Week 2 – Personal Contributions

This week I was invited to two out of office events with my co-workers at Lucas. On Wednesday of this week, I was asked to venture out of the office and into a customer’s warehouse in order to really experience what our company does and how we can help a certain customer with supply chain and logistics issues that they are experiencing. Two coworkers and I traveled to Oxford, where we met a company called Oxford Products who was interested in using our mobile execution software to help optimize their operations. While there, we took a walk around the warehouse site and learned about what this customer does and what their operations look like. After this, we discussed with the customer what our product is and how we could help them with their operational issues. After our discussions, the customer made it clear to us that they were very interested in buying our product. Although I did less talking than listening, the experience allowed me to learn in even more detail about what my company does and how we can help other companies. It also allowed me to be a part of a team that influenced a customer to potentially buy our product and in turn helping our company to thrive and grow in the UK.

In addition to this out of office event, I was also invited along with another colleague to go to the US Embassy in London last night to represent Lucas Systems at their VisitPittsburgh Networking Event (I have attached a picture of the new embassy below). The event revolved around Pittsburgh companies as well as UK companies with or interested in offices in Pittsburgh. It gave companies an opportunity to network and learn more about the city of Pittsburgh and what a great and growing city it is. I had a great time networking with other companies so they could learn more about Lucas Systems and what I personally do as an intern for the company. It made companies here in the UK more aware of who we are and what we do. Not only did this event give me more experience with networking, but it is also allowed me to share my knowledge on the company and spread the word about us to global companies. Most importantly, it allowed me to share my interest in Leadership Studies with other companies and what that form of study is and means to me.

Both of these events have major impacts on our company and how other companies view us. I was lucky enough to represent Lucas Systems and show how great, interesting, and useful our company is. By doing this, we are more likely to be known and therefore able to grow as a company in the UK. I hope during my new six weeks I get to experience something like this again as it has really allowed me to experience two very real world like situations.  Along with these out of office experience, I have also helped with contacting potential customers or what we call “nurturing customers” through email and phone call. In addition, I have updated and created new logos and graphic designs for the company. Lastly I have been undergoing a long marketing research project as well as a Company Overview project. I look forward to seeing what more the company has in store for me in these next few weeks.