Week 9: Start of 3 month internship

This week has been a very interesting one for me. All the Global Scholars have been placed on internships throughout America with leading high tech companies: often start up companies, where they can get an understanding of American business and entrepreneurship and contribute their skills to the company.

These internships have been careful chosen to suit the Scholars needs and that of the host company. I was placed in Black and Veatch a Kansas based Civil Engineering company which provides solutions to business and government for their power station, water works and building needs (amongst many other functions). This is a very well known company in Kansas, with offices worldwide and about 8000 employees.

However over the time on this course my expectations and aspirations had changed considerably. The business I want to found has changed to a different field, and the sheer quality of the course has lead me to want and expect a different focus of business activity. Myself and my boss at Black and Veatch came to the mutual agreement that what I was doing at Black and Veatch was no longer right for what I wanted to achieve. And I have to say Black and Veatch were very helpful in understanding my needs and helping me to find something else. They are a great company to work for who have real respect for their workforce.

Leaving Black and Veatch taught me some really valuable lessons:

• trust your instincts; if it doesn't feel right act on it
• Pursue your own goals as best you can: don't have regrets about not going for it
• In doing so people will respect your decisions and the outcome is more beneficial to both parties although sometimes it can be difficult to get to that point
  

In the meantime I have been back at the Kauffman Foundation who have been incredibly helpful in finding me another placement.