Meet our Shareholder Relations Intern Taylor Ayupsaq Bailey!
Taylor’s mother is the late Tennille Seum, and her Ahna (grandmother) is Marie Jackson from Kiana. Taylor recently graduated with her associate degree in liberal arts from the Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York. She plans to continue her education and pursue a bachelor’s degree in history this spring.
We recently asked Taylor what motivates her, and she told us, “My aunt, Verne Boerner, has been a significant inspiration to me. My cousins have also inspired me to further my education and career. Their ambitions and support encouraged me to apply for this internship.”
Before this internship, Taylor worked full-time in restaurants. She is also in a book club. This is her first experience working in an office job.
Taylor shared, “I grew up receiving mail from NANA and hanging up the calendars every year. When my sister and I started communicating with our family in Alaska, it inspired me to learn more about NANA. I am a shareholder and didn’t know much about my corporation, and I wanted to use this as an opportunity to learn more about my culture, my ancestors and my mother.” Taylor says that she began learning Iñupiaq words from Clarence Snyder, our building manager at the Anchorage office, and from signs written in Iñupiatun hanging throughout the building.
In addition to learning about NANA and Iñupiat culture, Taylor says that she has gained technical skills using Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Excel and PowerPoint. She has sharpened important abilities including time management, organization, problem-solving and communication. She was also able to learn about budgeting during a financial reality fair workshop. Taylor has also been working on creating a document for scholarships that are available for Alaskan Native students, Alaskan residents and general U.S. scholarships. This document will be made available to shareholders to help them gain access to scholarship opportunities.
She said what surprised her most about this program was, “the extensive support provided by the internship program, including lodging, travel, transportation, workshops (like a helicopter tour and atikłuk sewing lesson), lunches, snacks and the overall helpfulness of everyone involved, has been amazing.”
