Discovering the Pariveda internship program
Starting my freshman year at the University of Notre Dame was certainly daunting, but I was determined to make my transition as seamless as possible. I joined the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) to take advantage of the opportunities my university provided for community and networking. At my first meeting, several employees from Pariveda shared information about the company. At the time, I had no idea what technology consulting was, nor was I studying computer science, but their presentation stuck with me.
Two years later, in the fall of my junior year, I was deep in the process of searching for summer internships when I came across a job listing for Pariveda. The opportunity was for a philanthropic internship working for a non-profit organization. I have always found service incredibly rewarding, and this was the only opportunity I found that would allow me to gain hands-on experience in software development while simultaneously helping a worthy cause.
A supportive environment
The people I met working in the Pariveda Chicago office were all incredibly welcoming and willing to answer my questions. I worked closely with the employees on my team, including my manager and tech lead. They answered my technical questions, and they also offered valuable insight and general career advice. I felt that, even as an Intern, I was a valued and respected member of the team.
I also found Pariveda’s mentorship program to be integral to my internship experience. My mentor, who was also a University of Notre Dame alumna, became a valuable resource for me. Having a mentor that could touch base with me throughout the summer and monitor my progress allowed me to receive the constructive feedback necessary for my career development. It was clear to me that Pariveda values individual growth, and there was a distinct emphasis on working towards achievable goals. I also found that working on a team primarily composed of other interns allowed us all to learn from each other. Since we all came from different programs, we were able to offer each other a range of different perspectives that ultimately led to our success.
Leaning into Pariveda’s culture
Throughout the summer, we had multiple opportunities to participate in a wide variety of social activities. These included a Chicago Cubs game, an architecture tour, a sailboat cruise, and various less formal social hours with team members. I anticipated that I would learn a lot this summer about professional development and programming, but the culture in the office made my summer far more enjoyable and exciting than I could have ever imagined. I looked forward to going into the office every week and getting to know the people outside of my team. The Chicago office made me feel comfortable and welcome throughout my entire internship.
Additionally, our team volunteered at a bike race in Milwaukee sponsored by ADHDAmerica, giving us the chance to meet our client team in person. Each of the founders had a unique story in which ADHD touched their lives and the lives of their loved ones. Having had little exposure to ADHD before my internship, I learned a lot about how much this condition can impact children and their families.
A full circle moment
I had the privilege of speaking at a SWE meeting with several Pariveda employees, sharing my internship experience with fellow women in engineering of all grades. That was truly a full circle moment, sharing this opportunity with others in the same place I was first introduced to Pariveda.
