Successfully managing a project involves organizing, communicating, and effectively implementing information from multiple stakeholders and end-users. This was a challenge that Henry Sun, a rising sophomore at Cornell University’s College of Arts and Sciences, eagerly accepted during his summer internship.

“Working on the Mass Communication and Marketing Project allowed me to challenge myself both intellectually and professionally while contributing to an initiative that genuinely impacts the Cornell community,” said Sun. “During my first two weeks, I focused on absorbing as much information as possible about the project. This onboarding process taught me how to ask constructive questions, take thorough notes, and independently research the project’s contributors and technical foundation.”

In addition to shadowing his project manager, Sun wrote documentation and status reports and coordinated communications between various project teams. Throughout this process, he refined his professional communication skills.

“As a project coordinator intern, I interacted with a wide range of project contributors,” Sun said. “When writing notes, updates, and reports for each stakeholder group, I had to tailor the content to what was most relevant from their perspective. For example, executives care most about the higher-level progress of the project, so I omitted granular project details that were more relevant to our designers and engineers. I also learned to format my email communications so that busy colleagues could quickly grasp the project’s progression.”

One of his favorite assignments was exploring the usefulness of artificial intelligence (AI) project management tools. Sun created a framework to guide his analysis and synthesized his findings into a presentation for members of the IT Project Management Office. Following that presentation and discussion, he collaborated with another project team to test AI meeting transcribers.

The communication, technical, and teamwork skills he developed also helped clarify his career plans. He said, “This internship sparked my interest in project-based work, particularly in digital transformation. I now want to pursue a career where I can contribute to creating products that have a tangible impact.”

Sun’s role was advertised as part of Cornell’s Alliance for Diversity and Inclusion Student Intern Program and he encourages future candidates to apply even if they have concerns about their qualifications. “Explain why you are interested in the field, and address the job description by highlighting the skills you’ve developed through both direct and indirect experiences.”

For those about to begin their internships, Sun offers this advice: “Internship learning is very different from schoolwork; be prepared to conduct independent research, but also be proactive in asking for help, clarifications, and feedback from your supervisor. Ultimately, having a positive attitude is more important than the knowledge or experience you bring with you.”