iii: What was a typical day like in your internship role? 

This summer, I worked at Salesforce as a Product Management intern.

Each intern was assigned a personal project to work on during the summer, and as such, my day was tailored to the needs of my projects. Daily activities included meetings with stakeholders, brainstorming sessions, building roadmaps, creating strategies, and networking during lunch breaks. There were times when my day wasn't so typical; for instance when there were team-building events, intern events, and volunteering events.

iii: What was your favorite project that you worked on or created at your internship?

iii: What was your favorite part of your internship experience? What was the most challenging?

My absolute favorite part of my internship at Salesforce was the level of autonomy and trust the company gave me. Unlike many other large corporations, I wasn't constantly micromanaged. Instead, I had the freedom to operate in my own way with minimal direction. 

This meant that I could contribute in a way that felt right to me, and my ideas were allowed to flourish without constant interference from managers. The most challenging aspect of my internship was dealing with the extensive data synthesis and feature prioritization tasks. Navigating through Salesforce's vast framework and sifting through a massive amount of data to extract relevant insights was quite a struggle. I had to refine my approach and seek guidance to streamline this process.

iii: Do you have any advice for students applying to internships for next summer?

Start your internship search early!!! Don't be scared to ask for referrals, don't be scared of rejections either. It's part of the process. Also, when you secure your internship, have fun!!! It's supposed to be fun!

 iii: What was a typical day like in your internship role? 

My typical day at Hewlett Packard Enterprise had a good amount of meetings with various stakeholders as I was working on building a new capability. For research purposes, I had to communicate with many different teams but a lot of my day-to-day time also went on building solid use cases around my findings, documenting my findings, and sharing updates with the product management team. I also spent a considerable amount of time finding insights from customer feedback to define the future plans of the platform and what could be improved. 

iii: What was your favorite project that you worked on or created at your internship?  

Working on building asset management capability for the GreenLake Platform was a great experience and I successfully achieved the desired output that the leadership team was expecting from me so that was very satisfying.

I also worked on a couple of side projects which overall added a lot of value to my main project and also contributed to the overall success of the team.

iii: What was your favorite part of your internship experience? What was the most challenging?  

My favorite part of the internship was the freedom and responsibility I was given. It never felt like working as an intern but I was always treated as a full-time employee and everyone used to respect and listen to my viewpoints as well. I would say the most challenging part was managing stakeholders because, for a large organization such as HPE, it can be very complex at times. 

iii: Do you have any advice for students applying to internships for next summer?

My advice to the upcoming batches would be to keep cool while going through the grind of internship search. You only need one offer to get out of the loop and things eventually fall in place provided you are “impatient with your actions but patient with the results.” Trust yourself and keep learning because there is no substitute for it.

iii: What was a typical day like in your internship role? 

This summer, I worked at Walmart as a Product Management intern. 

My internship experience was quite dynamic, and there was no such thing as a “typical” day. The workdays evolved significantly from the beginning to the end of my internship. During the first week, my primary focus was on getting acclimated. I spent a lot of time meeting various team members, understanding the Walmart search system, and getting a grasp of the broader project scope. My role was also defined during this period. It was a bit like an orientation phase where I was absorbing a lot of information and figuring out where I fit into the team.

 
As the weeks progressed, my daily tasks and responsibilities became more defined. I had a specific project goal to enable a better search experience for pet parents on Walmart searching for pet prescription (PetRx) products. My days started to revolve around tasks related to discovering the biggest customer problem to solve for in the time we had and finding data to back up my hypothesis. This involved a lot of data analysis, talking to users and associates across the organization to understand how pet parents search for pet prescriptions (PetRx products) on Walmart.com.

Next, I proceeded to do a deep dive into the search algorithm and a Root Cause Analysis to understand where the system was breaking with the help of data scientists and search engineering teams. Then, we brainstormed multiple solutions and prioritized one that would have maximum impact in the shortest time and implemented a test phase. 

After testing and iterating we deployed it to production and successfully launched it to customers. Throughout this phase, I had to work collaboratively and ensure all the stakeholders were aligned towards the customer goal and the expectations from the solution were clear. The last few weeks were spent setting up guardrail metrics and launch metrics. We also worked to ensure that we launched the product only after successfully hitting the launch criteria. By the end of the internship, I spent a lot of time communicating with the organization regarding the work we had accomplished and the future roadmap. An important aspect was also ensuring that the entire team got recognition for the amazing work they had put in through launch emails and presentations.

