9:00-9:15 Planning for the day
When I first arrive at the office, I spend about 15 minutes looking at my calendar and jotting down all the tasks I’ve got lined up for the day in my planner. This helps me feel organized and ready to dive into the day’s work.
9:15 – 10:00 Work and meeting prep
Once I have everything sorted and my to-do list laid out, I dive into some small administrative tasks and prep for our weekly all-hands meeting. Specifically, I familiarize myself with insights relevant to my ongoing projects, ensuring that I can speak to the work I’m doing and make valuable contributions to the all-hands meeting.
This week, I’ve been drafting case studies for the SOM tech website and helping to plan a health equity research symposium. Something I’ve really enjoyed about this fellowship is that I get to work on a variety of new projects and broaden my skill set along the way.
10:00 – 11:00 Weekly all-hands meeting
Once a week, all members of SOM Tech convene in the meeting room for an hour-long session dedicated to reviewing ongoing projects and exploring opportunities for new clients or projects. These meetings provide a platform for team members to share insights into their project involvements, express perspectives on potential clients, and discuss their roles within projects.
These meetings also serve as an avenue for team members to address concerns, redistribute responsibilities based on team dynamics, and ensure everyone's on the same page.
11:00 – 11:30 One-on-one with manager
Once a week, I meet one-on-one with my direct supervisor. This dedicated time is an opportunity to discuss ongoing project work, ask questions, address obstacles, and occasionally receive insights into potential new projects where my contributions could be valuable.
Many managers at SOM Tech take the approach of seeking fellows’ input regarding preferred areas of focus and learning objectives, which personalizes each fellowship experience.
11:30 – 12:00 Project work
On in-person days, I typically allocate time before lunch to make progress on ongoing projects. During this window, I dedicated a portion of my time to sending out coordination emails related to the health equity symposium and reviewing feedback from team members on the case study I'm writing.
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
When the weather is nice, I like to take advantage of the numerous parks and outdoor seating areas in the neighborhood. The SOM Tech office is conveniently located near a variety of restaurants, there’s no shortage of dining choices.
1:00 – 3:30 Project work
I carve out time in the afternoons to delve into special projects, which often involves collaboration with colleagues and additional meetings.
Beyond my primary responsibilities in communications and marketing, I've had the opportunity to engage in diverse projects for the fellowship. This entails supporting other teams in various capacities, such as contributing to the development of the UCSF artificial intelligence website and facilitating community engagement workshops for researchers. These projects have further broadened my exposure to different disciplines and allowed me to refine and expand my skill set.
3:30 – 4:30 Discovery
SOM Tech encourages fellows to allocate time for technical and soft skill development. This can be done by enrolling in classes on UCSF learning platforms or acquainting myself with tools relevant to upcoming projects.
One of the standout features of this fellowship is its learning-centric approach, which consistently promotes the acquisition of new skills. This emphasis not only enhances our professional profiles but also enables us to make valuable contributions to SOM Tech.
4:30 – 5:00 Office chatter time
As the workday winds down, you'll find team members engaging in random conversations, grabbing treats from our communal candy bowl, and discussing weekend plans. This time of day is representative of the SOM Tech community. Our tight-knit culture greatly enhances the overall work experience.
Written by Madeleine Gesell for SOM Tech (2024)
