McNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY
Adetola Aladekoba, senior majoring in computer science at McNeese State University, spent her summer interning at Guidewire Software in Exton, Pennsylvania.
Aladekoba, from Lagos, Nigeria, learned how to think like a product manager throughout her internship. She developed abilities such as balancing user needs, technical feasibility and business goals to define meaningful features.
“I will use these skills to approach challenges strategically, always keeping the user at the center of my decisions while collaborating effectively with engineers and designers,” she says.
Aladekoba looks forward to applying her newfound abilities from the internship into her future career.
“I have hands-on experience working on real software products for insurance professionals, which will make me a stronger candidate for future opportunities and better prepared for a career in technology,” she explained.
Aladekoba was able to use her computer science coursework as a technical foundation to understand software development processes and communicate effectively with engineers.
“Apart from the classroom, I learned the importance of cross-functional collaboration and that great products are built not just with code, but with empathy for users and teamwork across departments,” she expressed.
Aladekoba has always been fascinated by how apps and websites are built, and majoring in computer science gave her a chance to learn how to create them herself.
“I chose McNeese because of its supportive community and the opportunities it provides for growth both inside and outside the classroom,” she said. “Being an international student, I wanted a place where I could feel connected while also being challenged academically.”
The senior plans to pursue a career as a product manager, where she can continue to bridge the gap between technology and people, and eventually lead teams to build impactful products.
To students looking for an internship, she says “Start early, leverage your network, and don’t be afraid to apply. Every experience builds your confidence and gets you closer to the right opportunity.”
