Meet Our Summer Intern - Sasha

EA’s internship program provides great opportunities for students to start and grow their careers while cultivating their passions along the way. This summer, we welcomed our first-ever remote #intEArn class. Learn about Sasha’s path to becoming one of our 2020 interns through another EA outreach program: Spawn Point.

Fast Facts:

• Name: Sasha-Mylan Williams
• Title: IT Engineering Intern (Pathfinder)
• Major: Interactive Media & Game Design
• School: University of Southern California

Describe yourself and your background.

I have been in the gaming industry for about five years, starting as a tech student in organizations like Black Girls Code and Gameheads in Oakland. Since a very young age, I had a passion for creating games and sharing them within my community. Over these past five years, I have made four video games, including one that I even got to present at the White House in 2015. I have developed a passion for storytelling through interactive media and the power to tell unique and diverse stories. Because of that, each of my games revolves around social justice and Black issues. I’m glad that I was able to continue my journey in college and now at EA!

What are you studying and why?

This fall, I will be a sophomore studying Interactive Media and Game Design at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. I decided to explore this major because of my passion for the art of storytelling and design. My goal in life is to tell unique and diverse stories about real issues and found that the best way for me to do this is through interactive media and entertainment.

What drew you to EA?

What drew me to Electronic Arts was their high school summer program, Spawn Point. It was my first experience at EA and taught me so much about the company. Spawn Point allowed me to explore the gaming industry from a corporate perspective and see more of the industry's business side. I have to say my favorite part was getting to know the people; the EA employees that I met during my time in the two-week program, I still talk to today. It was a great experience that allowed me to explore an internship as an IT Engineer Intern two years later and further connect with people from EA.

How do you think this internship will help you on your career path?

I think this internship has helped me on my career path by providing me with an opportunity to make connections. Throughout this experience, I have been able to make connections with so many people. From meeting the other interns, EA employees, and people who I would consider mentors, I believe that making and keeping these connections will open up more opportunities with EA in the future, and learn and broaden my network in the game industry.

What team are you working with? What project(s) are you working on for us?

Throughout my internship, I worked with the IT Engineering Finance team. It was such a great experience learning more about gaming’s business side, especially coming from a design and production background. My manager, Kishore Reddy Solutions Architecture Director gave me the opportunity to work on a project that allowed me to learn so much and incorporate my own design experience. Because of that, I’ve worked on a project involving the UX/UI of Oracle iProcurement. Oracle iProcurement is a self-service requisitioning application that controls employee spending. This allowed me to connect and work with another team, XD Team, to learn more about UX/UI for my research and made mock-ups for the iProcurement shopping system.

What makes EA a unique place to intern?

Their dedication and interest in nurturing each intern. What I felt was the best part of my internship was the people, and, from the moment I started my internship, I felt welcomed and encouraged by everyone. My manager and mentor took the time to help me with my project, gave me constructive feedback, and asked questions to get to know me. This also made me feel comfortable enough to reach out and get to know other EA employees and interns. By doing this, I have expanded my network and made long-lasting friendships and connections. Another unique aspect of the EA internship were the intern events and experiences. Each event brought a new layer of richness to my time at EA. I got to learn more about yoga and self-care. I got to better my LinkedIn profile and resume. I received terrific leadership advice from both Nadine Redd Blackburn (Head of Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Corporate Social Responsibility) and CEO Andrew Wilson. It made me feel involved, engaged and, most of all, valued.

What was your reaction to EA’s call for a virtual internship following safety protocols for COVID-19? How have you leveraged some perks or benefits from this remote internship?

I would describe myself as a very social and interactive person, so when I first heard that our internship would be remote, it was a little disappointing. But after having spent my internship in a work from home environment, I have had a fantastic time! Because of COVID-19, my internship has become unique and universal. I have been able to attend and participate in nearly all intern events, meet and connect with other Interns from across the country, and reach out to EA employees about their job experiences. I was also able to create and plan a Black Intern Event partnering with our BEAT! Employee Resource Group. Working from home is not an ideal situation, but the Next-Gen Talent Team made it a great experience. Plus, I never had to commute to work! 

We acknowledge that you are interning during an international conversation on the systemic injustice, racism, and violence here in the United States. With that, it can be hard to bring yourself to work. What communities or conversations have you joined at EA to share your experiences or learn from others. Have you attended any events to further the conversation?

At the beginning of my internship, it was tough to work and see the continuous racial injustice and violence happening in the United States. As a young Black woman, there was so much I wanted to do and say about what I was feeling. Due to COVID concerns, I was not able to go outside and protest my frustration, sadness, and pain, but I do feel I was able to express myself as well as listen to other experiences and feelings through the many outlets EA provided, such as the company-wide discussions and panel conversations, especially BEAT!’s Juneteenth event. I felt heard and respected at work. It made me think that I did not need to keep my personal life and experiences about what was and is still going on a secret.

Tell us something we don’t know about you.

I have a huge passion for performing! I love acting, singing, and dancing and have been continuously performing since I was six years old. Because of my love for games, storytelling, and performing, I am now writing a short film about three Black girls starting a video game company. I am super excited! 

Learn more about our Next-Gen Talent program and apply to be a part of our next intern class.

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