Autodesk Life
When you’re an intern at Autodesk, you get to work on meaningful projects, receive mentoring from industry leaders, and work with peers from across the country. You also get to participate in tech talks, workshops, and other activities designed to support your personal and professional development.
Each year, a few of our interns are invited to participate in a panel discussion with our CEO, Andrew Anagnost. Meet this year’s group and hear what they had to say about their internship experience:
Hari Patchigolla is a Data Scientist Intern from Connecticut. He is studying computer science and statistics at the University of Connecticut.
What has the intern experience been like? What stood out the most for you, and what have you gotten out of it?
Hari: This internship has definitely put into perspective a lot of the collaborative and complex nature of the work Autodesk does. Because Autodesk technology is used in so many different industries, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of diverse and extensive data from which there’s just a lot to learn. I’ve learned a lot more about the data science field from more of a non-technical perspective.
Something that stood out is how welcoming the people here at Autodesk are in terms of just having a discussion and exchanging ideas. Not just within my team but throughout Autodesk, there have been many data scientists who have been more than willing to set up a brief call to talk about their experience, talk about current trends, and even help me out in general. The inclusive nature of Autodesk’s culture has made this internship very welcoming.
Ella O’Rourke is a Digital Sales Intern based in Ireland. She is studying International Commerce (French) at University College Dublin.
You had a hands-on experience with your internship. What has the experience been like going into the office?
Ella: The experience of going into the office has been amazing – I come in almost every single day. One of the best things is being able to network with other people in the Dublin office. From the beginning, we’ve been challenged to reach out to other Autodeskers and learn about the work that they do. So, although I work in sales, I’ve had the chance to speak with people from different teams like marketing or customer success. We’ve been able to learn more about potential roles beyond the current position we’re in.
In terms of having a hands-on experience, we were surprised at how much we’ve been given the chance to engage with customers as interns in sales. I get to speak to different businesses and customers on a day-to-day basis about how they use Autodesk solutions and that’s been really great. And then of course, on top of all that, the Dublin office is just incredible; there are a lot of fun events that take place in the office as well.
Vaishnavi Kaushik is an Employee Communications Intern based in California. She is studying for her master’s degree in communications at California State University, East Bay.
Tell us why you wanted to do an internship at Autodesk and what you have taken away from it.
Vaishnavi: Autodesk is the hub of creation and innovation. I like to think I’m a creator, which is why I wanted to be where the ideas and technology are being created. I wanted to work for an organization that appreciates and empowers people to think bigger, think better, think constantly, and think about newer ways of creation. Everyone is so nice here; it blows my mind.
What I’m taking away from this internship is a lot of learnings, skills, and connections. I’ve learned lessons here that I haven’t learned in multiple years of working at other places. I’ve made connections, gained access to technology, and have had the best time here in terms of talking to people and getting opportunities. I’ve worked with a team that empowers me to do my best, throws opportunities my way, and really listens to me. I enjoy having the space to be my authentic self. I’m taking a newfound sense of self-identity and a passion I didn’t know existed for my work.
Elias Herrera-Guzman was an Intern at the Technology Center in San Francisco. He is studying mechanical engineering at Cornell University.
What is the one thing you’d want managers and other leaders at Autodesk to know after going through our internship program?
Elias: Prior to my experience here at Autodesk, I had wondered whether it was possible to create a high-functioning team that was also compassionate. Autodesk has given that answer to me. Leadership here deeply cares about investing in its people and giving them the tools to be successful. The team I’ve worked with has given me a platform to explore the best version of myself. They’ve given me the tools to be courageous, to be bold, to ask questions, to be curious, and it’s been an amazing experience.
This culture exists because there is an investment into it, something that I learned about called the Culture Code. It’s something all managers and leadership should continue to invest deeply into. This is something everybody should continue to nurture and foster because, at the end of the day, honesty, integrity, and trust are some of the things that everything is built on, and this is what Autodesk is trying to do. It’s a foundation, and it’s working.
Pranay Gupta is a Technical Program Manager Intern based in North Carolina. He is studying for his master’s degree in engineering management at Duke University.
Have you seen or experienced anything during your internship that has made a positive difference in using technology to enhance people’s lives?
Pranay: My ambition has been to work for a company that can impact society and people’s lives using technology – I can completely connect this with my role here as a Technical Program Manager. I get to engage with diverse technology to deliver innovative software solutions, and I also get to collaborate with different teams to achieve the strategic missions we have planned for the success of our customers.
The solutions created by Autodesk have a significant impact on real-world challenges and enhance the well-being of users. My personal internship experience has been working with the Innovyze team, which is the leader in delivering water management software solutions. That exemplifies the impact because we know “water is life.” What I’m seeing with the advancement in technology and where we are heading with our product delivery, I know there will be a transformative impact for the generations to come.
Watch: Intern Showcase 2023
Learn more about Autodesk internships and early career opportunities here.