From Engineer to Innovator: Meet Cyrus Mistry, Full-Time MBA Student

PREVIOUS CAREER AND CURRENT INTERNSHIP

Previous position before MBA:

• Title: Sr. Attribute Delivery Engineer
• Company: Rivian Automotive
• Location: Normal, Illinois

Summer Internship: 

• Title: Product Planning and Strategy Intern
• Company: Toyota Motor North America
• Location: Plano, Texas

HOW DID YOU SECURE YOUR INTERNSHIP?

I had an idea from my past career that automotive product planning might be an interesting role for me, so I was on the lookout for such positions. Toyota held a virtual networking session where Rice students were invited. At that event, I learned more about the internship and met some of the department members. I knew this was a great fit and applied as soon as applications opened. From there, I had coffee chats with department members before ultimately interviewing for the role and receiving the offer.

WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES DURING THE INTERNSHIP?

As a product planning and strategy intern, I handle multiple projects where I conduct competitive analysis of other vehicles, develop strategies to keep Toyota products fresh throughout their lifecycle, create customer profiles for future vehicles, and work on projects involving the future of mobility.

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WHAT DEPARTMENT IS YOUR INTERNSHIP WITH?

I work on the Product Planning and Strategy Team for the Toyota Truck and Rugged SUV team.

HOW DID YOUR MBA COURSEWORK PREPARE YOU FOR THIS INTERNSHIP?

Core concepts from marketing and finance are used daily, as we build business cases for our products and define the customers who will purchase them. Business communications skills help with presenting in front of many people. Classes like New Product Development and Customer Experience Management have helped me form a consumer-centric mindset.

HOW DOES THE INTERNSHIP ALIGN WITH YOUR CAREER GOALS?

My lifelong passion has always been cars. I was lucky to work in automotive engineering before my MBA, but I wanted to get more involved in product concept definition. Toyota’s Product Planning and Strategy internship is a great step towards that. Our department is the “Guardian of the Customer Voice,” responsible for defining future vehicles, their target audience, and ensuring their business viability.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE INTERNSHIP WILL HELP YOU WITH YOUR MBA STUDIES OR FUTURE CAREER?

My internship has helped me directly correlate concepts I learned in class and will continue to learn in my second year. For example, building customer profiles in marketing and new product development classes. At Toyota, I applied these concepts to create customer profiles for future vehicles. This experience helps define what products should be and their target customers. I hope to continue my career in "Voice of the Customer" roles where I can impact future products. 

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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE?

At Toyota, we follow the Japanese phrase “Genchi Genbutsu,” which means “go and see it.” This approach has enabled opportunities to experience off-roading in trucks and SUVs, visit RV dealerships to learn about customer needs, and see firsthand what customers demand from products. I also toured design, engineering, and manufacturing facilities. Toyota encourages networking inside and outside the department, setting up a Lunch and Learn series for interns to interact with executive leadership. The insights and knowledge gained from these sessions have been highly rewarding.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS?

It is OK to have a plan but not stick to it. During the MBA program, you will explore and learn about opportunities you didn’t know existed. Keep an open mind and explore opportunities you didn’t initially think about. Balance your MBA approach by recruiting for your internship or job, doing well in classes, getting involved in activities, meeting new people, and taking care of yourself. Enjoy the journey because time passes quickly.

Cyrus Mistry is a Full-Time MBA student in the Class of 2025.