Heli Patel
This summer, I had the opportunity to intern with Hankook Tire America as a TB Sales Innovation Intern at the company’s North American headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. I am a senior majoring in Data Science at Middle Tennessee State University. I am from Hermitage, Tennessee. One fun fact about me is that I enjoy turning data into visual reports that make information easier to understand.
I’ve always been interested in Data Science because I enjoy solving problems and using data to tell a story. I like finding insights that help people make better decisions, which is what drew me to this field. I found my internship through my job search and was excited for the chance to gain hands-on experience while learning from professionals in the industry.
Throughout the summer, I worked with the TB Sales Innovation Team on projects that supported the commercial tire business. My main project was building an interactive Excel reporting template that allows users to quickly analyze customer sales, product performance, and year-over-year trends. I also created Power BI dashboards, worked with large datasets, and presented my work to company leadership. One of the most memorable parts of my internship was visiting Hankook’s tire manufacturing plant in Clarksville, where I got to see how the products are made and how the data I was working with connected to the manufacturing process.
This internship helped me grow in many ways. I became much more confident using Excel and Power BI to analyze data and create reports that people could actually use. I also improved my communication skills by presenting my work and collaborating with different teams across the company. Most importantly, I learned how valuable it is to understand the business behind the data. This experience confirmed that I want to build a career in data analytics, where I can use data to help solve business problems and support better decision-making. My biggest piece of advice to other students is to apply for internships even if you don’t feel like you meet every qualification. Every experience is a chance to learn, grow, and build your confidence. An internship gives you the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in class, develop professional skills, and discover what kind of work you enjoy. My summer at Hankook was an incredibly rewarding experience, and I’m grateful for everything I learned along the way