BizAcademy Reflection May 2009
Jessica Huang participated in the 2006 San Francisco BizAcademy and held two internships at salesforce.com. She is currently a student at UC Davis. She shares her experience with the program and what it was like being an intern at salesforce.com.
Getting to be a part of BizAcademy and having worked as an intern at salesforce.com were truly one in a lifetime opportunities for me. I was fortunate enough to get early exposure to the real professional business world and even be a part of it starting as only a sophomore in high school. So far I have gained a great amount of experience and knowledge working in two different departments of salesforce.com, the Professional Services Team and the Wiki Migration Team. Before my first internship with the Professional Services Team, I was not aware that so many departments existed and had to work together to make a company successful. By interacting with other departments that my department had to communicate with, I got to learn about these different departments and how they contribute to the success of a company. Being part of the Wiki Migration Team, I received real exposure to working as a team with my co-workers on genuine professional projects that needed to be completed. Many friends and adults have told me that they wish they had the opportunities that I have received at my age. Being exposed to early career experience has allowed me to experience and think about possible future careers that I have never considered. I have always thought that I wanted a career only in the science field, but after enjoying my internships at salesforce so much, I have decided that I want to either major or minor in the business field. For now, I have a head start and early experience in the business field.
Aside from gaining much experience and knowledge, I got to also do a lot of early networking that has allowed me to meet mentors, managers, co-workers, friends and many others who have each uniquely affected and impacted my life professionally and personally. I now know Julie Trell, our BizAcademy Leader who made BizAcademy possible, and who has created all the amazing opportunities for us BizAcademy graduates such as the internships at salesforce.com, the learning workshops, the scholarships for college, the mentors some of us have, networks to many employees in salesforce.com and so much more. I now have contact to my mentor and past work managers who remind me that I can always get in touch with them anytime for anything I need, whether it is a career-wise question or even a question about school since they have been through it all. I was also lucky enough to meet Colin Powell! I got to attend an inspirational speech he gave and meet him and ask him questions afterwards!
I have truly enjoyed every single moment of all my experiences at BizAcademy and Salesforce.com. Whether they were positive or negative, they have all contributed to my professional and personal growth. I have gotten to take away so many unique learning experiences and connection with great amazing people from the program and my internships.