This past summer, I completed a 12-week experience as an HRLDP Intern for Alcon at their U.S. headquarters in Fort Worth, TX. Alcon is a global vision care company that not only manufactures products like contact lenses and eye drops, but also develops surgical devices and provides innovative eye care solutions. During my internship, I supported Alcon’s Global Talent Acquisition (GTA) and Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Teams.
I supported several impactful initiatives designed to enhance Alcon’s talent acquisition procedures, as well as to increase Alcon associates’ sense of an inclusive workplace culture. One project I particularly enjoyed was the development of a post-event survey framework for two of the company’s employee resource groups (ERGs). This initiative streamlined feedback collection and data analysis after ERG events, enabling ERGs to translate survey response data into actionable insights to improve the quality of future events. The project involved frequent collaboration with ERG leaders and board members to ensure that the framework elements aligned with the mission, goals, and key performance indicators of each ERG. After these meetings, I created a post-event survey template in an online survey distribution tool for each ERG, with questions tailored to assess correlation with specific aspects of each ERG’s mission statement. I then developed a distribution workflow consisting of an enhanced check-in procedure, designed to ensure that everyone who attends ERG events receives the post-event survey. Finally, I created an Excel template designed to automate data analysis for ERGs.
The summer was also a terrific adventure, since I had never before visited Texas. Fort Worth has grown dramatically in recent years and is now the 11th-largest city in the country. Despite Fort Worth being a big city, though, I soon realized I was still in a small world. I was having a conversation in June with the older gentleman who was giving me a Lyft ride, and I learned that the driver was actually the son of one of the two original founders of Alcon! In addition to assigning engaging projects, Alcon ensured that interns were properly supported and could integrate seamlessly into the company culture. I found the Young Professionals (YP) ERG to be a valuable resource that helped me settle into my role. Alcon assigns all interns a YP buddy, a full-time associate who is a member of the YP ERG. My YP buddy this summer was a project manager for the R&D department who has worked at Alcon for two years and is a current online MBA student at Auburn University. During my second week at Alcon, we met for coffee at the on-campus Starbucks, where we got to know each other and I shared with her my professional development and networking goals for my internship. We then connected for lunch every other week, where we reviewed my networking progress and she suggested additional Alcon associates to contact, sometimes leading to networking dinners after work. She also helped me prepare for my capstone at the end of my internship, rehearsing my presentation in a conference room setting. My YP buddy was invaluable, helping me to achieve my summer goals and to feel more connected to the culture at Alcon. The YP ERG also hosted special events, including a yoga class and an ice cream social on the Alcon campus, as well as a Texas Rangers baseball game and a trivia night at a local brewery outside of work. These events allowed me to better connect not only with interns in other departments, but also with full-time associates.
Alcon’s University Relations Team hosted several professional development events for interns, such as a resume workshop, a panel with ERG leaders, and a panel with former interns who transitioned into full-time roles. I also had the opportunity to attend an Employer Summit hosted by TCU, representing Alcon for both GTA and University Relations.
Beyond the Alcon experience, I also enjoyed getting to know Fort Worth and the region. From cattle drives at the stockyards to searching for the best barbecue, from line dancing with my roommates to seeing Willie Nelson (and Bob Dylan!), I learned that you don’t mess with Texas. I even learned that I could survive a summer with several days topping 100 degrees on the thermometer. Before finally leaving Dallas-Fort Worth, I also undertook one last external exercise in talent acquisition: persuading Jerry Jones that Micah Parsons really would look better in a Green Bay Packers uniform (we’ll see if that effort pays dividends this season!).
I took away many valuable lessons from my internship experience at Alcon. Early on, I realized that the culture at Alcon places a strong emphasis on networking and building relationships. I appreciated the willingness of our senior leaders and executives to talk with interns and provide insights about personal and professional development. Furthermore, I realized how important cross-functional collaboration is at Alcon. Due to the nature of the projects, work frequently requires interaction across functions and departments. All four of my intern projects involved frequent cross-functional collaboration, including but not limited to working with the Global Executive Recruitment Team, the U.S. Benefits Team, the Internal Communications Team, and ERG leadership. I learned so much from these associates, and the insights I took away from meeting with these individuals had an impact on not only the results of my projects, but also in my development as an HR professional. Finally, the Alcon culture encouraged me and other interns to participate, to speak up during meetings, to offer and share our insights and ideas. As I became more accustomed to this environment, I grew increasingly comfortable and more confident in readily contributing. The internship experience culminated with my capstone presentation, summarizing my summer projects and presenting to over 100 colleagues in an Alcon auditorium. Just like the message featured on our Alcon summer intern t-shirts, all 62 of us looked to “Intern Brilliantly” and to contribute to the Alcon mission of helping people to “See Brilliantly.”