My Takeaways on Learning in a New Environment

I'm a third year undergraduate student who has lived in 4 different countries and underwent 3 different education systems, yet my 6-month co-op at Comcast was the biggest culture shock I have faced.

As a student, minority and first-timer in a corporate environment, I want to share my takeaways from this experience and the thought-provoking advice I received from fellow Comcasters.

1. Sarah Stroback - Director, Product Management

• Know the importance of relationship building, learning from people, problem solving and finding/creating a dream job.
• Make a list of companies to work for. Think about who you want to work for. Is there a leader that you are inspired by, that you want to work for?
• Specifically diving into the role of product management, Sarah mentioned that it's all about content and actively being involved in the life cycle of a product.

2. Jennifer Meunier - Program Manager, Security

• As a program manager, you need to learn the importance of being the middle person, between a team and a process. Bridge the gap. Act as a liaison/translator.
• While working in a team, it's important to prioritize, be self-aware, see patterns and advocate for change. It's less about centralization and more about teamwork. You don't always have to reinvent the wheel, start connecting the dots.
• Working in a new environment takes patience, sticking with it and being confident. Give yourself time to figure things out.

3. Dee Adeyemo - Sr. Director, Accounting Operations

• Building good relationships is key to getting things done. Whatever company you find yourself in, be sure to join Employee Resource Groups, build and bridge networks.
• Join a company that matches your definition of 'innovative'. A company, role, team that stretches you to grow personally and professionally. This is where doors will start opening.
• Dee mentioned some key traits that have helped her to succeed: nimble, being accountable to yourself and having an entrepreneurial spirit.

4. Joyce Rancani - Director, Security Engineering

• Become an expert in your craft. Keep up to date with your industry. Demonstrate confidence (or people will not listen to you). Own what you know.
• Build processes to implement change. Learn how to speak their language. Attend webinars and read articles so you can increase your knowledge in the field. What do you know about 'Zero Trust'?
• Delving into the world of cybersecurity, the biggest threats, and the fact that there is so much personal information out there, Joyce mentioned that "It's all about defense in depth" when it comes to defending hackers. 'Your identity is your new perimeter'. Self learning is key.

5. Davy Ngoma Mbaku, Software Engineer Co-op

• When it comes to learning how to code, start small by building programs that help solve your personal problems or assist with daily tasks. E.g. alarm clocks, notification reminders, etc.
• Get involved and be engaged in your work, it makes it easier to pitch in a professional setting!

As much as this is advice I'm giving to you, these are lessons that I learned over the past 6-months. Don't get me wrong, I failed, many times - but the most important thing was that I learned from them, and I'm still learning. Moving forward, I know how to turn my mistakes into milestones.

With that being said, another experience has been added to my bank. Where next, Blessing?

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Blessing Adogame, a student at Drexel University, is an ardent believer in the power of storytelling and #studentvoices. She believes that stories and experiences pave the path that enhances a person's brand. Currently a Campus Editor for LinkedIn and the initiator/co-founder of Students of LinkedIn, she inspires others to dream more, learn more and be more. To learn more or get in contact with Blessing, visit calendly.com/blessingadogame