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I did a dozen internships, including 4 unpaid ones. It led me to Nvidia and a leadership role in AI.

Fiona Li, a UC Davis graduate, successfully launched her career as an AI startup director by completing ten internships throughout college to build a competitive professional portfolio.

Key Points

  • Fiona Li completed eight paid and two unpaid internships while attending the University of California, Davis.
  • Her early experience included roles at an e-commerce store, which helped her secure positions at DocuSign, Intel, and Nvidia.
  • Li prioritized skill acquisition over academic performance, resulting in a 3.1 GPA during her undergraduate studies.
  • She applied to Nvidia 13 times before successfully securing an internship through a referral from a hiring manager.
  • Li currently serves as a director of marketing at an AI startup.

Why it Matters

This career path highlights the growing trend of students prioritizing practical work experience over traditional academic metrics to gain a competitive edge in the tech industry. It underscores the potential long-term professional benefits of aggressive networking and early-career skill building for students at non-target universities.
Business Insider Published by Lee Chong Ming
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