October 7, 2009 - April 2, 2009
School: University of California at Davis
Major: Economics
Hometown: Cupertino, CA
Email: Hermann.Kwan@gmail.com
My six month internship program here at the Sacramento U.S. Export Assistance Center has been a great opportunity and a memorable experience. Working with my Director, George Tastard, was a daily exercise in professionalism. I developed and improved my communication skills, business etiquette, and confidence under his mentorship. I was challenged to empower myself, becoming proactive and self-sufficient in handling a multitude of tasks, especially in a fast-paced international business environment. I was given important responsibilities: communicating with clients and Commercial Service representatives in both domestic and international posts, drafting organizational reports, and creating industry-specific global market research reports, in addition to the day-to-day operations involved in running the office.
One of the best aspects of this internship was the opportunity I was given to interact with a wide variety of individuals, ranging from single person companies, CEOs, congressional field representatives, and many more. I was able to attend mixers, trade events, and other high profile conferences where I met and worked with these individuals and organizations such as the Green Capital Alliance and Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance to develop international trade for the Sacramento region. I also enjoyed working as a team with fellow interns of various backgrounds, including an exchange student from Italy. It was both a fun learning and teaching experience, as we collaborated to find real world application of our university education.
My time at the Sacramento U.S. Export Assistance Center has not only prepared me for a bright future in international trade, but has also helped me develop the tools and skills to succeed in any environment. I would highly recommend this internship to anyone looking to challenge themselves while accomplishing significant real world results with real world businesses in the international business arena.