Getting Into the Groove at Ecolab

I can’t believe it has been three weeks since I started my summer internship at Ecolab! Time flies when your schedule is packed to the brim!

I spent the majority of the past two weeks learning more about the company and the project I am working on – the learning curve is definitely very steep, given the fact that my project is relatively complex in nature and high on the agenda of senior management. Having said that, my manager has been extremely supportive and has made this learning experience truly enjoyable. In addition to weekly meetings, she also checks in with me on a daily basis to review my progress and provide me with guidance if necessary. Seeing how I am getting increasingly comfortable with my work and familiar with my colleagues, my manager has also invited me to participate in a couple of high-level meetings, so I can understand how my project fits in the grand scheme of things.

During the past week, I was also asked to define my own project scope. While some interns had their project scope defined for them by their managers on Day 1, others like myself are given the opportunity to craft our own learning journey. I made sure my project was relevant to what my manager was doing, but at the same time, I also avoid something that was overly integrated with her work, since that would give me some autonomy on how I envision the final results – something that I personally enjoy.

That said, next week is going to be crunch time for me. My mid-point presentation is due and I will be presenting my work to a team of senior management. I have completed the number crunching, solicited feedback from my colleagues on my project, and it is now a matter of putting all my insights together and telling the story to the audience. Hopefully I will be able to complete all the tasks I have set out for myself, so I can enjoy July 4^th (i.e: four day weekend)!

Till then!