I Am NI: Jalen Graham

published

08.17.2021

Earlier this year we launched a new initiative called Generation NI, our global early talent development program, which enables employees to grow leadership skills through interdisciplinary cohorts. This cohesive program provides interactive trainings, actionable feedback, and mentorship.

Jalen Graham joined NI as a summer intern and is one of the newest members of Generation NI. We sat down with him to get to know each other and talk about his experience so far. As a lifelong athlete, he knows the importance of teamwork and how iterative improvements can lead to big accomplishments—things we know are equally important off the field and in the lab.

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Name: Jalen Graham
Hometown: Garland, TX
University: Prairie View A&M University
Department/Role at NI: Software Intern in Platform DOE

 

Why did you want to intern/work at NI?

While looking for internships, I came across NI, and I was really impressed (and overwhelmed) by its global impact across industries. Also, innovation is something that’s very important to me, and I could see that NI was not only innovating within the company but producing products that made innovation possible for its customers.

How has Generation NI impacted you?

Generation NI has helped me connect to many other interns at NI this summer. Knowing that there were other people around my age at NI doing internships made me feel a lot more comfortable here. Plus, I really enjoyed having the opportunity to get to know students from different schools and seeing how their college experience has differed from mine.

I think diversity and inclusion is important because it helps facilitate a melting pot of backgrounds so everyone in the company can have a good understanding of each other’s experiences, and we can all be better and more empathetic coworkers.  

- Jalen Graham
Do you have a passion outside of “work”?

I really enjoy investing and listening to earning reports because they allow me to see what new things are coming down the pipeline—kind of like a puzzle of the future.

How do you Engineer Ambitiously™?

As an intern, I Engineer Ambitiously by just trying to learn as much as I can from my team and by researching the things that I’m working on so I can be as knowledgeable as possible.

Who is your biggest inspiration and/or mentor (at NI or otherwise)?

My dad is both my biggest inspiration and mentor. All my life my dad has coached me in sports, and he used that opportunity to instill in me the values he thought I would need throughout life. Seeing all the work my dad put into me makes me want to succeed, to show him how much I appreciate all he has done for me and to prove to him that it was time well spent.

With the transitions to remote school and work in the past year, share some lessons learned along the way.

I would say the biggest difference between remote and in-person is being able to just roll out of bed and be in class or at work. Until this year, I never really noticed the impact driving to work or walking to class had on my day. While I’m excited to get back to in-person life again, I’m dreading having to plan for commuting again. 

During your time at NI, what’s been the most significant lesson you’ve learned? (This can be anything from a life lesson to a skill/best practice you use in your career.)

I’ve learned a lot of technical skills here at NI, but I would say the most important thing I’ve learned is knowing how and when to ask relevant questions in a concise manner. Not only does this skill help you get answers easier—it shows you tried to find a solution on your own before asking for support.

As you enter the workforce, tell us why diversity and inclusion (especially in engineering) matter to you.

I think diversity and inclusion is important because it helps facilitate a melting pot of backgrounds so everyone in the company can have a good understanding of each other’s experiences, and we can all be better and more empathetic coworkers.   

What’s the one thing you want people to know about you that doesn’t fit on your resume?

I’ve played sports all my life—football, baseball, or basketball—and sports is something I still care a lot about. I feel like playing sports is a great tool for building character, building a competitive spirit, and creating healthy habits.

How would you describe the culture and connections you’ve experienced with other NIers?

Everyone who I’ve met has been very kind and helpful; when I visited campus, it seemed like everyone was a big family and knew each other.

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