The lack of a “typical” day was both challenging and exciting. It meant that I had to be adaptable and ready to tackle new challenges as they arose. This variability kept things fresh and prevented monotony. However, it also required strong time management and organization skills to stay on top of my evolving workload.

Overall, the dynamic nature of my internship experience was a valuable aspect of my learning journey. It allowed me to explore various facets of my role, adapt to changing priorities, and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the product and its impact. While it could be unpredictable at times, it certainly added depth and variety to my work experience.

iii: What was your favorite project that you worked on or created at your internship? 

Throughout my internship at Walmart, I worked on one primary project from discovery to launch. I had the opportunity to work on enabling search capabilities for a new vertical – pet prescription (PetRx) medicines. This project was particularly exciting and fulfilling for several reasons:

• New Vertical: Pet prescription medicines were a new and emerging vertical for Walmart. Being part of a project from the very beginning, during the discovery phase, was incredibly insightful. It felt like I was contributing to the expansion of the company into a new market segment and enabling them to be a part of the US pet market flywheel.
  
  
• End-to-end Ownership: From the initial stages of understanding user needs and market trends to the final launch of the PetRx search feature, I was involved in every aspect of the project. Having end-to-end ownership allowed me to see the project through from conception to execution.
  
  
• Improving User Experience: The project’s core goal was to enhance the experience for pet parents looking for PetRx products on Walmart.com. Knowing that my work directly impacted users and made it easier for them to find essential products for their pets was incredibly satisfying.
  
  
• Collaboration: Working on a project like this involved close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including data scientists, engineers, site operations, and business teams. It was a fantastic learning experience to work in such a diverse and collaborative environment.
  
  
• Innovation: Given that this was a new area for Walmart, there was a sense of innovation and exploration throughout the project. It was exciting to brainstorm and implement creative solutions to search challenges specific to pet prescription medicines.
  
  

Overall, this project allowed me to apply my skills and knowledge while also contributing to Walmart’s growth in a new direction. Understanding the search technology to deliver better experiences for the customer has been so wholesomely rewarding!

iii: What was your favorite part of your internship experience? What was the most challenging? 

My favorite part of my internship experience at Walmart was undoubtedly the people and the work culture. The camaraderie among my colleagues and the excitement around search technology were infectious. Here’s why I found this aspect so appealing:

• Colleagues: I had the privilege of working with incredibly talented and motivated individuals. The collaborative spirit among my colleagues was remarkable. It was inspiring to be surrounded by people who were passionate about what they did and eager to share their knowledge and experiences. They pushed me to aim for moonshots and supported me when I felt overwhelmed.
  
  
• Work Culture: Walmart’s work culture was inclusive and supportive. It encouraged innovation and creativity while also emphasizing the importance of teamwork and diversity. The culture fostered personal and professional growth, which was both enriching and rewarding.
  
  
• Impactful Work: Knowing that the work I was doing had a direct impact on millions of Walmart customers was incredibly motivating. It gave a sense of purpose to my tasks and made me feel like I was contributing to something meaningful.

However, it’s important to note that there were also challenges during my internship. One of the most significant challenges was adapting to the scale and complexity of Walmart:

• Scale: Every project at Walmart involves at least 5-10 teams. In this case, I was coordinating with stakeholders all the time to align expectations, explain the limitations of the search technology as well as plan for a realistic scope of work. A lot of times due to the scale of the company, it became very difficult to procure the data I was looking for. At other times it was difficult to prioritize my work streams as everyone already had their priorities, especially towards the end of the quarter. Navigating all of this to ensure we deliver on our customer promise was thoroughly challenging but exhilarating.

iii: Do you have any advice for students applying to internships for next summer?

• Do not get bogged down by the negative chatter around you. It is stressful and there will be a lot of rejections but do your best to land that one interview and then convert it.
• Instead of spamming your resume everywhere, pick internships that really interest you. Customize your applications, and clearly communicate your passion for the role.
• Network smartly. Build a relationship early on so the person can vouch for you and your candidacy.

iii: What was a typical day like in your internship role? 

