My STEP Signature Project centered on my internship with Garmin’s Aviation Quality Assurance team. The primary objective was to create data visualizations and perform data analysis regarding the manufacturing of various aviation products in order to streamline quality issue management. I also developed an application in C# utilized by all plant managers to automate the quarantine process for nonconforming parts during manufacturing, leading to faster quality issue identification and isolation.

Throughout the course of the internship, my understanding of myself evolved considerably. Initially, I perceived myself as someone with more limited technical expertise, having only been primarily in a classroom environment. However, as I delved deeper into the project, I recognized my innate ability to adapt, learn quickly, and collaborate effectively with seasoned professionals. Additionally, I had assumed that real-world project experiences would mostly reinforce my classroom learning. In reality, I encountered numerous unexpected challenges, requiring me to think on my feet and constantly adapt.

During my internship, I faced many challenges when developing Qlik data dashboards and a desktop application which were outside of traditional industrial engineering responsibilities and my existing expertise. Initially, I underestimated the complexity of developing visualizations in the Qlik app, as it is designed to be a low-code easy-to-use data analytics platform. However, once I started learning the application, I realized that it had many inherent limitations to the platform that would make my dashboards much harder to develop quickly. Furthermore, no one else on my team was familiar with Qlik or would be able to help me in developing the dashboards. Incorporating many features of the data visualization dashboards was going to be difficult and required a blend of creativity, critical thinking, and technical expertise.

With a short time frame of just 6 weeks from brainstorming to the release of 4 data visualization dashboards, I realized that I had to prioritize certain user functionalities and requirements that would be essential for end users, as it would be impossible to incorporate everything perfectly. Recognizing this quickly, I set up various meetings first with just my mentor and manager to discuss important potential challenges, risks, and mitigations to the development of the manufacturing insight dashboards. I looked outside my department for further help with technical roadblocks in order to debug and develop my application more quickly and efficiently. Joining a business intelligence reporting group on Yammer and networking with others within the company led me to discover other experienced professionals with Qlik. I messaged a few people on Teams, who all ended up being extremely helpful to me, considering that I was merely an intern working on a data optimization project. I settled with someone in the Quality department for outdoor consumer products who was an expert in Qlik and understood my project the best. He was instrumental in the on-time completion of my dashboards and helped tremendously with the dashboard’s complexity that I achieved in that time. I also had more discussions and meetings with future users of the dashboards to establish a robust feedback loop when moving closer to release.

This experience deepened my understanding of the value of guidance and mentorship in a professional setting. I learned that I should not be afraid to communicate any struggles and seek help and that people are willing to help each other through challenges even when it is not their own. It is completely okay to not be able to accomplish everything by my own abilities and merit. Proactive communication proved to be very important, especially when faced with uncertainty. The insights gained from various other employees, stemming from years of experience, provided me with perspectives I hadn’t considered and illuminated the nuances of real-world problem-solving. My relationship with them instilled in me the importance of effective communication, feedback, and collaboration, reshaping my assumptions about individual contribution versus team synergy. I also learned that expertise exists everywhere, and tapping into it can significantly accelerate problem-solving.

Confronting various seemingly insurmountable roadblocks demonstrated the importance essence of patience, perseverance, and resourcefulness in a corporate setting. In academia, problems are typically designed for learning, but in the corporate world, challenges are unpredictable. Navigating these challenges required not just technical acumen but also a holistic approach, considering factors beyond the immediate problem. When Google searches and online forum responses did not solve bugs or problems, it required lots of repeated attempts, rethinking, testing, and collaboration from others to achieve the expected functionality. Real-world problem-solving is multifaceted, often requiring an adaptive mindset, strategic prioritization, and the humility to seek guidance. This shift in perspective, from self-reliance to collective problem-solving, was both transformative and enlightening.

The unpredictable nature of challenges in the corporate setting starkly contrasts the more structured problem-solving approach of academia. When dealing with such challenges, enacting an iterative process of hypothesizing, testing, failing, learning, and repeating until a viable solution emerges will be a great recipe for successful problem-solving. Furthermore, this iterative journey cultivated a growth mindset, emphasizing the fact that not all solutions are immediately accessible and that the journey to uncovering them can be as valuable as the solution itself.

The takeaways I learned and the transformation from this internship holds immense value for my future endeavors. Understanding the balance between technical skills and soft skills ensures that I am better prepared for a diverse range of challenges in any professional setting, especially when pursuing future roles in consulting or product management. The internship experience not only aligned with my interests but also provided a foundation for my professional aspirations. As I move forward, I am equipped with a broader perspective, ensuring that I approach challenges with collaboration, adaptability, and relentless perseverance.

Miranda Bugos

STEP Reflection

Making a Difference Through Engineering

Brief Description of STEP Project

In the duration of my STEP signature project, I was tasked with production and sanitation of lumbar and cervical plates. These tasks started off by cutting stock of raw titanium and aluminum beams. These beams were then put into a high precision cutter to shape them into cervical and lumbar plates. I then had to gage pin, sand blast, inspect, and sanitize them to go out to a holding center where they would be until a hospital voices a need for them.

What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed or transformed while completing you STEP project

Throughout this experience, I learned a lot about myself and my field of study. This opportunity solidified my career goal. I knew from a young age I wanted to help people I just did not know what path I wanted to go down. I also assumed some things that turned out to be false throughout the course of my internship. One of which being that I was going to be stuck behind a desk all day programming or coding. After my first day there I realized that was not the case. The tasks I was asked to do were very hands on and I loved it. Another assumption that caught me off guard was the process and the strict inspection these parts must go through to get cleared to go to hospitals. Obviously, they need to be perfect since they are going into someone’s body, but I underestimated just how much paperwork needs to be done for them to be cleared.

