Rogeno Malone ’20 Eli Lilly – This Summer I had the opportunity to intern with Eli Lilly and Company. The unit I worked with dealt with the transfer and storage of data as well as the management of records – actual and non-business transactions that arise through the normal course of business. I would like to thank the Center for Leadership Development (CLD) for granting me this opportunity, as well as Eli Lilly for welcoming me with open arms.
Prior to the start of my internship, I had no idea what the culture of Corporate America was like. In fact, on my first day my clothing contrasted my co-workers significantly. No, I was not under-dressed but that day I learned the meaning of business-casual.
As I’ve stated, my position was in the realm of IT and dealt exclusively with computers, computer widgets, and intel software, all of which I knew nothing about. I am a firm believer that uncomfortable situations and environments promote self-growth. By working with equipment and technology foreign to me, I not only learned new skills but also produce some of my best work. Majority of my assignments involved analyzing records and determining the most efficient way to store, dispose of, or move said records to off-site facilities. I also utilized OpenText software and a company specific storage library to further analyze data and ensure that records were adhering to a retention schedule. During my final three weeks, I had the opportunity to lead an assignment. This project challenged me the most because I was responsible with creating processes to complete the assignment. Tasks such as the project design, role delegations, strategy sessions, and much more were responsibilities I held.
One of the greatest skills I learned during my internship was networking. Something that surprised me was the openness of my colleagues and their willingness to connect and share their journeys. I believe those aspects also extend the entirety of Lilly, I heard and have seen for myself it’s unique company culture. Since a young age, I have been interested in traveling the world to experience different customs. Now, instead of observing customs I intend on traversing the world through international business. Luckily, I connected with several employees working in Canada, Costa Rica, and France. I’d be lying if I said I knew the ins and outs of networking right away, I believe my process involved many trials and errors. However, a universal truth I’ve discovered is to not be afraid to reach out to anyone. Everyone has a story, if you’re interested and willing to listen they might just tell you.
