Can you brief us about your scope of work during this internship?
As a Business and Marketing analyst, I played a variety of roles within many projects. In a wider scope, I researched potential new markets and worked to create multimedia content to promote ANB and its products.
What were your key roles & responsibilities and how did you work towards achieving them?
Of the 20+ roles I took on in various projects, the following were the most significant:
I isolated the key features, target audience, and purpose of DRM, eTRACK+, eTRM, and ZAPconnect to create the product sheets and marketing video scripts with animation ideas. I also coordinated with the UI/UX team to edit video drafts and product sheet formatting.
To analyze DRM performance and suggest high-level system improvements, I generated procedures for analysis, ongoing excel spreadsheets, and Quicksight graphs.
For the market research aspect of my internship, I developed formats for analyzing new markets and industry competitors, identified the level of effort to return value in approaching new clients, and searched for new automation opportunities in different industries. These tasks required extensive web searching, LinkedIn profile-combing, and cold emailing.
I utilized writing and video and audio editing skills to create a Standard Operating Procedure write-up and its accompanying tutorial videos.
Among your many tasks, what is the one that you liked working on the most?
I enjoyed the marketing video creation process the most because I experienced all aspects of the project from start to finish. Writing the scripts required multiple drafts to correctly identify the target audience, utilize key buzzwords, and capture the purpose of our products in a one-minute video. I am proud of the final videos and appreciate the opportunity to lead a project with a wonderful team.
What was the biggest challenge you came across and how did you overcome it?
I was tasked with drafting a response to a Request for Proposal for a document management system. Yet, at the time, I did not understand ANB’s DRM product well enough to describe its technical features, nor did I know how to format an RFP. I had a lot of guidance and help with revisions from Abhishek, Selvan, and Prem.
What new skillsets and/or knowledge did you gain during your time with ANB?
The hard skills I gained include a greater proficiency in Excel analysis, learning how to format market research and deciding what information is valuable, and newfound knowledge of the needs of energy efficiency processes of utilities.
Other important skills I developed to keep up with the fast-paced, demanding works are better time and task management, improved communication skills to ask for help or keep a project moving, and the flexibility to take on independent projects in which I had no prior experience or examples to follow. I’ve been able to hone my writing skills to address a professional setting better.
What do you feel are the highlights of working at a ‘smaller’ tech company?
Working at a smaller tech company allowed me to take part in projects that would normally be outside of my major and intern position. As an intern, I still felt like my opinion was valued, and the projects I worked on were important to the company.
What are the key takeaways from your exposure to the energy efficiency industry?
The energy efficiency industry is a lot more nuanced than I had initially thought. The focus in the energy industry is often on renewables like solar panels and wind turbines. Still, we rarely consider the complexity involved in connecting solar panels to the grid or even applying for a rebate on LED lightbulbs. There needs to be a way to implement innovative technology on a larger scale efficiently, and that is where ANB comes in.
How did you find our company culture and the support you received from your colleagues?
From the first day, I was pleasantly surprised at the level of communication and support we received. I got to talk to fellow interns and the CEO of ANB alike. Everyone was always responsive and made time to meet with me if I needed guidance. And it went both ways. I was a bit shocked when people asked for my help on various projects, and I felt like a member of the ANB team.
How easy/challenging was it to collaborate remotely with COVID-19 restrictions in place?
I learned early on to navigate the time zone difference between Pacific and Central time, not to mention the time difference between the west coast and India. I mainly worked with the US team, and it wasn’t difficult to collaborate remotely because people always made time to call and respond to emails/messages.
How much did the internship match your expectations?
I came into this internship with no prior experience in business and marketing and was initially worried that there would be a large learning curve. However, the internship and company exceeded my expectations. The communication and willingness to help from other employees made understanding and completing projects straightforward. All my skills were utilized, from writing and video editing to project management and data analytics, and I was able to produce meaningful work from the very beginning. Although I would have liked to meet them in person, I still got to know my fellow interns and coordinators through weekly game sessions and daily stand-ups.
How much do you feel your internship will help you in your career going forward?
This internship gave me a professional working experience that I could not get in school. I learned how to effectively communicate with potential clients and internal employees and value the variety of opinions and experiences offered by people of different professional backgrounds. I had the opportunity to assist with multiple projects, and the versatility of knowledge gained from these will be very helpful in the long run.
