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Leavey School of Business Santa Clara University

Community Fellows Blog Posts

Kat Zhang: My Journey Giving Back

Kat shares her excitement about working with the City of San Jose Office of Economic Development.

 

Thanks to the LSB Community Fellows Program, I have this opportunity to intern at the City of San Jose Office of Economic Development (OED). As a business development outreach intern this year, my role is more focused on helping small businesses during the pandemic. 

I started my journey with the LSB Community Fellows Program having an end goal in mind: giving back to the community. After working for a few weeks at the OED, I have gained a new appreciation for how passionate government workers are about serving our community and how they work tirelessly to make our community a better place for everyone. With a similar motivation, I have paid close attention to understanding how my work at the OED serves the community and what they mean in a bigger picture.

My first project involved surveying small businesses to help better understand their circumstances under the current environment. Working on the project has taught me two things: time management and being open-minded. With the complexities of business development work, there are always different tasks for me to take on. As a result, I learned how to manage my time effectively and efficiently. While focusing on one project at a time, I need to remain flexible enough to take on new responsibilities and challenges. This role is not only an opportunity to give back but also an opportunity to learn and develop. 

The passion I see from each individual in the team has already transferred into excitement for me. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to give back and possibly do something greater.

 

NPI, NPI Fellows