(PRESS RELEASE) The WJA Foundation highlights the achievements of this year’s Ella Klein Internship recipients and participants, sponsored by Julius Klein Diamonds (JKD). This prestigious program provides transformable learning opportunities with some of the diamond and jewelry industry’s most respected professionals. The WJA Foundation is honored to partner with JKD to provide key experiences to help women advance in their diamond and jewelry careers.
“At Julius Klein Diamonds, we are thrilled to offer this Internship Program to individuals who are passionate about diamonds and committed to pursuing a career in the diamond industry,” says Mark Klein, Vice President of JKD. “Investing in education and training is essential for success in this field, and we are excited to help interns take their careers to the next level,” he concludes.
This year’s interns, Jamie Dunton and Gabriella Botelho, gained hands-on experience and unparalleled insights into the diamond trade. Through on-site training, they development a deep understanding of diamonds evaluation, sales, and industry practices, setting a strong foundation for their professional growth.
Jamie Dunton, reflecting on her internship, shares, “Interning at JKD put my book knowledge to use and more. It helped me apply what I learned at GIA to actual scenarios. This experience also showed me some differences from the course teachings. There are nuances in the trade that don’t exist in the textbooks (like specific terminology or writing both the shape & cut on the papers).”
Gabriella Botelho adds, “My education focused on bench work, CAD, and design, but I lacked diamond-specific knowledge. This internship filled that gap, giving me a comprehensive view of the diamond industry. Interacting with experts gave me a deeper, more practical understanding of the industry, especially regarding quality evaluation and trade practices. It’s an intense, fast-paced program that offers invaluable hands-on experience. I learned far more in real-time at Julius Klein than I could have on my own or in a longer course.
Nikia Levesque-Meyer, President of the WJA Foundation, emphasized the impact of this program, “The Ella Klein Internship is a shining example of what can be achieved when industry leaders like Julius Klein Diamonds invest in the next generation of talent. Jamie and Gabriella’s experiences reflect our mission to empower women and provide transformative opportunities that propel their careers forward. We are proud to support these incredible women and look forward to seeing their continued contributions to our industry.”
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To learn more about WJA Foundation, visit here, or email info@womensjewelryassociation.com.
