August 21, 2023
I am currently a master’s student at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, and I am studying design management with an undergrad in animation. I decided to come to Michigan for the summer because I really wanted to intern for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM).
How might a design student venture to work here? Well, the main component of my origin story is that I love design, and my final school project is on how we can redesign better experiences for nurses from a management perspective. I selected this project because I love being part of projects that include helping others, but I never thought I could design for the medical field! So, I wanted to broaden my horizons more.
I initially applied for a design intern position. However, that position was filled. Fortunately, the recruiter called me back and found a position she felt fitting for my project management experience with facilities. I accepted because I liked that I would be improving people’s lives internally and knew this would be a wonderful opportunity to broaden my project management experience. I see facilities and our internal operations as this famous quote: “You can’t help others until you help yourself.” Thus, taking care of BCBSM’s core internal and employee needs is just as valuable as serving external customers.
During my internship, I learned how to not only grow from adversity but how to reflect and grow with your team. Many times, in the school learning environment, we are taught that it is “taboo” to make mistakes and study until we find the correct answer. But we are human — of course, we will make mistakes! What school doesn’t teach is how to learn and adapt from mistakes. I feel that is something I have only learned from an internship.
I remember after a major deliverable deadline within facilities, someone asked in a team meeting, “Hey team, what did you learn that we could do better for the next project?” I never heard that in a meeting before around self-reflection and asking the entire team’s input was inclusive. Asking the team promotes diverse thoughts and different perspectives that can lead to more solutions. They acknowledged yes, there were things that could be done better, but how are we going to grow from them?
I also learned how to network through BCBSM’s mentorship program. Helen He, Digital Experience Product Owner at BCBSM, was truly a breath of fresh air. I connected really well with her and the other mentee. I received supportive career advice, and she introduced me to design teams that aligned with my passions. I can’t thank her enough.
Shane Green, my manager within facilities, and the overall facility team are just so kind and supportive. I feel they are truly the backbone of support for the employees and overall office experiences. I didn’t know how much care, research, and design planning went into the team efforts — which ensures that our employees will not only work more efficiently and safely but also enjoy their workspaces. It definitely helps to have such a good culture here. So, as I reflect on this summer’s experiences, it was really the people I enjoyed.
Written by Amari Johnson, Intern at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
