Palm trees, beaming sun, professionals from all walks of life, and a new heartfelt love for technology that I never knew I had were some of the enriching experiences I had this past summer of 2024 working as a Strategy Intern for Parsons Corporation!
Hi! I am Olive Okoro, a Master of Science student studying Economics at Texas A&M University. In July 2024, I received an internship to work for Parsons. Since then, I have been able to travel, gain real corporate experience (albeit never in an office, but living in a post-COVID world doesn’t make that a rare thing to say), and learn about the lives of dozens of professionals in the company who are working to help move society forward.
My AI Awakening
Before going on the adventure to my first conference with Parsons, I must make one point: the amount of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that the corporate world actually uses is beyond my imagination. It surprised me at first because in college I was taught to not use AI, or at the very least, limit my use and make original thoughts instead.
However, in my role, I was encouraged every day to utilize the abilities of AI and make it into my own personal assistant. I will never forget the summer day when I was having my daily meetings with my manager, Laryssa Parker, and she described AI as a brilliant intern.
I thought to myself: “Then what am I?” But that is the thing! I am still a brilliant intern! However, the difference between a human intern and an AI system is that people can make calculated decisions and add far more nuance to the information AI systems dish out. That was one of the beauties of having the position; I had to ask more questions and get down to the nitty-gritty of assignments and deliverables daily, with some help.
Palm Trees And Professional Growth
Okay, moving on to the palm trees I was talking about earlier. One of my absolute favorite parts about working at Parsons was the breadth of experiences that my internship allowed. It was a lot… And I mean a lot!
I had the opportunity to attend APCO (Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials) 2024 International’s Annual Conference & Expo in Orlando, Fla., and be face-to-face with the people I’ve spent hours meeting with over Teams. APCO is an event where frontline telecommunicators, communication center managers, public safety communicators, and service vendors congregate to sell their products, services, and networks.
The Power of In-Person Connection
Parsons facilitated networking opportunities where I met our clients, industry partners, and my coworkers in person, which humanized the corporate world. The ability to officially shake hands with someone and sit down for dinner with them is something that cannot be replaced with virtual weekly meetings and introduction calls. I talked to so many people from different walks of life throughout the trip. I met a mom of two children my age while on the bus to the block party at Universal Studios. We talked about her professional experience and my college experience. I met two more women from different companies and explored other parts of the rides and exhibits together. On my last rollercoaster ride of the night, I met an 18-year-old girl named Hope, who has homeschooled her entire life and is now studying to become a Flight Surgeon for NASA!
Six months later, I am still working as a Strategy Intern for Parsons. I still do my tasks while completing my courses, and the flexibility helps me balance my classes while still working in a professional environment and gaining corporate skills for postgrad.
Closing Reflections On My Time At Parsons
Parsons has been a massive help with my last year of college, and I could not have asked for a better working environment so young in my career. I’m grateful to everyone I have met and will meet for the next few months. The people at Parsons are genuinely incredible; it amazes me how much life is all around me and how much I can learn when I am allowed to explore with a company that values connection and consistent knowledge. Thank you, Parsons!