On May 8, 2025, I participated in an industry visit to DBA Global Shared Services, Inc. as part of our exposure program to experience authentic IT work environments. DBA is recognized for providing data-driven solutions, software development, and digital support to global clients. Our group, Prismatic Insights—consisting of five BSCS students from Gordon College—had the opportunity to engage in this educational experience.
We were welcomed by Ms. Kandy Fernandez, Associate Human Resources Specialist, and Ms. Araceli Gutay, Senior HR Manager, who delivered comprehensive presentations on the company’s mission, operations, and departmental roles. The tour emphasized the Information Technology division, which was particularly relevant to our academic focus. A significant highlight was meeting Ms. Lovelyn Perez, a Gordon College alumna now working as a web developer at DBA, who shared her inspirational journey from student to IT professional, demonstrating that dedication and hard work can lead to similar career paths.
The visit to DBA was truly eye-opening, showcasing an impressively organized and collaborative work environment. During our IT department tour, we observed development teams working on web applications, conducting quality assurance testing, and collaborating with international clients through various digital communication tools and agile project management systems. The organization’s effective balance between structure and collaboration was particularly striking, illustrating firsthand the importance of version control systems, coding standards, and cross-departmental communication in delivering quality digital services. This experience reinforced that technical skills must be complemented by soft skills such as adaptability, professionalism, and teamwork for success in the IT field.
Ms. Perez’s personal narrative was especially inspiring as she detailed her progression from junior developer to her current position, emphasizing how mentorship and continuous learning enhanced both her confidence and technical abilities. Her candid acknowledgment that professional growth rarely follows a linear path, but rather depends on consistent learning and perseverance through challenges, resonated deeply with me.
Following this visit, I’ve developed numerous ideas for applying these insights to my studies and future career. I’m now considering focusing more intensively on practical coding skills, particularly web development technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP, which were extensively utilized at DBA. I also plan to pursue hands-on experience through internships and real-world projects, participate in collaborative student initiatives, join coding competitions, and contribute to open-source repositories to develop my skills and familiarize myself with industry workflows while still in school.
The visit provided an “aha” moment regarding software development practices beyond coding itself. I now recognize the importance of becoming proficient with documentation methods, version control systems like Git and GitHub, and project management tools such as Trello or Jira, which were standard practice at DBA. Mastering these tools will undoubtedly facilitate a smoother transition from academic to professional environments when the time comes.
The visit was exceptionally well-organized, with DBA’s HR team ensuring everything proceeded smoothly. Their engaging presentation style made company information both interesting and relevant to us as students. I particularly appreciated the thoughtful organization of each visit component—from presentation slides to employee testimonials to the office tour—with each section serving a clear purpose in introducing the company’s services or demonstrating how IT professionals work behind the scenes. This structured approach maximized the value of our limited time.
The genuinely welcoming atmosphere at DBA was notable, with friendly staff and a visibly positive work culture throughout the office. Rather than feeling like outside observers, we gained authentic insights into potential IT industry careers, making the experience more meaningful and memorable.
For future visits, incorporating hands-on demonstrations or live walkthroughs of typical development processes would be beneficial. Actually witnessing how they handle version control, deploy applications, or conduct quality testing would better connect our classroom learning with real-world practices. Providing reference materials—either printed handouts or digital resources—summarizing the company’s services, internship opportunities, and potential career paths would help us retain key information when considering future internships or job applications.