A Day In The Life - Ian Legaspi (‘20)
Education: UCLA, UC Berkeley
Previous Employer: Connora Technologies
Day in the Life in: Operations Program Manager, MBA Intern
Company: Apple
Location: Cupertino, CA
SUMMER OVERVIEW:
This summer I am a Program Manager at Apple on the Strategic Sourcing team. Specifically, I am part of Business Solutions which creates internal tools to streamline planning processes for Procurement. My team creates tools so that program managers spend less time compiling data, and more time addressing business needs.
My project this summer is assessing a business need that impacts the Procurement organization. The current process wastes an enormous amount of time for users, due to the large data set that is continuously changing. After understanding the current state, I formed a proposal and requested resources to develop the tool. My project evolved from consulting to implementation, as I had to manage a team of developers to construct the solution. At the same time, I interviewed users to (1) gain feedback and insights to incorporate in the solution and (2) convert potential users to adopt the solution.
Apple’s internship program is structured and developed, as it has been around for ~40 years and hosts 1,000+ interns each year (including undergraduate and other graduate programs). Many interns are given a specific project which you will present at the end of the internship to the Vice Presidents of your organization. In addition to your manager, you are assigned an iBuddy for any additional support you may need. Outside of the project, there are events such as speaker series, trainings, and mixers where you can learn more about the company.
COMPANY CULTURE:
Apple does not have a set of leadership principles or values. The company does have a unique culture that demands a high commitment to excellence from employees, which is ultimately driven to customers and products. Sometimes this means implementing a quick and scrappy way to meet a customer’s needs, while other times can be a creative brainstorm session with dozens of people in the room to address a supplier problem. For interns, this requires having an entrepreneurial spirit and being open to feedback to get things done.
Another attribute of Apple’s culture is that there is always something to learn. The organization is large and complex, and there is always room for improvement. Everyone is engaged in the learning process and open to have a coffee chat to talk about their experience and background. I found this appetite is a critical motivator for people to stay at the company for so long.
SKILLS AND RESOURCES UTILIZED:
Presenting to Senior Management: Apple loves meetings and interacting with people to develop deep relationships. In that spirit, Keynote (never use Powerpoint!) is the formal documentation when needed. To ensure I am going in the right direction, I set up weekly meetings with my manager and director as early as the first week. It’s important to gain traction and visibility on the project, so I also spoke with leaders around the organization for feedback. These practice sessions proved valuable when presenting to Senior Directors and Vice Presidents at checkpoints and for the final presentation.
Communication and Stakeholder Management: The projects require feedback from different stakeholders within the Operations organization, as well as overall company. Interns must learn to understand the target audience to prepare for conversations and make targeted requests. In doing so, the worst critics can be your biggest champions for your project and you, as a full-time candidate.
Problem Solving & Solution Mapping: In many roles in Operations, there will be fires that must be quickly put out. You will need to quickly understand and define the problem for constructing the scope of the impact. If it’s a consistent reoccurring issue, then create a process/solution so that it does not happen again. If it’s a unique concern, you must figure out the root cause so that you can implement corrective and preventive actions.
RESOURCES/ DATABASES UTILIZED:
On the qualitative side, the people are the most valuable assets to the organization. It’s important to ask questions early on and learn to navigate the different teams. The company has an internal portal and applications that helps new hires get started at Apple, which contains information from Apple jargon/acronyms to finding the offices around Santa Clara Valley.
Since my role is focused on applications and working with developers, it was important to have a basic understanding of databases, coding, and user interfaces. Apple University provides resources and classes if you do not already have this background. The tool for my project had to integrate with existing, custom-built internal tools, so I attended the trainings and talked to super-users to get an understanding.
INSIGHT/TIP:
Be bold and take risks. Don’t be afraid to speak up in meetings, even with executive management. Challenging each other’s ideas can lead to the best outcomes.
Ask for feedback often and early. This helps with setting expectations and makes sure you are on the right track with your project. If you are able to address concerns early, it will help in building credibility.
Network and socialize. As mentioned already, Apple focuses on relationships. Get to know your colleagues professionally and personally. Winning champions (both in quality and quantity) for you and your project often lead to a successful summer.
DAY IN THE LIFE SUMMARY:
8:30-9:00am: I live in corporate housing in Campbell and walk a few blocks to the bus stop. The company has its own shuttle system that spans from Santa Cruz to San Francisco, so it’s easy to get to any of the offices and live almost anywhere in the Bay Area. The shuttle is free for employees and has wi-fi on board, in case I need to answer urgent e-mails or anything. The bus stops a few more times to pick up other employees before my stop at Homestead One, across from Apple Park. If I have a late meeting or event, I usually take a Lyft or drive to work.
9:00-10:00am: I grab a coffee from the break room and make my way to my desk. I respond to e-mails, do any last-minute prep for my meetings throughout the day, and catch up with my coworkers. My iBuddy checks in with me to see how I am doing. She is there as a mentor if I have questions or need any help with my summer project, as my team is very committed to seeing me succeed during the summer.
10:00-12:00pm: I conduct informational interviews/coffee chats with colleagues from around the company. The first purpose is to learn more about Apple’s operations organization and the different teams of Strategic Sourcing, Manufacturing Design, Worldwide Sales & Operations, AppleCare, and Product Operations. Each team, as well as product line, operates differently. The second reason for these chats is to socialize my summer project. I am building an internal tool to streamline processes for Procurement, so I am gathering feedback on the solution. Apple prioritizes relationship-building so these chats are important for building my network and winning champions for my project.
12:00-1:00pm: At least once per week, there is a speaker series with executives from the company. Some of my favorites include a panel discussion with Vice Presidents talking about Apple’s efforts in sustainability and a Q&A session with Tim Cook. On other days, I walk over to Apple park to have lunch with friends and colleagues.
1:00-3:00pm: I have weekly 1-on-1’s with my iBuddy, manager, and director to discuss progress on my project. I highlight high’s and low’s for the week and make any requests for support. They provide immense guidance and direction for my project. In particular this week, my director suggests teams to talk to and my manager gives feedback on my Keynote for my final presentation. Because I am implementing a new tool, I also manage a team of developers to build the application. I meet with them to provide iterations and changes based on my interactions with users from earlier in the day.
3:00-5:00pm: For the rest of the day, I work on Keynotes for upcoming meetings (especially for my final presentation) and project management documents. I set up meetings for the rest of the week and prepare for the next work day.
5:30-8:00pm: At least once per week, there is a mixer for all MBA interns that is organized by the recruiting team. We learn about each other’s projects and share experiences working on the different teams within Marketing and Operations. Other evenings, I work with my team of other Anderson interns on the iContest, where we pitch a new Apple product/application. Most nights I take a jog around Apple Park, have dinner at home, or grab drinks with friends in the area.