You won't believe what happened to me yesterday.
It started as a normal day at work, attending the Pharma Exchange event at Genentech with around 50-odd people. The leadership team was sharing valuable insights about the organization. Then, the floor opened for questions. Hesitant at first, I raised my hand, asked what to expect as a summer intern, and sought tips for myself and my fellow interns. The CEO and leadership team provided amazing advice, but that’s not the point.
The event ended, and I went back to my desk. Soon, people began reaching out to appreciate me for raising my hand and asking the question. When ten people mentioned it, I realized it wasn’t just those 50 people in the room – 30,000 people had seen me ask that question. How did I find out? I reached out to the leadership panel, introducing myself, thanking them for their insights, and requesting a coffee chat. That’s when a Senior VP responded, telling me how impressed the panel was and that now, I have a network of 30,000 people I can potentially have coffee chats with.
To everyone out there who thinks building a network is just about sending LinkedIn invites and having thousands of followers – building a network takes effort every single day. It takes courage to leave an impression in the room. You have to be humble and ask for opportunities.
My experience taught me never to be scared or hesitant to ask a question in a room full of people – even if you gain just one good connection or none at all. Always be curious, ready to learn, and ready to adapt. These are the values my Dad instilled in me, and I thank him every day for giving me the courage and confidence to step forward.
P.S: Just a fun picture of me and my fellow interns having fun!!
Abhishek Dharmashekar Nigar Valiyeva
Associate QC Analyst- Biochemistry at Regeneron
4moHonored to be a part of the Intern Pro Tips series. Happy to pay it forward!