This summer, I worked at Walmart as a Product Management Intern in the Fintech & Payments department. I was located in the Bay Area of California for the duration of my internship and also got to visit the Walmart headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. 

Each day was different and spontaneous! There was a balance of learning and execution. While there was some structure in terms of tasks to be done, most of the internship was built around achieving certain objectives, in this instance it was launching a product, zero to one, and the onus was on me to achieve what needed to be done. While it was challenging to navigate my way in a large company, the amazing employees and coworkers and the strong culture at the company helped me figure my way out. Although work was challenging, the intern program had fun events that made sure we had a good time while working hard. 

iii: What was your favorite project that you worked on or created at your internship? 

I worked on building a contactless payment experience for ONE Finance and Walmart Customers. We went from initiation to launch in just 10 weeks! It was fast-paced, and the learning curve was steep, but I learned a lot. I got to delve into the minute details of the product and work with multiple technical and design teams to get the product ready for market. 

Getting to see something I built go live within the duration of my internship was very satisfying.

I also got to create a strategy for Walmart's underbanked customers, which let me look at the problem space from a broader perspective, which was a really great experience after delving into the details. Overall I got a great look into what it takes to operate at scale and was involved in the complete product development life cycle.

iii: What was your favorite part of your internship experience? What was the most challenging? 

The most challenging part was dealing with scale. With a company that operates at a humungous scale, I made sure my decisions were backed by data and didn't disrupt any critical processes all while making sure we were building the right product the right way.  

Learning about Payments as a system from a retail lens was very insightful and becoming a subject matter expert and the source of truth for several teams on my product was also challenging, but essential. 

My favorite part of the internship was my team. My fairly small team, consisting of about 20 PMs, functioned as an independent unit within Walmart Product and were some of the most wonderful people I've worked with. 

Being able to find a mentor in my manager, who guided me throughout and helped me achieve all my objectives for the internship was also a favorite!

iii: Do you have any advice for students applying to internships for next summer? 

A key piece of advice is to be open to whatever opportunities come your way. It may not always be what you expect, but it can be a stepping stone to what you hope to achieve. Keep your options open and don't limit yourself, be open to roles that are not an exact match, it can turn out to be an incredible experience.

With applications, it's easy to be overwhelmed and rejections are part of the process. The faster you can pick yourself up and power on, the easier it will get. Your peers will be going through the same process, and it can be noisy and stressful. Be confident in yourself and your skills, the right opportunity will find you! Always be ready to explain how your skills are transferable even if you don't have directly related experience, companies hire for potential. Being able to talk about your experience and showcase your skills is key.

If you come across opportunities that may not be a good fit for you, don't forget to pass it on to your peers, it might be a good fit for someone else. Most importantly, don't forget to be kind to yourself in the midst of uncertainty, and take care of your mental health.

When it comes to the internship itself, invest time in building relationships. While we wish our work would speak for itself, that's often not the case, and you have to be ready to showcase what you contribute to the organization and build relationships that add value, all in a very short amount of time. Reach out to the amazing network that CMU offers. And while you're working hard, don't forget to enjoy the experience and the summer!

iii: What was a typical day like in your internship role? 

This summer, I worked at ServiceNow as a Product Management Intern. 

A typical day involved doing user interviews across the organization, collaborating with a UX designer to prototype my project, and having 1:1 meetings with my buddy and my manager. This internship gave me opportunities to talk to other full-time employees and learn more about what they are doing so that I can know and understand more products of the company.

iii: What was your favorite project that you worked on or created at your internship?  

During my internship, I built a dashboard for the team to track the capacity planning in each sprint, so the program managers can provide real-time adjustments if someone is underloading or overloading. It provides valuable insights into the utilization of resource allocation and helps increase productivity for internal customers.

iii: What was your favorite part of your internship experience? What was the most challenging

My favorite part was that I had many chances to ask and talk to people from different levels, such as the VP and director, to learn and get some suggestions about the career. And most importantly, the reasons why they stay in the company.

As for the challenging part, I had to learn Power BI to build a dashboard for my internship project, but I was not familiar with the tool, I had to evaluate its technical feasibility to provide user-friendly solutions.  

iii: Do you have any advice for students applying to internships for next summer? 

