I used to be an entry level mechanical engineer with Cubic. Thirty years later, I am the General Manager for the west region of North America.
As companies across America celebrated their future leaders during the National Intern Day on July 30th, I reflected back to realize how important an internship continues to be - even in today's environment.
Here are my thoughts on the importance of fostering strong partnerships between the corporate and academic worlds.
Variety is Good.
I did a few different internships in my time.
I first tested my skills in leadership during an internship on campus, where I served as an orientation leader for the incoming freshmen at UC San Diego. It was an eye-opening experience: to find myself in charge of a group of people and be able to really hone in on the skills that I now use every day.
My most diverse interrnship was for an entomology business where I worked with a researcher studying the use of pesticides vs live insects on plants. While I spent a lot of time watching bugs eat other bugs, the whole experience gave me a completely new perspective.
I knew I wanted to be an engineer.
Even though I knew I wanted to be an engineer and work in the tech sector, finding myself in a completely new territory, and being able to navigate it successfully, gave me new-found confidence and opened my eyes to the breadth of opportunities available to new graduates.
I did also end up interning for a tech company within the military sector and that experience fortified my dedication to technology and commitment to engineering.
The Value of Partnership
We partner with many different universities around the globe.
Some examples are the University of California in San Diego (UCSD), San Diego State University (SDSU), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), UC Berkeley, Brown University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Ohio State University, University of Brisbane, as well as several universities in the UK. Our involvement with the academic world is very diverse.
We participate in several Corporate Affiliates Programs - UCSD’s CAP is one of them. By way of this partnership, we are able to accelerate our R&D, effectively recruit, and shape the curriculum of our future workforce.
We also partner with universities to help shape their curriculum towards the real-life needs of the workplace and balance out the often heavily theoretical coursework with practical knowledge. We’re currently working with UCSD to help define the future of systems engineering and develop the curriculum for this much-needed program.
Universities are also our research and recruitment partners.
They lend us access to their labs, students, and professors to help us innovate faster and better serve the local community, while also providing us with a talent pipeline for years to come. UCSD students that are part of the Engineering Team Internship Program, are able to partner with Cubic on projects related to our business and technologies.
To date, several interdisciplinary teams of students worked on various projects to support our transportation business, helping innovate in areas such as data tracking, transit applications, and more.
Last but not least, we’re involved in a number of philanthropic projects around the world. For instance, we’ve offered support for UCSD’s planned new engineering building project, Franklin Antonio Hall, becoming the first corporate partner to be recognized within the hall.
The Relationship between the Corporate World and Community
I believe in giving back.
Universities are designed to not only help students become better educated but to make them better human beings overall and help them make a positive impact on the local community. As like-minded people join the workforce, this desire to give back eventually translates to the company itself. I’m very fortunate to work for a corporation that’s committed to giving back.
As a UCSD Alumni Board Member, I mentor a number of students and help set up programs such as “Meet the Boss,” where students have the ability to attend a Zoom Q&A with an industry leader.
Interaction with the graduating senior class starts with getting involved Day 1 with Capstone projects. We work with the institutions to identify a challenge for the students to solve and in turn, the project serves as one of their final core classes.
Solving real-world problems are the best academic lessons that can be taught.
On a personal level, I’ve also set up the Newsome family scholarship, which offers financial help to undergraduate students.
The Importance of Being Challenged
Several years ago I told a story that I continue to tell today.
While speaking at an alumni event, I confessed I got an “F” in college. My positive detention was to be an orientation leader at UC San Diego.
Turns out this severe chastisement was the best thing that ever happened to me. I came out of my shell and discovered the importance of social skills in life, in getting hired, and in becoming a leader.
The dean who gave me my first thirty lashes and harsh sentence is still my lifelong mentor.
Fresh Perspectives
Cubic is a company of innovators; the spirit of discovery and entrepreneurship among our employees is strong.
By working with academia, we can find new ways of solving problems.
Universities are heavily focused on research with the goal of thinking outside of the box, which can help give our company a completely new perspective. At the same time, partnering with universities can help keep us honest.
Corporations don’t operate in a vacuum.
The innovations and technologies we work on have a real-life impact on our cities and our communities and we need to look to those communities to provide us with valuable feedback and help us constantly improve.
Finally, the academic world is often at the forefront of addressing issues such as diversity and inclusion and by partnering with universities on talent pipeline and recruitment programs, we’re able to check ourselves against unconscious bias and increase the diversity and inclusion of our hiring process, leading in turn to a more diverse and happier workforce, and helping give us a competitive edge.
Internship Challenges due to COVID-19
The pandemic has put some of our programs on pause, but Cubes continue to give back.
I know many of my colleagues offer regular mentoring opportunities to students through Zoom calls. In these uncertain times, students are desperate for mentorship and feedback and we’re continually looking for ways in which we can support them, even though we can’t meet face to face for the time being.
I’m very proud of the commitment that our employees are making to partner with universities to solve engineering-related challenges that will help us in fulfilling our company’s purpose – innovating to make a positive difference in our society.
Matt is vice president and general manager, Western Region, Americas, for Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS). He is responsible for overall performance of CTS programs in the western region of North America including Clipper Card in the San Francisco Bay Area, the TAP program in Los Angeles, and the Compass Card programs in Vancouver and in San Diego, two programs that share the same name but are unrelated.
Previously, Matt was senior vice president and general manager of Cubic Transportation Systems, Americas, since 2014.
He began his career at Cubic in 1991 as a mechanical engineer. Later, as vice president and regional director for Cubic's West Coast operations, Newsome was involved in the rollouts and ongoing growth of the Clipper Card system in the San Francisco Bay Area, the TAP program in Los Angeles and the Compass Card program in San Diego. He previously was a program manager and director of Product Marketing followed by a transfer to Cubic's European headquarters in London where he was the UK sales and marketing director.
He is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego, with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is a member of the university's Alumni Board of Directors on which he has served since 2008, including as president. He also is a trustee on the UC San Diego Foundation Board. He received his Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of San Diego in 1997.