My view of the world was transformed by this experience as well. Going into this field, I knew that medical implants were high in demand, but I think I underestimated just how in demand they are. This opportunity showed me that biomedical/biomaterial/biomechanical engineers are needed especially because the prosthetic and medical implant field is rapidly progressing, expanding, and evolving.

What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the transformation/ change you discussed and how did those affect you

Over the summer, I made thousands of cervical and lumbar plates. My boss expressed to me that these were only for one company and that they would be gone within a month and that we’d do that whole process over again. The company I worked for also works with other companies to sell these implants to so you can double or triple this workload. This really opened my eyes to the demand of these medical implants.

As for relationships, I worked with a small group of engineers which allowed me to be very involved in the production of these medical implants. A lot of my time spent working and learning was one on one with my bosses. I think this was very beneficial in building a connection with them and learning a great deal about the industry I would be joining after graduating. I also think this enhanced my internship experience. Because I was involved in such a tight knit group, I was involved in almost everything that happened in the company. I am very thankful and fortunate to have been in the frontline at such an early stage of my career. I am also very grateful to have been offered to go back and work for them next summer and even during academic calendar breaks.

A major event that happened while being employed there was, I got to sit in on an audit. I signed to protect the privacy of material discussed during the audit so I cannot speak much about it, but the experience was very motivating and interesting. The topics that were discussed led to my transformation of some of the things that I discussed previously as well as some others I am unable to elaborate on.

Why is this change/transformation significant and valuable for your life.

As stated previously, I knew I wanted to help people from a young age, but I was unsure of how I wanted to do that. This experience solidified that for me. I want to do the process I did over the course of this summer for the rest of my life. Watching finish products being sent out to hospitals knowing they started off as a bar of metal is so rewarding. Knowing that I made a difference in thousands of lives this summer is exactly the feeling I strive to have for the rest of my life.

As for future plans, I did end up changing my major slightly in the middle of this internship. It had nothing to do with the internship or company it just allowed me to have more mobility within my professional career. I switched from biomedical engineering to material science and engineering with a specialization in biomaterials. This switch is still heavily involved in the processes I went through during my internship. It also allows me to branch off out of the medical side of things if I need to. I am still very thankful for this opportunity and want to continue on the path I was originally on.

1.Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project.

During my STEP Signature Project as a Software Engineering Intern at Accenture in San Francisco, I primarily focused on developing an internal API using Java and Spring Boot to automate contact information updates for a major hospital network’s 500+ disaster recovery plans. Additionally, I proposed and presented the implementation of an AI-powered PowerPoint tool to expedite slide creation for over 15 teams within the hospital network, which was adopted and greatly improved their productivity. My client was a major healthcare network on the west coast.

2.Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project.

During my STEP Signature Project as a Software Engineering Intern at Accenture in San Francisco, my perspective on various aspects of my career goals and the tech industry changed significantly. First, I gained  insights into the world of consulting, healthcare, and software engineering, understanding the best practices and methodologies applied in these fields. This experience helped me see how technology plays a crucial role in healthcare, and it broadened my horizons in terms of potential career paths.

Additionally, the exposure to professionals from top companies like Google, Meta, and Apple during my internship was eye-opening. Meeting individuals from backgrounds similar to mine in these prestigious tech roles inspired me to continue pursuing a career in tech. However, my experience also made me realize that technology consulting might not be the ideal fit for my long-term goals, reaffirming my preference for a more traditional tech role. Overall, this project allowed me to establish valuable connections within the tech industry, which I believe will significantly contribute to my future success.

3.What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature
Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those
affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences
completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.

Several key aspects of my experiences during my STEP Signature Project at Accenture contributed to the transformation in my views and career aspirations. First, daily interactions with Accenture professionals played a pivotal role. Working alongside consultants and software engineers allowed me to witness the dynamics of the consulting industry and its intersection with healthcare technology. These interactions provided me with valuable insights into best practices, work ethics, and project management methodologies. It also helped me understand the role of technology in solving complex healthcare challenges, broadening my perspective on the intersection of technology and healthcare.

Secondly, meeting engineers from top tech companies was a significant turning point. These interactions exposed me to individuals who had succeeded in their respective fields, coming from backgrounds similar to mine. It was inspiring to see how they had navigated their careers and reached positions in tech giants like Google, Meta, and Apple. These encounters fueled my motivation and instilled a sense of possibility, making me believe that I, too, could achieve similar heights in the tech industry. It reinforced the importance of networking and building connections in the industry, as these engineers were living examples of the benefits of doing so.

Overall, the combination of daily interactions with Accenture professionals and meeting engineers from top tech companies gave me a holistic understanding of the industry. It allowed me to see the different paths and possibilities within technology and consulting, helping me clarify my career goals and preferences. These experiences provided invaluable lessons and insights that will undoubtedly shape my future endeavors in the tech world.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or
two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your
academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

The change and transformation I experienced during my STEP Signature Project hold immense significance for my life because they have provided me with clarity and direction in terms of my academic, personal, and professional goals. Understanding the intersection of technology and healthcare, as well as the best practices in consulting and software engineering, has equipped me with valuable knowledge that can be applied to my academic pursuits and future career.

This transformation also matters because it has helped me refine my professional aspirations. Realizing that technology consulting might not align with my long-term career goals has allowed me to focus on pursuing traditional tech roles that are more in line with my interests and skill set. Meeting engineers from top tech companies has further motivated me to work towards securing similar positions in the future. In essence, this change has set me on a path that is better suited to my ambitions and will significantly impact my future endeavors, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and successful career in the tech industry.