Irusha Chandrasena in Focus
When I first discovered Elegant Media on LinkedIn, I was captivated. After doing my own research into the company’s work in mobile and web app development, I knew I’d found something special. Here was an organisation genuinely using technology to solve real-world problems – exactly the kind of impact-driven work that had drawn me to tech in the first place. Applying for their internship felt like the obvious next step in my journey.
Today, I’m proud to say I’m a Project Manager at Elegant Media. But that title doesn’t capture the full story of how this internship transformed my career trajectory and shaped who I am as a professional.
Beyond Technical Skills – Elegant Media’s Internship Programme
When people ask what the most valuable skill I learned during my internship was, I always answer the same way: client management. This wasn’t a topic I expected to obsess over as an intern focused on technical development, but it became the foundation of everything I do now.
During those early months, I learned that being a great technologist isn’t just about writing code or building elegant systems. It’s about understanding what clients actually need, communicating those needs clearly within your team, and translating business problems into technical solutions.
These skills seemed abstract at the time, but they’ve become central to my work as a Project Manager. Every day, I’m using the lessons I learned about expectation-setting, clarity, and requirements gathering.
Learning from the Best – Elegant Media’s Internship Programme
At Elegant Media, interns aren’t left to figure things out alone. Mentorship is a core part of the experience. I was incredibly fortunate during my internship to have two mentors: Yawmini and Kavi. They didn’t just assign me tasks and watch from the sidelines – they actively guided me through my work, showed me how they approached problems, and let me learn from their decision-making processes. That close mentorship made all the difference.
There’s something powerful about watching someone you respect work through a complex problem. You pick up their thought processes, their communication style, their way of handling pressure. Many of the practices I use now as a Project Manager are directly inspired by how Yawmini and Kavi approached their work. That kind of learning can’t happen in a classroom or a training manual—it only happens through real mentorship.
Real Projects, Real Responsibility – Elegant Media’s Internship Programme
If I’m honest, the most memorable project during my internship was also the most challenging. I was tasked with working on a large Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system—a massive undertaking with countless technical complexities.
What made this project truly memorable was that my mentor trusted me with creating the Functional Requirement Document (FRD). This wasn’t a small task. I spent nearly a week documenting requirements, and the final document ended up being approximately 3,000 rows long. It’s probably one of the largest FRDs Elegant Media has ever completed.
Working on that document was incredibly demanding. It required deep thinking about requirements gathering, meticulous documentation, and the ability to break down complex systems into comprehensible pieces. But that week of intensive work taught me more about the nuances of project management than I could have learned any other way. When you’re responsible for capturing the entire blueprint of a complex system, you develop a profound respect for clarity and precision.
The Leap from Intern to Project Manager – Elegant Media’s Internship Programme
The transition from intern to Project Manager wasn’t just a title change – it fundamentally shifted how I approach my work. As an intern, I was focused on following guidance, learning from my mentors, and building foundational skills. As a Project Manager, I’m now the one making strategic decisions, setting direction, and taking responsibility for outcomes.
But here’s what makes this transition meaningful: because I’ve been on both sides, I lead with empathy. I remember what it felt like to be learning, making mistakes, and trying to find my way. I understand the vulnerability of being new. This shapes how I guide my team members. I give clear direction, but I also create space for learning. I set high expectations, but I also support people through challenges. I’ve walked in their shoes.
Managers who’ve walked the intern path understand the challenges their team members face. They remember what it felt like to be uncertain, to make mistakes, to need guidance. That becomes embedded in their leadership style.
What Makes Our Monash Melbourne Area Internship Programme Stand Out?
- Work on mobile app development projects
- Career boosting mentorship
- Build your Network
- CSR Commitment
- Opportunity for full-time employment
Finding Joy in Diverse Teams – Elegant Media’s Internship Programme
The most rewarding part of my role now is working with people from different backgrounds, communities, and skill sets. Every project brings a new team composition, and every team brings different perspectives. There’s something magical about watching diverse groups collaborate toward a common goal. That kind of collaboration creates better solutions, sharper thinking, and genuinely fulfilling work.
My internship at Elegant Media introduced me to this collaborative culture from day one, and it’s something I’ve carried forward in how I lead.
The Advice I Wish I’d Heard Earlier
If I could talk to someone starting their tech journey today, I’d say this: Follow your dreams. If you truly want something, you can achieve it. And while you’re chasing those dreams, learn as much as you can from the people around you. Absorb their knowledge, understand their approaches, and model what works.
Because one day, you will become that senior person someone is learning from. When that day comes, you’ll realise the profound responsibility you have to pass on what you’ve learned.
Stay curious. Be genuinely open to learning, even when it’s uncomfortable. Don’t be afraid of challenges – they’re often the most powerful teachers.
Looking back at my journey from intern to Project Manager, I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity Elegant Media gave me. The internship programme isn’t just a recruiting pipeline or a way to fill entry-level roles. It’s a genuine investment in people’s growth.
This is the difference between an internship that fills your resume and one that genuinely prepares you for a career. You’re not just learning theory; you’re solving real problems for real clients.
The mentorship I received, the meaningful work I was trusted with, and the culture of learning and collaboration—these are the things that set Elegant Media apart. If you’re considering applying for their internship programme, I’d encourage you to take the leap. You’re not just getting a job; you’re joining an organisation that genuinely believes in developing the next generation of tech professionals.
Are you interested in launching your tech career with meaningful mentorship, real project experience, and genuine growth opportunities?
If you’d like to learn more about the Elegant Media internship programme, including how to apply and what you can expect, visit our careers page
