Chen Yanrong
BBA Student, 2022
Student Message - Internship Experience
Q: What was your vision and mindset when you first started looking for internships?
A: When I first began searching for internships, I, like many classmates, viewed the “dream job” as a distant and perfect goal, believing that with enough effort, it would naturally appear in the future. However, once I entered the workplace, I realized that a direction is not merely a result to be awaited; it gradually takes shape through repeated encounters with reality.
Q: What was the first experience that gave you a profound connection between your major and the real world?
A: My days interning at the China Construction Bank were when I truly felt and understood the significance of the connection between data and the functioning of society. From corporate credit evaluations to financial audits, I learned that every analysis is closely tied to the development of enterprises, the security of funds, and the livelihoods of countless people. This connection between professional skills and real-world responsibilities prompted me to begin thinking seriously about how to make decision-making more reliable through scientific methods.
Q: How did this realization influence your subsequent choices?
A: It was precisely because of this realization that I chose to pursue a path more focused on data analysis and industry applications. I hope to witness and experience the genuine world behind products.
Q: What new perspective on data did you gain during your internship at China Telecom?
A: During my internship in data operations at China Telecom, I encountered large-scale data in real industrial contexts for the first time, ranging from IoT monitoring in the chemical industry to customer segmentation modeling. In that moment, looking at the data on the computer screen felt different—it was no longer cold, but had a warmth to it. I realized that data can not only explain the past but also guide the future.
Q: How did this interest further develop?
A: With this interest and motivation, I further delved into forecasting and optimization issues during my internship at Ada Cloud Computing. Whether constructing sales forecasting models, optimizing inventory structures, or enhancing supply chain transparency through visualization systems, I gradually mastered the complete chain from data processing to decision output, further confirming my desire to develop long-term in the fields of intelligent systems and data-driven decision-making.
Q: If you were to sum it up in one sentence, what keeps you going on this path?
A: Reflecting on this growth journey, I have come to understand that what truly attracts me is not the label of a specific position but the process through which data continuously creates change in the real world. As analytical results begin to reduce risks, optimize resources, and improve service efficiency, I see decision-making becoming more rational, systems operating more robustly, and opportunities being distributed more equitably.
Q: How do you view the role of data in the future world?
A: Data is not just cold numbers; it is reshaping how industries operate, improving the allocation of social resources, and quietly influencing the life trajectories of countless people. I hope to utilize my professional skills to contribute to this force for change—to ensure that data continues to serve a world that is more efficient, sustainable, and equitable.
Photo Credit
Yang Guoqing | MBA Student, 2025