Today is my last day of co-op at Digitalsmiths, a video discovery & metadata software company in Durham, NC. Over the past 5 months, I engaged on several exciting initiatives with the Digitalsmiths team, all focused on technology, project management and business. Just a few including building a cloud-based KPI dashboard, running logistics at a trade show in Las Vegas and spearheading social media marketing strategies.
So, what did I learn about?
- All about the digital video industry and a unique application of data
- How a VC backed tech start-up operates from the inside
- Structure of an executive team & reporting structure
- Talking to clients at major fortune 500 organizations
Biggest Takeaways:
- I realized how important company culture is & how I want to structure it
- I have the entrepreneurial bug. Next step is to start my own company
- I crave risk, responsibility & big rewards & relentlessly pursue them
Bottom line:
This semester was all about discovery for me: video discovery & self discovery. I confirmed important parts of what motivates me & makes me happy. All in all, a great success!
I recently completed my first trip to Las Vegas, NV for the National Association of Broadcasters annual trade show with my co-op company, Digitalsmiths. Being a few months shy of 21, I couldn’t sit down at any of the poker tables or purchase alcohol, but I did get to make quite a few observations…
- Vegas might easily be the most bizarre, most ridiculous place ever.
- There is no sense of time - no clocks. 6am and 3pm are the same.
- Food is expensive. Like, really expensive. $7.50 for a bagel and egg.
- Everything is sexualized. Billboards, street “cards”, game dealers, etc.
- Everyone seems to be smoking. Inside.
- Alcohol flows everywhere… it is the fuel that keeps everyone going.
Slot Machines
Adults sit in front of these big boxes with flashing lights. The adults stick their money into the machine. Their money goes away. The adult then proceeds to stick more money into the machine, and then that money disappears as well. This process continues.
Bottom Line
There is a distinct culture in Vegas, and that is the party culture. It works great for many people, but it has never been the right fit for me. It isn’t the kind of place that is conducive to creating amazing innovations in technology. This ties in with company culture, and is a topic I will be expanding on frequently.
