event strategy beyond inbound inquiries, create a scalable roadmap the extended team could rally around, and position the business for its next growth milestone. It was clear that Blackbird is ready to shift from word-of-mouth momentum to a more structured business development approach, and I appreciated the opportunity to contribute ideas toward that vision. Overall Impression The interview process was thoughtful and reflective of the company’s mission and ambitions. While I had some discomfort with the recorded Zoom stage, the experience as a whole gave me valuable insight into Blackbird Collective’s culture, goals, and growth trajectory. Additionally, after visiting their location, I didn’t feel comfortable with the overall environment. Something felt off. The space appeared quite empty — I only saw two people there — and there wasn’t a designated area for staff to work. Instead, the expectation was to sit among coworking guests, with no privacy or dedicated workspace. This setup felt unusual and not conducive to fulfilling the role effectively.