First Month at Flame PR - A US Sales Intern's UK Experience

Packing my bags and moving for the summer from the Bay Area to London for a sales internship in the UK has been one of the most exciting and eye-opening things I’ve ever done. I’m from California, more specifically Silicon Valley and am currently studying Economics and Data Science at UC Berkeley — a school that seems to have very much pride on fast-paced thinking, big ideas, and an entrepreneurial culture. Now, halfway across the world, I’m seeing how those same instincts and culture translate in a completely different market.
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Over the past month, my time at Flame PR has offered not just professional growth, but also a new understanding in culture, global communication, and all things British (yes, including the local pub).

First Impressions: London’s Sales Scene vs. The Bay Area​
Coming from a place like San Francisco, where sales is seen as aggressive, target-heavy, and focused on metrics, I expected the UK market to be significantly more formal and reserved. What surprised me is how informal and how openly conversational the work culture here actually is. If anything, it’s similar to the vibe back home — people here are approachable, focused on collaboration, and open to new ideas, even if your title only reads ‘intern.’ 

That being said, there are definitely a lot of differences in sales here. In the U.S., especially in tech, there's often this concept of I have to ‘move fast and close fast’ with all of my clients. In the UK, I’ve found that building relationships is more central — the tone is softer and seems to be significantly less about pressure in the office. It’s been interesting to observe how sales and PR intersect in this environment, especially through the lens of the Flame PR experience.

Meeting the Flame Team
From the moment I walked into the office, though I was incredibly confused on how to open the door, the team at Flame has been incredibly welcoming. Afsheen, Laura, and the rest of the leadership team have created a space where ideas genuinely flow. I’ve appreciated how quickly I was brought into the mix not just doing random tasks but actively contributing to the goal of Flame PR. 

What has stood out to me the most so far is the mentorship and the culture surrounding it. At Flame, feedback is something that you will get daily and has led to me growing in ways I couldn’t have imagined. No matter what it is, even in non-work environments the culture of support here is real. It’s collaborative, hands-on, and refreshingly ego-free.

Skills I’m Building
So far, this sales internship in the UK has pushed me to grow in many new ways. I’ve developed much better communication skills — not just in terms of writing, but also in knowing how, and when to adjust my tone of voice for different markets and different audiences. 

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far? The importance of a good elevator pitch. Being able to clearly and confidently explain who I am, what I’m doing and why it matters all in 30 seconds to a minute is a skill that can be applied in all aspects of business from PR to sales to even finance. 

Cultural Discoveries & Misunderstandings
Even though both the Bay Area and London share a chill vibe at work, the small differences make a big impact, at least to me. The humor here is incredibly dry — a good sarcastic comment might float past you if you’re not paying attention. I have also seen that people also tend to be more reserved at first, which I would say is a big change from the some what oversharing culture I’m used to in the bay area.

There are also fun language moments — like figuring out that “quite good” doesn’t mean very good, or that “sorted” can refer to anything from a lunch order to an entire business plan.

Unexpected Highlights
A few standout moments so far:

• Getting to pitch my ideas and thoughts my very first day at work
• Finding the meal deals during lunch
• Learning to navigate London’s public transport without Google Maps (okay, almost without)
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There’s also something exciting about working in a city where the buildings are older than your country but the thinking is so forward-looking.

What’s Next
As I look ahead to the rest of my internship, I want to deepen my understanding of how sales and PR align in global markets. I’m also hoping to sharpen my sales industry insights — especially around B2B outreach, content marketing, and data-backed storytelling.

This American intern in the UK has already learned a ton, but I know there’s more growth ahead. I’m grateful to the Flame team for making this such a welcoming and engaging experience, and I’m excited to see what the next month brings.