Getting it all in the USA!
It was not long ago when I first set foot on American soil to further my quest or knowledge, both personally and professionally. I was to carve a new path from scratch. I arrived in the USA last November, on Thanksgiving week. Coincidentally, this experience, made possible by MIP Fellowship Program gave me so many things to be grateful for.
Firstly, nothing beats my placement location which is the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts. When thinking of Cambridge which is also known as the “intellectual capital of the world”, you can’t help it but call up the Ivy League schools and New England charm. The city has it all – a rich level of ethnic diversity, innovative environment, good public transportation, walkable and bikeable character, a lot of snow, and most importantly, beautiful minds wake up here every day. I remember I was worried and anxious while waiting for my placement back then, as I wanted to get the best out of this opportunity and the location would be a crucial part. Venus retrograde for sure was on my side the day I learned about it.
Counting the blessings of this Program, the next one would be the company I was accepted in to have this professional exchange experience, SKANSKA. The 5th largest Construction Company in the world. What?! Apparently, great things can happen when your hard work and determination encounter such Programs as MIP Fellowship Program. My host company is the right place to grow and develop both professionally and personally. Every team member plays a valuable role in ensuring we “hit the right note” with our project through the delivery of excellent, on-time solutions.
SKANSKA understands that a dedicated company fosters dedicated employees. I have had the chance to experience this “dedication” several times by attending many events the company organized for us. I would mention the amazing Christmas Party organized in New York. It was such a generous 2-day celebration where all the employees, managers, executives, were in a bus traveling to New York, eating and singing altogether. Not to mention the Ski trips and weekly sports events the company provides for everyone. This is the team spirit I strive for!
By being part of SKANSKA I also have access to various engineering trainings to make sure of keeping my professional growth on track. I attended the OSHA 10 training and I am soon getting a license in Health, Safety and Environment (HSE).
My everyday work starts at the site place where we are constructing the Stormwater Storage Tank for the city of Cambridge, where subcontractors such as Stantec and Kleinfelder are part of the team. So, in other words, I am contributing to protecting any potential future Presidents studying at Harvard (or working for SKANSKA), from getting affected by the frequent flooding on their way to school. That is the great impact the MIP Program has!
While having to switch location from my office to the site several times a day, to check the geotechnical equipments, run from one site zone to another, conduct short talks with laborers and operators on their tasks and safety concerns, keep in touch with the subcontractors to make sure to keep the ball rolling, I learned to enjoy the process. The most intense knowledge grasping moments are the staff meetings on decision making and schedule analysis, as there is where I become more proactive, squeeze out my ideas and expand and flourish my management capabilities.
As the saying goes “For it is in giving that we receive”, I might need to mention what my greatest contribution has been so far in this Project. Coming from different background and work experiences mostly related to Consultancy, Research and International Cooperation Agencies, site work was a true challenge for me. Firstly, I had to change my fancy shoes with site boots and walk that muddy, challenging, enriching site place. My highly professional colleagues have been very supportive and provided me with the inputs I needed, to quickly advance my performance to another level. Within a month time, I was able to independently prepare site documents, took full responsibility in commanding Project Management software such as PROCORE and SHAREPOINT, led communication with various suppliers and subcontractors on our daily orders and brushed up those reporting skills. I can tell that my Project Management competences are sharpened already and I have developed my ability to resolve seemingly intractable disputes.
The next bonus thing in line would be travelling. So far, I have had the chance to visit Massachusetts, New York and Tennessee and I am looking forward to our Enrichment trip to South Carolina and my next escapes to other parts of the USA. A lot is going on with my intercultural dimension and network expansion. I will be coming back home with some heavy luggage.
Last but foremost, I would like to mention the absolute best part of this amazing Program to me – the executive education trainings. Just when you think there is no way it can get better, this Program reminds us that it always can. I am counting the days to attend soon two executive education trainings which will make my CV stand out – Negotiation and Leadership at Harvard Law School, Cambridge MA and Managing Complex Technical Projects at MIT Sloan. I will also have the chance to tackle the exceptional, first class premises of Harvard Law School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT Sloan), learn from well-known professors, meet bright executives from different fields of the industry and as a result, have an institutional affiliation with Harvard and MIT (I think I am done with New Year’s resolutions for this year).
This enriching Program has been the fastest way to learn how to fill those adult shoes. Everything I have been through definitely led me to resilience and greatly developed my sense of purpose. Can’t wait to share the knowledge with my country. Until then, I will keep making everyday count.
