Samuel Wallace: Human Rights Fellow at Microsoft
Class of 2020
Human Rights Fellow at Microsoft
New York City
What did you do prior to Stern?
PR at a technology startup.
What was the best part of your internship?
I had a lot of freedom to conduct research and think broadly about the future of a really interesting topic. My project involved conducting human rights due diligence on the use of AI technologies in military and intelligence applications. This is a forward-looking topic so while it sometimes felt a bit theoretical, I also got to become a bit of a "futurist" expert and think strategically about how technology could impact an existing field and the kinds of human rights challenges that could result. My manager also empowered me to make connections and gather input from experts in my field - which was a great learning experience.
What was the company's culture like?
Microsoft is definitely the legacy company among the big 5 in tech, so their culture felt a bit more button-up and formal than what I'm used to. At the same time, I think it's a more mature company that has come to see the longterm value of focusing on ethics and ESG issues, and being really forward-looking when it comes to introducing world-changing and potentially dangerous innovations to a broad market.
What kind of events did you get to do with your fellow interns and/or team?
I got to visit the Microsoft offices in Seattle and San Francisco. I also attended a UN workshop on AI and the rights of children in New York and a Defense Innovation Advisory Board meeting, which featured the interesting combination of Eric Schmidt and Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
What was the city like? Did you have a chance to explore? Did it affect your internship in any way?
The Microsoft office is right in the middle of Times Square, which I actually kind of enjoyed.
What was most challenging part of your internship and what would you do it again if you could?
It was a very independent assignment, which meant that I had good ownership of the project, but could be challenging to not have peers. However, my manager was a great resource and made himself very available to guide me through the project.
What was most helpful to you during the recruiting process?
The SISA team was a really wonderful resource. Also the Stern SCB and CBHR have some great resources for students looking to get involved in impact work. And thanks to STA for all their fantastic resources as well!
What advice do you have for current and prospective students for their internships?
I think that doing "nontraditional" work can be a benefit at any point in your career, and the summer internship is a great opportunity to do something that sets you apart and maybe shows some passion. You have a great position and privilege with a Stern education, and working on something that is interesting or makes a difference will only set you apart down the road. That was my experience at least!