Please briefly describe your background prior to Haas
I moved around quite a bit, both in terms of industry and role, prior to Haas. I began in a leadership development position in Telecom, then moved into a consulting role at a FinTech unicorn, followed by healthcare analytics. Just before joining Haas, due to a re-org, I unexpectedly found myself working in Strategy & Operations within the tech industry.
What industries and functions did you recruit for and why?
I focused my recruitment efforts mainly in Tech, with some exploration into Health Tech. Tech’s knack for creating simplicity and convenience draws me in, while Health Tech holds personal significance, having grown up in a family of doctors and witnessing the complexities of healthcare firsthand. I applied to roles in strategy, innovation and product management, where I could combine my problem-solving skills with a passion for making a meaningful impact.
Briefly describe how you approached recruiting. Anything worked particularly well for you?
My approach to recruiting was fairly unstructured (which admittedly caused quite a bit of stress later in the Spring). I began by submitting my resume to many of the big tech companies during the Fall semester, followed by additional applications through LinkedIn and CMG Bears. I chose to apply broadly without seeking referrals, casting a wide net across various companies. While this openness allowed me to explore products and solutions I wouldn’t have typically considered, it also meant that I didn’t receive an offer until early May.
Briefly introduce your internship company and your team
I interned in the Strategy & Transformation team at Cadence Design Solutions in San Jose. Cadence drives innovation with cutting-edge tools for designing electronic systems, for faster, smarter solutions across industries (AI, 5G, automotives, life sciences to name a few)
Briefly describe your summer project or job description
I got to work across GTM strategy (envisioning a new business model for low-spend customers), FP&A AI use cases and M&A integration strategy.
Fun facts about the company
- Cadence is primarily an R&D-led organization and they have never had an MBA intern before (although I met with a few Haas Executive/EW MBA alumni which was great)! Given that the Strategy team is only 2-years old, it was incredibly heartening to see the immense impact I had over the summer.
- The culture at the company is incredible! They have consistently ranked in the top 10 Fortune 100 companies to work for over the past decade.
Thoughts / reflections on your internship
I was incredibly fortunate to have an exceptional thought partner in my manager, which made my internship experience truly rewarding. I was both challenged to deliver my best and consistently provided with the opportunity and visibility to do so. This experience solidified my belief that pursuing a role in strategy is the right path for me in the near future.
Closing thoughts or advice
- It is okay to explore! You will probably never get a chance like this to try out some of the career hypotheses that you have - so use this time to try out new things.
- Always remember that this is your personal journey - do not get overwhelmed by others around you. Surround yourself with people who are genuinely interested in your success. Do not shy away from taking a break from the MBA bubble if you have to.
- If you find yourself in a situation similar to myself where you don’t have an offer until April - don’t lose hope! I had 10-12 interviews spread across the first two weeks of May and ended up with 4 offers. So hang in there - trust the process and more importantly have faith in yourself!
- If you find yourself on Amazon's (primarily Product Management) waitlist in January or February, don't slow down on applying to other roles (which I mistakenly did). In previous years, nearly everyone on the Amazon waitlist eventually received an offer, but our year was much different.