Be proactive and a self-learner as an intern, and grab any opportunities to showcase your skills and provide valuable impacts to the company that you work at.

iii: What was a typical day like in your internship role? 

During my internship, a typical day at Canon involved receiving assigned tasks at the beginning of the day, which helped me structure my schedule effectively. This approach was beneficial as it allowed me to plan and prioritize my work efficiently. Additionally, our internship program included various events and activities, such as Topgolf, Bowling at Bowlero, coffee chats with the CEO, and volunteering activities, all aimed at fostering team-building and a positive work environment. 

Furthermore, we participated in corporate training sessions covering topics like personality types and leadership development, which proved to be valuable for my professional growth. Overall, the combination of structured tasks and engaging events greatly enhanced my internship experience, offering a well-rounded opportunity for skill development and team bonding.

iii: What was your favorite project that you worked on or created at your internship? 

My favorite project during my internship was the one where I had to come up with a new product idea in Canon's existing imaging expertise space. This project stood out because I had the opportunity to work on it from inception rather than focusing solely on individual features. I conducted numerous user interviews to gather valuable insights, even within a niche market.

When I presented this idea to my manager, it received appreciation, was recognized for its potential, and was presented internally in Canon’s annual Intrapreneurship program. Currently, the project has the potential to tap into a substantial market valued at USD 26.43 billion in 2021, with an anticipated revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.2%. This experience was particularly fulfilling, allowing me to contribute significantly to a promising and innovative project.

iii: What was your favorite part of your internship experience? What was the most challenging? 

My favorite aspect of my internship experience was the visit to Topgolf. It was a unique and enjoyable experience because I had never golfed before. Interestingly, this outing aligned perfectly with my internship project, which involved designing and developing a mobile application for the golf market. Being able to immerse myself in the golfing environment allowed me to better understand the potential users and their needs, making it easier for me to prioritize product features effectively.

I also appreciated the camaraderie and work ethic I observed among my colleagues at Canon. Their dedication resonated with my prior experience in the Asian working culture, particularly in India. 

On the flip side, the most challenging aspect of my internship was meeting deadlines. There were high expectations from the outset, but fortunately, my peer mentor provided valuable guidance and support, which greatly assisted me in managing and completing the tasks assigned to me.

iii: Do you have any advice for students applying to internships for next summer? 

The advice I would like to give is students should start networking as early as possible because building a professional network can be just as important as your skills. Begin networking before applying for internships, it can be by attending career fairs, attending hackathons, and building a strong LinkedIn profile. They should also build practical, industry-relevant skills because rather than me speaking for my work, my work spoke for me, when I was working on projects at CMU and hackathons I was able to learn new skills and associate them and apply them wherever I found it can be useful.

After getting an internship they should focus on internal networking, I would say don't limit your networking to external contacts building strong relationships with colleagues within your internship organization can be very important as these connections can lead to mentorship opportunities, references, and future full-time job offers. Also, be open to feedback and adapt your approach accordingly this fosters a growth mindset and can help in making the most from the internship and preparing for a future career. If I could share advice with my past self, I would emphasize the importance of networking and building relationships.
 

iii: What was a typical day like in your internship role?

A typical day at BCG involved a mix of collaboration meetings, independent analysis, and deliverable creation. I would usually start with a team sync-up to align priorities and objectives for the day. From there, I would work independently or pair up with team members on various case analyses and presentation development. We came together frequently to debate findings and refine recommendations.  

Having a blend of collaborative sessions and focused individual work provided a nice variety and helped me maximize my contributions while learning from talented teammates.

iii: What was your favorite project that you worked on or created at your internship? 

One of my favorite projects during the internship involved conducting market research on warehousing solutions. It was intellectually stimulating and allowed me to apply critical thinking to a real-world business challenge. Synthesizing consumer research, competitive benchmarking, and financial analysis to shape a compelling strategy was highly rewarding.

iii: What was your favorite part of your internship experience? What was the most challenging? 

My favorite part was working directly with clients to solve real strategic challenges. Having exposure to senior leadership perspectives across industries was invaluable. The most challenging aspect was navigating ambiguity and accurately interpreting unclear client needs to develop effective solutions.
 

iii: Do you have any advice for students applying to internships for next summer? 

