Reflecting On Our Summer Interns
This past summer, the Datonics Israel team had the privilege of hosting two outstanding interns from the U.S. — Ava Winer and Jake Minick — who joined us through the TAMID Fellowship and Birthright Onward program, respectively. Both brought fresh perspectives, impressive initiative, and adaptability during a unique summer marked by unexpected challenges. Their work not only supported our team in meaningful ways but also reflected the global spirit of collaboration that lies at the heart of Datonics.
Ava Winer: Driving Research and Insights
Ava joined Datonics as a Market Research Intern through the TAMID Fellowship. Ava is originally from Chicago, Illinois and is currently a rising third-year student at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee studying Business and Economics. Before beginning her internship with Datonics, this May Ava participated in the Taglit-Birthright 10-day trip in Israel followed by a two-week backpacking trip across Greece and Italy. She returned back to Israel for the first three days of the TAMID Fellowship, but wasn’t able to begin work due to the safety conditions of the country. After an emergency evacuation back to the US, Ava unexpectedly pivoted to begin her internship remotely. Once it was safe to return, she immediately came back to Tel Aviv to begin in-person work. Despite the abrupt change, she demonstrated exceptional flexibility, professionalism, and a proactive mindset. Ava quickly integrated with the team, contributing to meaningful projects and communicating effectively.
Throughout her time at Datonics, Ava supported the Israeli team working alongside Yana to conduct high-impact research and deliver strategic insights. She conducted market analyses on relevant trends such as Fourth of July, Summer Travel, Graduation Season, and Labor Day 2025 to help the team better understand consumer mindsets. She focused on highlighting emerging trends that align with Datonics values such as the rise of sustainable shopping, specifically with Gen Z consumers becoming a highly relevant audience segment. Her work helped to inform these audience segmenting decisions, translating complex data into approachable, actionable storytelling for brands and marketers.
One of Ava’s most forward-looking projects involved researching AI tools that could streamline Datonics’ approach to business development, client analysis, and RFP (request for proposal) management. She explored a wide range of emerging technologies, comparing their strengths and applications, and outlined how these tools could be integrated into our workflows to enhance productivity and decision-making.
Ava also led a competitive evaluation of CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tools, helping the company assess platforms that could improve client engagement, lead nurturing, and internal efficiency. Her research included reviewing functionality, user experience, integration capabilities, and cost: providing a well-rounded perspective that helped guide internal discussions around CRM adoption.
Beyond her research, Ava brought a collaborative spirit and a sharp analytical mindset to everything she worked on. She approached every task with thoughtfulness and curiosity. Whether working independently or alongside Yana, Ava consistently added value while learning and growing in a new, data-driven environment. Ava says, “Thank you to Datonics for providing me with this opportunity to grow and challenge myself. I truly loved being immersed in the Israeli business ecosystem through this incredible experience this summer.”
Jake Minick: Exploring Strategy and Innovation
Jake, passionate about data, strategy, and marketing, joined Datonics through the Birthright Onward program. He began his internship in Tel Aviv, later transitioning smoothly to remote work while continuing to contribute without interruption. Jake’s ability to adapt quickly and remain focused on meaningful projects underscored his commitment to making an impact.
Over the summer, Jake as well as Ava researched consumer trends tied to graduation season, summer travel, and the Fourth of July, delivering insights that enriched our market strategies. He also explored emerging AI tools for business development, supported sales meeting preparations, analyzed revenue reports, and optimized CRM strategies. Jake’s strength lay in simplifying complex tools into clear, actionable insights that the team could apply right away. His professionalism, curiosity, and strategic thinking made him a valuable contributor throughout his internship.
Together, Ava and Jake brought enthusiasm, resilience, and creativity to Datonics, enriching our projects and culture in equal measure. Beyond their professional contributions, both immersed themselves in Israeli culture and business life, reflecting on the authenticity, innovation, and community-driven spirit that defines the country and its entrepreneurial ecosystem.
As their internships come to a close, we are incredibly proud of what Ava and Jake accomplished this summer and excited to see the paths they will pursue next. Their journeys reflect the transformative power of cross-cultural internships, where learning flows both ways and every challenge becomes an opportunity to grow.