Zuzanna Michalewicz
So, tell us a bit about yourself.
“My name is Zuzanna, I’m originally from Poland and I study human computer interaction at Utrecht University. I work for a healthcare startup called RTHM that helps patients with complex diseases like long-COVID, ME/CFS and more. I’ve done my undergraduate degree in management and AI at Koźmiński University in Warsaw and decided to move towards working hands-on with technology rather than being a manager during my exchange program in the Netherlands. I always had a drive for helping people through my work and that’s how I ended up working with RTHM.”
Why did you apply for the Internships in the Valley program?
“I always look for opportunities to grow, both personally and professionally. I took a leap of faith a few years back, deciding that I will stay in the Netherlands for my master’s degree, having lived there for less than 3 months. That was one of the greatest decisions that I have ever made!
Later on, this internship opportunity appeared and I felt ready for another adventure. Plus, for many people in tech, working in Silicon Valley is the holy grail! I wanted to see what working in such a big tech hub looks like, and that’s why I applied for the program. Internships in the Valley helps to make this possible.”
Along the California coastline
How was the transition from being a student in the Netherlands to a full-time employee in the US?
“Being relatively new to the Netherlands (I moved during Covid in 2021), it felt quite disruptive at the very beginning. Prior to my internship, New York was the only place I’ve visited in the US. This big move was just my second time in North America. I had a rough idea on what to expect but California has exceeded my expectations. I have been enjoying myself immensely, going to concerts, hikes and participating in cultural events in the US. I also think that my work environment makes it easy to enjoy full-time work. Being surrounded by extremely smart, driven and compassionate people every day makes it very fulfilling.”
Can you tell us more about your role?
“I work at RTHM which is a biomedical company, and we deal with long-covid patients. My role as a product manager intern entails me dealing in between the marketing and the tech part of the company. Some of my tasks involve helping with the website, providing analytics for socials, and designing interactions for our products. On a daily basis, I support our COO and Head of Design; I’m essentially split between two departments.
Some day-to-day tasks include conducting UX studies with our users, creating the flows of interaction with potential patients and currently existing patients within our clinic, analyzing how the users interact with our application, website, social media channels, and mapping out customer journeys. I hope to soon start my master’s thesis project within the company, which will focus on gamification in healthcare.”
What advice would you give to other female candidates?
Overall, how has living in the Bay Area been? Can you list some highs or lows?
“It can definitely be described as an interesting experience. At the very beginning I felt quite overwhelmed with the amount of cars, the long distances, and the sizes of the stores. I was more accustomed to these things back when I lived in Warsaw, but after I moved to the Netherlands, I became very comfortable with the time I needed to get to places, which is relatively short in the Netherlands. That was a big change for me, having to get used to driving for longer distances to get places.
I live in Redwood City which is very cozy and quaint, but close to San Francisco and San Jose where the city life is more robust. My favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning is biking to Palo Alto to have a coffee and read a book. I also love how close I am to the beach, the area of Half Moon Bay has been one of my recent discoveries.”
Zion National Park, Utah
Tell us about a recent activity or trip that you’ve really enjoyed!
“So far the highlight of my stay here has been my birthday road trip to Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon! We drove through California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona within a week. Zion was absolutely surreal! The best memory from that trip was the hike up the Narrows, 6 miles up through the Virgin River. It was the most beautiful hike I have ever done. The stone walls surrounding the river, carved by the current over the years, are so impressive. Call me biased, but I am mesmerized by the nature of America, both within the California state lines and beyond.”
“Without trying, you won’t get anywhere. Don’t undersell yourself and be confident in your skills.”