For students applying for internships next year, I would advise them to proactively seek opportunities to learn and network within the organization. Don't hesitate to ask questions and engage with colleagues. 

Once on board, actively seek feedback and self-reflect to maximize your learning. Also, embrace challenges as they are opportunities for growth. To my past self, I would say: "Stay curious, be adaptable, and make the most of every learning opportunity during your internship. It's a valuable stepping stone in your career journey.

iii: What was a typical day like in your internship role? 

This summer, I worked at Cisco as a Product Marketing intern.

A typical day for me at Cisco started by embracing the vibrant energy of either the San Jose Campus or the stunning San Francisco office, where I had the flexibility to work. The flexibility to work from multiple locations added a refreshing dimension to my internship experience.

My days were a mix of structured tasks and spontaneous collaboration. While I did have assigned projects and tasks that require focused attention, there was also room for spontaneous interactions and cross-team collaborations. This balance allowed me to dive deep into my projects while also staying adaptable to the fast-paced nature of the marketing world.

Interacting with various teams was a significant part of my daily routine. From brainstorming sessions with the design team to discussing campaign strategies with the marketing team, I was part of a collaborative ecosystem. These interactions not only enriched my learning but also gave me a comprehensive understanding of how different departments contribute to the overall marketing efforts.

Moreover, some days were particularly exciting with intern socials and fun events. These events provided an opportunity to network, connect, and unwind with fellow interns and Cisco employees. 

I usually ended my day by reflecting on the progress I made and planning my upcoming tasks for the next day. 

iii: What was your favorite project that you worked on or created at your internship? 

My favorite project during my internship at Cisco was a web tracking and reporting initiative I did for Panoptica. The ability to dive into data analytics, monitor user behavior, and translate insights into actionable marketing strategies was both fascinating and rewarding. This project not only deepened my understanding of data-driven decision-making but also highlighted the power of analytics in shaping effective marketing campaigns. The experience was not only a valuable learning opportunity but also directly contributed to improving the performance of Panoptica's online presence. 

iii: What was your favorite part of your internship experience? What was the most challenging? 

Favorite Part:

Without a doubt, my favorite part of the internship was the deep involvement in the diverse projects I had the opportunity to work on. Each project presented a unique challenge and a chance to learn something new. From optimizing SEO to diving into paid advertising strategies, and from tracking web analytics to collaborating on asset development, every project was a valuable learning experience.

However, what truly stood out to me was the sense of camaraderie and collaboration within the Cisco team. The mentorship sessions, team meetings, and cross-functional interactions were incredibly enriching. 

The support and guidance I received from my mentors and colleagues made every project more than just a task; it felt like a collective effort toward a common goal. This strong sense of belonging and shared purpose made my internship truly memorable.

Most Challenging Part:

The most challenging aspect was navigating the intricacies of data analysis and making data-driven decisions. While I had some exposure to analytics, diving into web tracking and understanding the nuances of user behavior was a significant learning curve. However, with guidance from mentors and colleagues, I gradually developed the skills needed to interpret data effectively. 

Additionally, juggling multiple projects and collaborating with diverse teams, though rewarding, also posed its challenges. Balancing priorities, managing deadlines, and ensuring seamless communication required careful planning and effective time management. This experience taught me the value of organizational skills and reinforced the significance of clear and open communication.

iii: Do you have any advice for students applying to internships for next summer? 

When applying for internships next year, I would offer these insights based on my experience:

First, focus on networking. Building relationships with colleagues, mentors, and fellow interns can open doors to valuable insights, opportunities, and long-term connections in your chosen field.

Second, dive deep into learning about the product domain. Understanding the product inside-out will not only make your work more meaningful but also help you contribute effectively to projects and discussions.

Third, make the most of the tools provided by your company. These tools are designed to streamline processes and enhance productivity. Familiarize yourself with them early on to maximize your contributions and learn new skills.

Here’s an extra nugget of advice for future interns: when choosing your internship, go for one that lets you dip your toes in the waters of your desired field. Flexibility is key! It's like a trial run for your career aspirations. Soak up every bit of learning during this awesome phase.