Volvo Car USA
My Summer at Volvo: A Journey of Growth and Discovery
In the summer of 2024, I stepped onto a NJ Transit train in Hoboken, my heart drumming with anticipation as I journeyed toward Mahwah. Destination: Volvo Car USA, where my first significant professional chapter awaited. As someone who had always found beauty in automotive design and engineering, this wasn't merely an internship—it was the fulfillment of a long-held aspiration.
The gleaming glass headquarters came into view as I arrived, clutching both my portfolio and my nerves. The Head of Communications and my manager greeted me with warm smiles that gradually melted my anxiety. They ushered me into a space where I was given a moment to collect myself before my first meeting—a thoughtful gesture I hadn't expected in the corporate world.
My manager, a woman whose kindness matched her professional prowess, outlined my first major project: a unique candle launch with a Brooklyn-based fragrance house. The creative intersection of automotive excellence and artisanal scent design immediately captured my imagination.
Days unfolded into a tapestry of meaningful connections. Fellow interns quickly became confidants, sharing lunches and laughter as we navigated our professional beginnings together. Seasoned employees offered their wisdom generously, pulling back the curtain on an industry I had admired from afar.
Then came the moment that crystallized everything—sliding behind the wheel of a Volvo for a test drive. The vehicle responded with an intuitive grace that revealed the company's philosophy in tangible form. This wasn't just precision engineering; it was human-centered design brought to life. Every curve, every feature spoke of thoughtful consideration for the driver's experience.
My manager became more than a supervisor—she became a mentor whose guidance transcended professional development. She cultivated an environment where authenticity was valued over perfection, where I could voice uncertainties without fear of judgment. This transparency became the foundation of my growth.
Beyond the office walls, New York City embraced me with its endless energy. Evenings spent exploring its neighborhoods and engaging with its diverse communities expanded my understanding of the world and my place within it.
As summer waned, I found myself reflecting on the fortunate alignment of circumstances that had brought me here. My first professional experience had not merely been a line on a resume but a transformative passage—one where creativity, mentorship, and genuine human connection converged to shape not just my career trajectory, but my understanding of what meaningful work could be.
Volta Medical
The Transfer of Purpose: From Automotive to Heartbeats
As I stepped into my second internship at Volta Medical, I carried with me a quiet revelation that would only grow stronger with each passing day: my skillsets were not confined to a single industry but were beautifully interchangeable, adaptable tools waiting to be applied in new contexts.
The sleek automobiles of my past experience gave way to sophisticated AI technology focused on heart health—a transition that initially seemed dramatic but soon revealed profound connections. Where once I communicated the human-centric engineering of vehicles, I now found myself translating complex cardiac arrhythmia technology into narratives that resonated with medical professionals and patients alike.
The gravity of this work settled upon me gradually. Each meeting revealed staggering statistics about untreated cardiac conditions, each presentation illustrated how Volta's innovations could quite literally save lives. The weight of purpose here was palpable—not in creating luxury or convenience, but in extending and improving human existence itself.
What struck me most was the collective passion that animated the startup's culture. From executives to developers, every individual moved with the synchronized determination of those who believe deeply in their mission. The company didn't merely employ people; it united believers working toward a shared vision of transformed cardiac care.
My manager and onboarding buddy—two extraordinarily compassionate women—guided me through this new landscape with patience and insight. Their mentorship affirmed that genuine leadership transcends industry boundaries, rooted in universal qualities of empathy and wisdom.
As weeks passed, I found myself becoming unexpectedly passionate about cardiac health education. The complexities of arrhythmia, once technical jargon to my ears, became subjects I eagerly discussed, recognizing how widespread misunderstanding contributes to untreated conditions.
In quiet moments of reflection, I recognized that this technology represented something profound—a convergence of innovation and compassion that reached beyond mere modernism. It stood as testament to how human ingenuity, when directed toward healing, can bridge the gap between cold calculation and warm humanity.
Each day reinforced a truth I suspect will follow me throughout my career: that no experience exists in isolation, that skills and insights gather meaning as they travel between contexts, and that purpose reveals itself in unexpected places for those willing to recognize it.
