Interning at CBRIN: Disha Taneja’s Journey of Professional and Personal Growth  

Before Disha wrapped up her time in our intern program, we had the opportunity to ask her a few questions. She shared her reflections and offered valuable advice for students considering a similar journey. Read on to learn about her experience and insights: 

What were your initial thoughts and expectations when you started the internship, and were there any surprises about the company or the role? 

I initially wondered what it would be like working in an office environment. I was a bit scared that I may not have enough knowledge about things required for the role I would be doing. To my surprise, there were no expectations put on me to know anything and I was taught everything from scratch without the fear of judgment which made me very comfortable. I was blown away by the number of opportunities made available through the Internship. In my first week itself I had the opportunity to attend a tech showcase at Parliament House, attend the in-person extended team meeting with the CBRIN team and people who lead programs in the innovation community as well as attend the 100th First Wednesday Connect. For me my first week was an indication of how many opportunities available through the internship. 

How did you learn about this internship opportunity? 

I was a part of ANU Women in STEM leadership conference where I first learnt about the Canberra Innovation Network, I had a brief chat with CBRIN team and expressed my interest in entrepreneurship and innovation. I was told about the internship program that had opened, and I applied. Once the application process had closed, I was invited for an interview with members of the Growth team. I felt myself belonging to the innovation ecosystem and wanted to knock on every door possible that could lead me to this role. 

Can you describe a typical day in your role, and were there any particular projects or tasks that were especially impactful for your learning? 

Every day was very different but usually on Mondays my day started with growth team coordination and on Wednesdays it started with the weekly CBRIN team meeting. While working on InnovationACT my typical day would start with outreach and engagement, followed by intro meetings, admin work and working with the different CBRIN teams. I was happy to volunteer for any opportunity that came up and loved getting involved with the different CBRIN programs. I was able to sit in on the Griffin accelerator team program each week, attend and assist in Idea to Impact or any other program that was running at that point. 

One of the projects that was really impactful in my learning journey was InnovationACT. I had initially participated as a participant,  but when I began my internship my role changed from participant to a delivery perspective. That really helped me learn a lot, especially seeing how people grow their ideas and take them to the next level. The workshops were really helpful and helped me understand the importance of having secret sauce in all the projects that you do to stand out, I applied it on my social media and saw significant results. 

Did you face any significant challenges or obstacles, and how did you overcome them? 

I think one challenge was how to approach people as an intern. My CBRIN mentor Irene, always pushed me to go and have a chat with people and think of myself as an individual who brings value to the table. I will always be grateful to Irene for always motivating me and encouraging me to break my own limits. 

How has this internship contributed to your personal and professional growth, and can you share a memorable experience or highlight from your time here? 

This internship has contributed vastly in my personal and professional development. It has polished my communication and interpersonal skills along with teaching me so many different things and experiencing office culture for the first time. 

My fondest memory would be pitching at the First Wednesday Connect, that pitch was one of the best moments of my internship as I did it exactly how I wanted it to be. The whole room applauded and so many people came to me and appreciated me for that pitch but most importantly I was extremely proud of myself. Thanks to Hayley and the entire team of CBRIN for this opportunity. 

What advice would you give to someone starting a similar internship, and are there any tips or best practices you would recommend for making the most of the experience? 

My advice would be to take risks and say yes to opportunities. You never know where those opportunities could lead you. Also, be your authentic self, do not try to impersonate anyone or compare your journey with someone else. You are different and that is exactly what sets you apart. Lastly, do not forget that it’s just life you will have both good and bad days but the ability to wake up every day and let the show go on makes you an unstoppable force.  

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