Humans of Meraki — Envisioning My Career In Tech As a Meraki Intern
Summer is a wonderful time to try something new, like pursuing a passion or diving into a new adventure — like an internship at Meraki! Often, great experiences leave us with both incredible memories and the desire for more time. For this series of Humans of Meraki, we interviewed Ume Habiba, one of our summer interns, who reflects on her experience as she faces the reality of going back to school in the fall.
How would you describe the Meraki culture?
The Meraki culture is both inclusive and uplifting. As an intern, not only did I feel heard, I felt that my opinion and voice mattered. My internship leaders were extremely responsive to my needs and I felt comfortable asking anyone for guidance. Everyone always jumped in to support me. Meraki’s welcoming atmosphere made it clear that Merakians want to see one another learn and succeed. Meraki has a very unique culture — one that’s unlike any other work environment I’ve been a part of.
What did you learn during your internship?
As an intern on the MX dashboard team, I had the opportunity to help revamp the UI of the Meraki dashboard. While I primarily focused on developing my technical skills during my internship, I also learned life skills like being patient and taking my time. I often had to remind myself that learning is a process and that I wasn’t alone — I had the support of my team.
Did your internship impact your future career goals?
My internship has helped me envision my career and hone in on what I want to focus on in tech. I want to pursue project management in software because I like the idea of both coding and leading a team of engineers. Being a project manager would enable me to do what I love and use some of my soft skills.
With school starting soon, what do you think you’ll miss most about your internship?
When I started my internship at Meraki, I didn’t know what to expect. Now that my internship is coming to a close, I’m able to reflect on how lucky I’ve been and how much I’ll miss Meraki. I’ll miss my team, my projects, and the supportive culture I’ve experienced. I’m also going to miss bonding with my cohort, exploring Chicago, and participating in awesome events, like boba-making classes and happy hour.
I’ve been spoiled at Meraki — it will definitely be an adjustment to go back to school!
Interested in career opportunities with Cisco Meraki? Check out our careers site!
