IT Through the Lens of a Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience Major: Learning about Lucy Taylor’s Story
Skillsoft’s annual internship program offers college students a distinct and tailored opportunity to delve into their growing interests. Over the summer, participants are immersed in meaningful projects and interactions that yield invaluable experiences, significantly enhancing their future careers. Lucy Taylor, our current Sales and Marketing IT Solutions Intern, exemplifies the transformative impact of an outstanding internship program. A student at Virginia Tech with a multifaceted background in science and data analysis, Lucy’s academic pursuits seamlessly complement her role at Skillsoft. Let’s explore Lucy’s background and her ongoing journey with us.
Tell us about yourself. Where do you attend college, and what do you study? What hobbies do you pursue?
“I’m Lucy, and I’m the Sales and Marketing IT Solutions Intern at Skillsoft this summer. This year, I will be a senior at Virginia Tech, where I study Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience with a minor in Data and Decisions. As for my hobbies, I love to work out, whether going to the gym or playing golf and pickleball outside. I also really enjoy playing the piano. Working from home has allowed me to spend more time pursuing my hobbies and with my family and friends.”
What attracted you to apply for this internship? Was there a particular aspect of the company or role that stood out to you?
“Last semester, I studied abroad in Switzerland, where I worked on a grant proposal for educational sustainability in Ethiopia. I found great joy in building an opportunity for people to learn and grow. After returning home, I discovered Skillsoft and felt a strong connection to the mission here. The entire company is built around a platform that exists to help develop skills, which I resonated with.”
What projects have you been involved in during your time here? What new skills or knowledge have you gained?
“Early in the internship, I assisted different people across the IT teams with smaller tasks, which allowed me to understand and gain exposure to the various departments. Working with data analytics in AI was one of my first projects. Now, I have started getting involved in a larger project where we are working on automating the lifecycle plan for the sales department. From the beginning to the end, I can watch how the automation of tasks will help the sales department improve its productivity. I have had to get very familiar with the different AI systems that we utilize, and I have learned a lot about automation in the process. Prior to my role at Skillsoft, I didn’t have much exposure to automation, and I am still learning, but I have found it very interesting so far. I have also become adept at working with large data sets in the process of completing this project.”
What is the greatest lesson you have learned from this internship? What is the best advice you have been given from a Skillsoft colleague?
“The greatest lesson that I have learned is to feel comfortable asking questions to better understand the company as a whole. Grasping what is actively happening within the company regarding its overall goals has helped me put my work into the context of the bigger picture. In my first weeks, I have learned a lot through asking questions and being open to learning everything that I can.
As for the best piece of advice I have received, early on, I was reminded of the importance of going out of your way to connect with others within the company. Because of the nature of IT, there are fewer opportunities to connect with coworkers and network. Setting up one-on-one meetings has been extremely beneficial for meeting the team and learning about everyone’s background and roles within Skillsoft.”
What sparked your interest in IT? How has this internship influenced your understanding of IT?
“My interest in IT started with my academic background at Virginia Tech. I enjoy working with data and trying to understand how to make things better, especially from a psychological standpoint. My position at Skillsoft allows me to blend my interest in marketing and understanding consumer behavior through cognitive science with my technical background in data and IT. I’m fascinated by how we can improve a platform based on how people think and what attracts them, and visualizing that from a data point of view has been interesting. I’m grateful for the opportunity to combine those two interests of mine in this position.
Regarding how my understanding of IT has changed throughout the internship, I can definitely say I have learned a lot about the field in my time here. Since my studies at Virginia Tech aren’t specific to IT, I haven’t had much exposure to the field through my courses. Overall, this internship has given me an in-depth view of how the department works and how different parts of IT collaborate in the day-to-day.”
Are there initiatives or activities at Skillsoft that have helped you feel more integrated into the company?
“I really appreciate how the internship program is set up to ensure that we, as interns, can meet people from several areas of the company. I have found the Lunch and Learns particularly beneficial for feeling more connected to others that I likely would not have met otherwise. As a college student about to enter the workforce, I have found it helpful for networking with others and learning about their careers.”
How has the mentorship and support from colleagues, such as direct team members or fellow interns, impacted your experience?
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know my colleagues and gaining an understanding of their roles at Skillsoft. This insight has helped me see the bigger picture and appreciate the significance of our contributions to the company. Learning about the professional backgrounds of my coworkers and the career path that led them to Skillsoft has been extremely useful. I’ve also valued connecting with my coworkers on a personal level. For example, in a conversation with my manager, we discovered that we both frequent the same place in a small town in Cape Cod!
The internship program has made me feel supported throughout the experience. It’s clear that everyone at Skillsoft wants us to succeed and gain the most from this summer. Weekly coffee chats with fellow interns have also been useful for getting to know each other, learning about everyone’s positions, and sharing what we are currently working on. It’s great for connecting more informally, which can be difficult to do in the virtual work environment.”
How do you hope this internship helps you grow personally and professionally? What has been your most significant achievement so far?
“I hope to grow my technical skills throughout this internship, and I’ve already started to do that through the projects that I have been working on. Additionally, my team within IT and the internship as a whole have given me the opportunity to learn about and explore many different aspects of the IT field, which has been beneficial for narrowing down my specific interests. I know that these skills will be incredibly useful in the future.
As for my most significant achievements, I have learned a lot about Generative AI and have become very familiar with Agile processes. Being involved in team meetings every morning and learning about everyone’s day-to-day tasks has been beneficial. I look forward to learning about AI advancements in the future and how we plan to utilize these platforms in IT.”
What advice would you give to someone who is just starting as an intern in a similar role? Is there something you wish you had known before starting?
“My biggest piece of advice is to be open and comfortable asking questions. Everyone at Skillsoft is willing to offer help and ensure that you understand everything. Overall, trying to learn as much as possible is crucial in such a short internship period.
Something that I wish I had known before starting is that all of the interns and employees come from diverse academic backgrounds. I was surprised by how many interns major or minor in areas outside of IT at school, and this is the first hands-on experience in the field for many of us. I appreciated learning that because it’s clear that we all have different skill sets and can share knowledge with each other.”
What are your plans after graduation? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
“After graduation, I am still figuring out where I will land. I hope to gain some insight into what I specifically want to do through this internship experience, but I am hoping to stay within the IT and Technology field. I enjoy what I am doing right now and have gained a stronger interest in IT throughout my internship. So, whether it be transitioning into a master’s program in Data Science or continuing work in an IT position, I plan to remain in this field.
Within the next five years, I would like to live abroad for some time and work in a role that I am passionate about, ideally in this field. I found my experience studying in Switzerland to be highly rewarding, so I would love to explore another place and immerse myself in its culture.”
We are grateful to Lucy for offering meaningful insights into the experience of a young professional. As the summer flies by, we will spotlight additional interviews with our remarkable IT interns. Keep following along to learn more!
