RapidSOS and Epilepsy Association of Central Florida team up for enhanced access to emergency services
July 20, 2016RapidSOS and Nebraska Educational Service Unit 16 team up toprovide enhanced safety for students with disabilities, theirfamilies and educators.
July 25, 2016Spotlight Intern Edition: Hannah Van
Getting to know operations intern Hannah Van, who does more than stock the pantry!
Q: What do you study?
A: Urban Studies at Brown University
Q: How did you arrive at Urban Studies?
A: I went through a bunch of majors, including computer science, psychology, economics, and english, and still hadn’t found something I liked enough. By the time we had to declare during 2nd semester of sophomore year, I didn’t know what I wanted to major in. My friend told me that she had a friend that hated everything and was doing urban studies, so I tried that and ended up loving it.
Q: What interested you about RapidSOS?
A: They are designing technology that fills a gap I didn’t even know existed until I started researching the company. From an urban studies standpoint, living in a city means your home isn’t limited to your apartment or house, so when you call 9-1-1 you’re likely on a smartphone. With Haven, 9-1-1 can find you wherever you are in the city. (Shameless plug)
Q: How does this internship compare to your past ones?
A: It’s very different. I worked at a teen celebrity magazine where each day was basically the same type of work, like putting together photo galleries and scheduling social media. And then I worked at a law firm which was almost the opposite, very corporate, and all of my work entailed putting together a research project. Being on the operations team here has given me a behind the scenes look at managing a company, from hiring to working with vendors, and every day is different.
Q: What is the best thing about your job here?
A: In addition to working with really energetic and talented people, I like that some of my assignments are things I would do on my own for fun, like sourcing good restaurants and planning events. Looking for a new office space has been exciting too, and I’ve learned a lot about the New York City real estate market.
Q: Your reputation as office Yelp queen precedes you…What’s been your favorite restaurant in the city this summer?
A: Noshborough in Astoria. It’s relatively new, and they do a lot of fusion food. My favorite is the Waffco, a waffle-wrapped taco with brisket, daikon, and carrots. (Nihar: “Daikon? I had taco bell for dinner last night.”) I would give it 4 stars- it’s a really low key place, and you don’t have to fight for space.
Q: What do you do during your free time?
A: I like biking, exploring wherever I am, so it’s nice being in New York and being able to do that. And I’ve been listening to a great podcast called 99% Invisible by Roman Mars.