Movies often transcend mere entertainment, offering profound insights depending on our perspective. The Intern (2015), directed by Nancy Meyers, is a prime example. While it may appear to be just another workplace comedy, it reveals deeper truths about the evolving dynamics of the modern office. Watching the film, I was struck by how it illustrates that despite the rapid changes in our professional environments, starting anew can be refreshing, regardless of age or prior experience. The movie underscores that experience, even when it seems unconventional like that of a senior intern brings invaluable wisdom and balance to a team, demonstrating that fresh starts and seasoned perspectives can coexist harmoniously.
Main Characters & Their Management Skills:
1. Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) – Servant Leadership with Experience
Role: 70-year-old retired executive, now working as an intern.
Skills: Ben embodies the idea that experience is priceless. He’s observant, patient, and leads by example without seeking authority. His maturity allows him to stay calm under pressure, mentor younger employees, and offer thoughtful advice, all while adapting to the modern business landscape. He focuses on serving others and acts as a stabilizing force in the office, balancing empathy with wisdom.
Management Lesson: Ben’s character demonstrates the importance of servant leadership prioritizing the needs of the team, offering support, and ensuring that the people around him thrive. His decades of experience highlight how having a steady hand in a leadership position helps the team stay grounded.
2. Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway) – Transformational Leadership with Entrepreneurial Drive
Role: Founder and CEO of About the Fit.
Skills: Jules is a visionary leader with immense passion and drive for her company. She’s hands-on, energetic, and deeply invested in her team and product. However, her entrepreneurial style can sometimes lead to micromanagement and personal burnout as she tries to control every aspect of the business. Jules struggles with delegation, an issue many new leaders face when scaling their business.
Management Lesson: Jules represents the strengths and challenges of transformational leadership. She’s inspirational but often lacks balance, and Ben helps her understand the need for delegation, trust in her team, and work-life balance. As a leader, her journey shows how empowering others and letting go of control are key to sustainable success.
3. Cameron (Andrew Rannells) – Middle Management, Connector Role
Role: Office Manager.
Skills: Cameron serves as a connector between the upper management (Jules) and the rest of the team. His role exemplifies the importance of communication and coordination in management. He supports Jules by keeping operations smooth and ensuring her vision gets executed, yet he often deals with the bottlenecks caused by Jules’ micromanagement.
Management Lesson: Cameron highlights the challenges middle managers face—balancing the directives from above with the needs of the team. His character shows that communication, diplomacy, and operational efficiency are crucial in maintaining harmony and achieving goals.
Key Management Lessons from “The Intern”:
The Value of Experience: Ben Whittaker’s character shows that experience brings more than just technical knowledge. It brings wisdom, emotional intelligence, and the ability to navigate interpersonal relationships, offering stability in the workplace.
Adaptability & Lifelong Learning: Ben’s ability to adapt to new technology, corporate culture, and trends underscores how experience and continuous learning can coexist. He remains relevant by being open to change.
Work-Life Balance & Delegation: Jules’ struggle with balancing her work responsibilities and personal life highlights the importance of delegating tasks and trusting your team. Her eventual realization that she doesn’t need to do it all herself is a major takeaway for leaders.
Mentorship: Ben’s informal mentorship role with Jules is a perfect example of how mentorship can bridge generational gaps in the workplace, offering support, guidance, and a fresh perspective to younger leaders.
“The Intern” beautifully demonstrates that experience is an invaluable asset in leadership, showcasing how a blend of wisdom, mentorship, and modern business practices leads to a well-rounded and effective management style.