What does a real tech internship actually involve? (Spoiler: it’s not fetching coffee!)
Join host Kayleigh Bateman as she speaks with three talented women spending their summer gaining invaluable experience at Redgate Software before returning to complete their final university years. Karyna Botvina, Blessing Emmanuel, and Rukaiya (Kai) Khondaker share candid insights about their journeys into tech and what they’ve learned during their internships.
Each intern brings a unique perspective – Blessing was inspired by the film “The Internship” and influenced her brother to switch careers, Karyna comes from a family of engineers but discovered her true interests through hands-on experience, and Kai entered tech through a competitive drive and fascination with mathematics. They discuss how they’re contributing to real projects at Redgate, with their code already making it into production within weeks.
The conversation reveals the stark differences between university education and workplace reality. While academic programs focus on theory and controlled projects, these interns are navigating legacy codebases, participating in agile workflows, and developing crucial soft skills through cross-team collaboration. They highlight how Redgate’s supportive culture encourages questions, values work-life balance (with managers who “kick you out at 5pm”), and treats interns as legitimate team members rather than coffee-fetchers.
Perhaps most valuable are their reflections on how this experience has shaped their career perspectives. From gaining confidence and overcoming imposter syndrome to discovering new priorities like workplace culture and quality of life, these women offer honest advice for anyone considering a tech internship.
Ready to see what a tech career really involves? Listen now and discover why hands-on experience might be the most valuable education you can get.
