A Reflection of My Summer with Cubic
When I first applied for an internship with Cubic, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I knew I wanted to spend my summer working on a communications team for a large company in sunny San Diego, CA, but beyond that, I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. Once I was hired by Cubic, I thought my internship would consist of attending meetings, going on coffee runs, and writing a few blogs. Boy was I wrong! Cubic has provided me with an exceptional summer full of learning and growing, both as a businesswoman and as a person.
Cubic offers a unique environment because it is comprised of three different business units – Cubic Global Defense (CGD), Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS), and Cubic Mission Solutions (CMS). While interning at Cubic, I worked on the Corporate Communications team which is considered a corporate function that serves all three of the businesses. While some interns only focus on a single project in a dedicated business unit throughout their internship, I was fortunate enough to work on many different assignments within all three sectors of Cubic. For example, one hour I would be interviewing CGD’s Senior Business Development Manager, Kevin O’Rourke, for The Circuit (Cubic’s internal magazine); the next hour I would be writing a blog about CMS’s GATR systems, followed by a trip to CTS to pick up equipment for a tradeshow. I loved being able to see how each of the different businesses worked under the One Cubic umbrella making the communications aspect more challenging and exciting.
Summer of Cubes
This summer I have had several projects and memorable experiences, but there are a few that stand out.
One of my favorite projects that I was assigned was overseeing the social posts for CGD’s Twitter and LinkedIn channels during the Paris Air Show. I worked with my manager to craft clever messages to post with interesting photos that received good engagement. The best part was learning how to use Social Sprout, a social media tool that allowed me to schedule posts in Paris during prime time, without needing to wake up in the middle of the night and log in.
My second favorite assignment was not only working on a committee to plan and prepare for the first Annual Cubic Awards Banquet, but presenting a budget pitch and logistics plan to the entire executive management committee. This was a surreal moment for me, because I never thought I would ever see the infamous Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Brad Feldmann, after I began my internship. I can’t express how extremely thankful I felt that my direct supervisor trusted me to connect with all of Cubic’s best and brightest leaders.
I have kept a list of the many things I have worked on this summer on a piece of paper at my desk. The single sheet of 8 x 11 inch paper has been filled, front and back. Cubic has provided me with many wonderful experiences, connections, and resume equity. Although I am excited to go back to school and pursue my educational dreams, saying goodbye to Cubic feels bittersweet. I know I walk away a stronger communicator and employee, but I will miss the people I have worked with and the projects I have worked on.
Cubic really has become a family to me, and I am forever grateful for the experiences I have had.