CARLISLE, Pa. - Today we continue to highlight the unique experiences of our Dickinson student-athletes during the summer with our Red Devil Check-In series by seeing what rising junior on the softball team Grace DiBuono-Krafick has been doing while away from Carlisle.
Summer check-in
Where are you working or interning this summer?
I am interning at HomeServe USA, which is a home warranty company headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut. I am a part of the Transformation team, specifically within software testing.
What are your day-to-day responsibilities?
My main project for this summer is developing a test management toolkit for all of HomeServe. Some of its contents include our testing strategy, phases, and usage instructions for the project management software that we use to test here. I also do many other things, such as reporting daily testing results, collecting feedback from testers using surveys, and attending daily testing and triage meetings. I also built a project testing tracker in Excel and earned my Lean Six Sigma White Belt. Finally, I got to go to the PwC office in Nashville, Tennessee to see demos for the most recent increment of the project!
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What made this experience appealing to you?
I was really compelled by HomeServe's well-established, two-summer internship program, which means I get to return next summer. HomeServe takes professional development seriously, which is a big deal for me. The interview process was also really transparent, and being able to contribute to a business transformation project allows me to gain exposure to lots of different areas of the business.
How does this experience relate to your career or life aspirations?
As someone who is still determining an exact career path, this experience has allowed me to see what lots of different departments and roles do. I have really enjoyed working in a corporate setting, and I am now more confident working in an environment like this. I have also developed an interest in project management, which I hadn't really thought about prior to my internship.
How has your athletics career prepared you for this role?
My athletics career has prepared me in probably too many ways to list, but I'd say the main three areas are time management, perseverance, and communication. Being an athlete has taught me the prioritization skills that I need for a corporate setting, especially when I have lots of items on my to-do list. Having to face challenges as an athlete has also allowed me to better handle challenges as an intern. There is usually some level of uncertainty in my tasks, but my athletics background motivated me to push through them and ask for help when necessary, which brings me to communication. Athletics for me has always been an exercise in self-advocacy, so that ability has translated nicely to networking and asking questions in a corporate environment.
Looking ahead to this season, what are you most excited about?
I am really looking forward to reconnecting with my team and getting to meet the new first-years. We are also getting a new coach this season, so I'm excited to build that relationship for my last two years.
What else are you looking forward to this summer?
I've had the opportunity to travel a lot this summer, and I'm going to Florida at the end of August! I'm also looking forward to having a free week to read, relax, and prepare for the upcoming semester.
