Through the University of Oregon’s job shadow program, I have had the opportunity to connect with numerous companies in the northwest. This year, I was selected to visit Intel’s Community Engagement/Public Affairs department at their headquarters in Hillsborough, Oregon. I was particularly interested in this department because their focus is largely on giving back to the surrounding community. They have given technology like laptops to schools in the area as well as raising money for them and other organizations. One thing that I was not only shocked to hear about but also very pleased, was that every employee has an expectation to complete community service hours. This past year, one of their largest volunteer events was where employees volunteered in schools in the community and assisted teachers in teaching elementary students how to read. The campus headquarters is the focal point of the community, and since it largely impacts those living around it, it is important to them to make the community feel valued. During my job shadow, I was given a tour of one of the multiple campuses, complete with a cafeteria, gym, and garden for all employees. The building was very reminiscent of a college campus, except everyone had their sh*t together. I voiced my interest in sustainability with my host Donna Maleki and she kindly introduced me to the department head of sustainability at Intel, Anisha Ladha. Sustainability at Intel is largely focused on how to keep producing their products efficiently while minimizing things like greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, water use, and hazardous waste; all of which they’ve been very successful at. In addition to minimizing harmful parts of their production process, they’ve made efforts in installing alternative/renewable energy and creating inventive products that assist the agriculture industry in reducing water waste. One of the biggest takeaways from my conversation with Anisha is that corporate sustainability has to be specific to the company’s impact and at the end of the day, compromising the success of the business is not an option so innovation is the only way to complete both. The experience was truly invaluable and made me extremely excited about my future career out of college. Who knows, next time I visit Intel, maybe I’ll be more than just a shadow.
