Despite what some people may think with my pure grace and awesome stature… no I am not a ninja.
So what is it that I really do?
In real life, I am the Innovation Xchange Coordinator for General Motors (fancy, huh?) I work in a 10,000 square foot space in the iconic Renaissance Center, located in the heart of Detroit. Truth be told, I do a little bit of everything – but in general, my goal is to incorporate design thinking into the GM workplace and spark changes in company culture. Instead of focusing on our product, I focus on our people and the processes that they experience every day. Pretty cool, right? Now let me give you a few reasons for why I love my job with GM.
6. The Candy- I found the candy stash. I can make my way to the 8th floor and enjoy candy any time I want…AND IT’S AWESOME!
5. Location, location, location—After traveling through Greece and living in Chicago, public transportation has become part of my life. Long commutes are just not an option. I live about 1 mile from the Ren Cen – I can walk, get dropped off or take the People Mover to and from work.
4. The Space—If you know who I am, you know I cannot be confined to a box (or cube). I need people, color and lots of activity space. 10,000 square feet between me and my boss with the newest and coolest technology and furniture is a good start.
3. The History—A lot of people know what General Motors is. They helped put Detroit on the map over the past one hundred years. Good or bad, no one can deny that GM has played a big role in the world we live in, and I get to work at the company’s global headquarters.
2. Making a difference—Since the Innovation Xchange is a brand new concept, I get to make a big impact on an even bigger company. General Motors is in 64 countries and has hundreds of thousands of employees, many of whom have been working with GM for decades. At 22, I have the opportunity to step into this world and help make changes in it for the better.
1. THE PEOPLE—Seriously, how is it that every single person that I meet here is awesome? I have the coolest co-workers, the kindest leaders and the best bosses a girl could ask for. All are so friendly, funny and passionate about what they do. Simply put, I could not have asked for a better group of friends and mentors.
So no, I am not a Ninja…. YET, but GM is training me well.
If you would have asked me about 6 months ago where I saw myself working, I would have told you a million places—but General Motors would not have been one of them. And what a mistake that would have been!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving Friends!