Opening Remarks:
Robert F. Smith and John Donovan discuss the significance of internships and their personal experiences.

Importance of Internships:
Internships can transform professional careers and shape one’s trajectory. They provide hands-on experience, insights into the corporate world, and opportunities to make an impact.

John Donovan’s Journey:
Donovan grew up in an urban environment and faced challenges in his early life. He sent numerous letters to engineering firms seeking an internship and received only one offer. After securing the internship, he realized the transformative impact it had on his career.

Personal Experience of Internships:
Donovan reflects on his first internship at Jones and Laughlin Steel as an electrical engineer. He emphasizes the importance of adaptability and embracing the ever-changing nature of the industry. Interns today have the opportunity to make significant contributions and see their work implemented in the field.

Advice for Aspiring Interns:
Donovan advises interns to have a mindset of eagerness and curiosity. They should be open to learning, taking initiative, and seeking mentorship. Interns should focus on developing their communication and teamwork skills. They should also prioritize building a strong network and exploring different career paths.

Conclusion:
Smith and Donovan conclude by highlighting the importance of internships in shaping the future of the workforce. They encourage interns to make the most of their opportunities and gain valuable experiences that will benefit their careers.

Importance of Internships:
Practical experience is crucial for success in the job market. Internships provide an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge and gain real-world skills. Employers value candidates with relevant work experience.

John Donovan’s Experience:
Average student with below-average grades. Secured a job offer after receiving 11 offers in his senior year. Attributes his success to having a strong internship experience.

Robert F. Smith’s Experience:
Had no engineering background or role models. Introduced to computers in high school and became fascinated with transistors. Learned about Bell Labs and its role in inventing transistors.

Perseverance and Persistence:
Robert F. Smith called Bell Labs for five months to secure an internship. His persistence paid off when he was offered a position due to a no-show.

Conclusion:
Internships provide valuable experience, skills, and connections that can lead to job offers. Perseverance and persistence can be key factors in securing internships and achieving success in the job market.

Importance of Tenacity and Hiring Cornell Students:
Smith’s tenacity in following up and hiring Cornell students led to a life-changing opportunity at AT&T’s Bell Labs.

Mentorship at Bell Labs:
Smith shared an office with Vic Houser, a PhD in solid-state physics and a mentor who had 35 patents. Houser encouraged Smith to challenge himself and provided him with the resources to solve complex problems.

The Joy of Figuring Things Out:
Houser taught Smith the joy of figuring things out, which became a valuable lesson for his personal and professional life. Smith’s summer project at Bell Labs resulted in an award for the best project among juniors and seniors in college.

Importance of a Welcoming Environment:
Smith emphasizes the importance of a welcoming environment and a mentor who cares about one’s development. Houser provided Smith with the process for finding answers rather than spoon-feeding him the solutions.

Reflecting on Mentorship:
Smith encourages individuals to reflect on the mentors in their lives and their impact on their personal and professional growth.

Mentorship vs. Advocacy:
John Donovan emphasizes the importance of advocates over mentors. Mentors often give surface-level advice, while advocates provide tough feedback and support.

The Value of Truthful Feedback:
Advocates provide honest assessments, even when it’s tough to hear. They challenge individuals to recognize their shortcomings and areas for improvement.

Encouraging Non-Obvious Choices:
Donovan promotes the inclusion of diverse and non-traditional candidates. He believes that “non-obvious choices” can bring unique perspectives and drive success.

Inclusive Candidate Selection:
Donovan implemented a policy requiring hiring managers to consider five candidates, including diverse and non-obvious choices. This approach resulted in a significant increase in the promotion of people of color.

Focusing on Quality, Not Numbers:
Donovan emphasizes the importance of selecting the best candidates, regardless of diversity quotas. He believes that diversity and inclusion should be natural outcomes of a fair and transparent selection process.

Business Sense, Not Just Social Responsibility:
Donovan argues that diversity and inclusion are not just social responsibilities but also good business practices. Diverse teams bring a range of perspectives and experiences that contribute to better decision-making and innovation.

Mentoring and Adopting Mentors:
Robert F. Smith emphasizes the significance of mentoring and actively seeking out mentors who possess the skills and expertise one aspires to have. He suggests adopting mentors, rather than waiting for them to come forward, and making an effort to learn from people in different divisions or fields. Smith highlights the importance of deliberately choosing a career path and becoming an expert in one’s craft.

Developing Talent and Skills:
John Donovan discusses AT&T’s approach to developing talent and skills through online education and competency-based learning. He explains that the company recognized a shortage of engineers and launched a curriculum to train and upskill its workforce. Donovan emphasizes the success of the program, with 150,000 employees participating in online education, leading to promotions and career advancements. He also highlights the stories of individuals who have transitioned from retail jobs to IT roles through the program.

Creating Opportunities and Leveling the Playing Field:
Donovan mentions AT&T’s initiative to open entry-level jobs in Chicago to neighborhoods affected by gun violence. The company opened stores at night, provided mentors, and offered ride-sharing and daycare services to support employees. Donovan emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by employees from diverse backgrounds. He stresses the value of internships and hands-on experience, especially for young people who may not have traditional educational backgrounds.

