“I would love to continue on the path of working in renewable energy or the electric vehicle industry.”
– Gabby Milette, Co-op Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Specialist in Management & International Business Graduate 2021, University of Toronto Scarborough
Congratulations to Gabby, recipient of a Management Co-op Work Term Recognition Award for her contributions at Tesla in Fall 2020.
How did you get hired at Tesla?
I reached out to the head of public policy and business development in Canada with a request to meet up for a coffee chat. He was very generous with his time. I talked about my interest in working at Tesla, particularly the energy side of the business. After this, he asked me to write a job description of what I would like to do. When a position officially went live a few months later, I was very excited to apply! And when I got the job offer, I was at home having lunch with my family. I was so excited.... I think my parents even recorded a video of me dancing.
What is the most impactful or innovative project you worked on?
Primarily, I worked on policy related to Tesla energy products (e.g. battery storage, solar power). Helping develop a Canadian energy policy strategy was my largest project, which I even got to present to the Senior Global Director of Public Policy and Business Development. I learned a lot about the energy industry itself, how to reach out to and speak with government officials, how to write up formal submissions, and how to formulate an integrative strategy in this space.
Who was your manager or mentor at Tesla? What’s the most important thing you learned from them?
At Tesla, I was fortunate to have both a manager, Iain, and mentor, Audrey. They both taught me so much knowledge related to Tesla and public policy, as well as general life lessons. Their willingness to help, despite being incredibly busy, is something I plan to take with me in my own career.
Describe your best day at Tesla.
When I got to take home a Model X for the weekend!
How does the organization go above and beyond to support students?
Tesla is filled with brilliant, hard-working people. My colleagues took the time to meet with me for virtual coffee chats and teach me about their roles. If you have specific interests, the organization will help connect you with employees across the globe. For example, when I informed the Senior Global Director of Public Policy and Business Development that I speak Italian, he introduced me to a team member in Italy just to chat! Tesla hosts weekly speaker series events to help you learn about the diverse areas of the company, and I was included in the women-in-policy events. From start to finish, Tesla provided me with outstanding support.
What are your career goals, and how will you leverage your BBA and co-op experience to achieve them?
I would love to continue on the path of working in renewable energy or the electric vehicle industry. Starting my co-ops in the automotive industry at RCI, then switching gears and learning about the renewable energy sector at Liberty Power, and finally putting it all together (automotive and renewables) at Tesla, I've gained incredibly valuable experience.
Why should a graduating high-school student pursue their BBA degree from U of T Scarborough?
The Management Co-op program will not only teach you a lot academics-wise, but it will also help you grow as an individual. The challenges you face, the people you meet, and the experiences you gain will all help shape the leader inside you. I had no idea what I wanted to do or what I was interested in, but my co-op experience has helped me find my passion. It's been the best thing for me.
