1. luthers@colorado.edu 1 Center for Humanities and the Arts Professional Internship @ IBM Helga H Luthers Ph.D. Candidate Department of Comparative Literature University of Colorado at Boulder

2. 2luthers@colorado.edu Why an Internship? Available! Available! Advertised via e-mail by CHA Advertised via e-mail by CHA Presented as specifically geared toward humanities students Presented as specifically geared toward humanities students Paid Paid Convenient time frame Convenient time frame Clearly defined project Clearly defined project Promised to be challenging and rewarding Promised to be challenging and rewarding

3. 3luthers@colorado.edu “Leverage IBM” Qualifications: Qualifications: Strong communication and analytical skills Strong communication and analytical skills Basic computer skills Basic computer skills Skills and understanding of negotiation and cross- cultural communication Skills and understanding of negotiation and cross- cultural communication Fields: Fields: Political or diplomatic sciences, social or international studies, or anthropology Political or diplomatic sciences, social or international studies, or anthropology

4. 4luthers@colorado.edu Original Goals of Project Explore how PSD can leverage IBM Explore how PSD can leverage IBM Research ways for PSD to convince customers of the value of long-term supplier relationships Research ways for PSD to convince customers of the value of long-term supplier relationships Identify contact points in the broader IBM for integrating PSD's products and solutions into IBM solutions Identify contact points in the broader IBM for integrating PSD's products and solutions into IBM solutions

5. 5luthers@colorado.edu What did I have to bring? Three months experience in project coordination Three months experience in project coordination Four years of teaching experience Four years of teaching experience Background in film and literature, cultural studies, postcolonial theory, and translation theory Background in film and literature, cultural studies, postcolonial theory, and translation theory My own position as an outsider My own position as an outsider Cultural Cultural National National

6. 6luthers@colorado.edu My Professional Goals To identify and explore areas where an outsider's view would prove valuable To identify and explore areas where an outsider's view would prove valuable To actively apply humanistic methods to corporate situations for added depth and insight To actively apply humanistic methods to corporate situations for added depth and insight To connect academic and corporate perspective in a way beneficial to both To connect academic and corporate perspective in a way beneficial to both

7. 7luthers@colorado.edu Structure of Internship Gathering and analyzing data: Interviews Gathering and analyzing data: Interviews Identified strengths and weaknesses Identified strengths and weaknesses Suggested changes, possibilities for growth Suggested changes, possibilities for growth Leadership and motivation Leadership and motivation Leverage Leverage Communication, culture, and drive Communication, culture, and drive Present report with recommendations Present report with recommendations Participation in “Re-energizing Sales” Participation in “Re-energizing Sales” Executive presentation on “Leadership” Executive presentation on “Leadership”

8. 8luthers@colorado.edu Internship as a Career Move For the corporate world: For the corporate world: Invaluable experience Invaluable experience Proof of transferability Proof of transferability Connections Connections For the academic world: For the academic world: Added research dimension Added research dimension Differentiation Differentiation Link to Administration Link to Administration

9. 9luthers@colorado.edu Internship as Personal Discovery Translating and transferring skills Translating and transferring skills Time management and organizational skills Time management and organizational skills Analytical skills Analytical skills People skills People skills Translating and transferring knowledge Translating and transferring knowledge Fiction, film, and reality are not so far apart Fiction, film, and reality are not so far apart Business and academia are not two different worlds Business and academia are not two different worlds Everyone can do with a little deconstruction Everyone can do with a little deconstruction

10. 10luthers@colorado.edu In Retrospect Chance of a lifetime Chance of a lifetime Learning experience Learning experience Introduction to the corporate world Introduction to the corporate world Personal discovery Personal discovery Window to new opportunities Window to new opportunities In academia and the corporate world In academia and the corporate world Different perspectives Different perspectives On academia and the corporate world On academia and the corporate world Gift that carries responsibility Gift that carries responsibility

11. 11luthers@colorado.edu Contact Contact For more information or questions please contact: Helga H Luthers Tel: 303-492-8226 E-mail: luthers@colorado.edu