Overcoming Barriers and Encouraging Executives to Embrace Talent Development:
Robert F. Smith acknowledges the challenge of finding talented individuals and the need for executives to embrace talent development as a sound business strategy. He emphasizes the responsibility of companies to create opportunities for employees to learn, grow, and advance in their careers. Smith suggests that companies should focus on creating opportunities that may not last a lifetime but can provide valuable experience and skills development. Donovan adds that executives need to learn to manage on a treadmill and adapt to a more dynamic talent landscape.

Donovan’s Leadership Approach:
John Donovan emphasizes the importance of genuine and authentic leadership that is grounded in the local community. He highlights his unique advantage in addressing gun violence due to his employees’ personal experiences with it. Donovan believes that effective leadership requires personal commitment, inspiration, and the ability to lead by example.

The Role of Executives:
Donovan stresses that executives should not fear taking risks and making bold decisions. He emphasizes that genuine leadership involves difficult choices and lonely moments when business cases and partners are not sufficient guides. The magic of leadership lies in the ability to inspire others and create a positive ripple effect.

The Importance of STEM Education:
Robert F. Smith highlights the rapidly changing skill requirements in today’s world, leading to open positions that cannot be filled. He emphasizes the importance of building STEM education capabilities for students to succeed in the future workforce. Smith recognizes that every corporation faces this challenge and needs to invest in STEM education to secure a talented workforce.

STEM Education:
A teacher’s early discouragement can impact a student’s perception of their abilities, as illustrated by John Donovan’s daughter’s experience in eighth grade. STEM education should be accessible and inclusive, encouraging students to overcome stereotypes and pursue their passions. The tools and resources available today make STEM more accessible than ever before, enabling individuals to learn and apply STEM skills easily.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation:
The digital age has transformed the entrepreneurial landscape, making it more accessible to individuals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets. Computing power is now ubiquitous, and the cost of accessing it has decreased significantly, creating opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation. The traditional corporate career path is being challenged by the rise of entrepreneurship, which offers individuals the chance to pursue their passions and create wealth.

The Importance of Will and Effort:
In today’s technology-driven world, the tiebreaker for success is willingness and hard work. Skill is more important than experience, and a strong will and effort can carry individuals forward, even if they lack traditional skills or experience.

Non-Obvious Choices:
AT&T embraces the non-obvious choice, recognizing that anyone with the determination to improve their life and pursue their goals can succeed. The company believes in providing opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to learn, grow, and make a difference in the world.

Key Themes:
Elite talent remains important, but the divide between the elite and the hungry is widening due to a lack of opportunity and will. The goal is to provide opportunities for those who have the will to succeed in higher education. Thinking bigger and stepping out of comfort zones is necessary to create opportunities for students beyond their immediate surroundings. The focus should be on supporting students throughout their journey, from providing opportunities to creating a welcoming and supportive environment.

Insights from John Donovan:
Stresses the importance of providing opportunities to those who have the will to succeed. Emphasizes the need to think beyond traditional boundaries and explore opportunities beyond one’s immediate surroundings. Highlights the importance of creating a supportive environment for students, where they feel comfortable and confident in their pursuit of higher education.

Final Thoughts:
The goal is to create opportunities for hundreds of thousands of students, not just a few. Encourages educators, nonprofit leaders, and partners to think bigger and step out of their comfort zones to create more opportunities for students. Emphasizes the need to focus on the students’ journey, supporting them throughout their educational experience and helping them succeed.

Confidence of Young Interns:
John Donovan highlights the confidence and ambition of young interns, noting their belief in their ability to make a significant impact in a short period. Robert Smith emphasizes the importance of engagement and creating an environment where interns feel comfortable sharing their ideas and thoughts. Donovan mentions that interns often express a desire to implement their ideas immediately, showing their eagerness to make a difference.

Engagement and Learning from Digital Natives:
Robert Smith acknowledges the need for companies to learn from young interns, who are often more adept with technology and have fresh perspectives. He stresses the importance of creating an environment that encourages interns to share their ideas and thoughts, as they may have valuable insights that can benefit the company.

Building a Sense of Family and Belonging:
Donovan emphasizes the importance of creating a sense of family and belonging among interns, as this can lead to increased commitment and retention. He mentions that AT&T provides opportunities for interns to work on meaningful projects, interact with experienced employees, and feel like valued members of the team. Donovan believes that creating a supportive and inclusive environment where interns feel like they belong is essential for their success and the company’s long-term growth.

Emphasis on School Pride and Networking:
Donovan discusses the practice of encouraging interns to wear their school uniforms or t-shirts during their internship. This helps foster school pride and creates opportunities for networking and mentorship between interns and experienced employees who may have attended the same school.

Conclusion:
Both Donovan and Smith emphasize the importance of investing in young talent and creating an environment that supports their growth and development. They recognize that the confidence, engagement, and sense of belonging among young interns are crucial for the success of the company.