Building a Better Tomorrow: Lessons from the Lotus Project
1. Most Rewarding Experience
Looking back at your journey from intern to volunteer to a core member of the Lotus Project, what has been the most rewarding part of your experience?
The most fulfilling part of my journey has been witnessing the real-world impact of our work. From building scalable data pipelines to optimising ETL workflows, my contributions have directly supported data-driven decision-making and sustainability efforts. Being a part of a mission-driven team that empowers communities through technology, has been incredibly rewarding.
2. Motivation to Continue & Project Resonance
What motivated you to continue contributing beyond your internship, and what aspects of the project resonate most with you?
The Lotus Project's mission of driving sustainable development, deeply resonates with me. My internship introduced me to a collaborative environment where I worked with technologies such as AWS, SQL, Python, Jira, Confluence and GitHub. The guidance from stakeholders and data scientists helped me grow professionally and I could see my work making a tangible impact. This, combined with the Lotus’ focus on sustainability and innovation, have inspired me to continue contributing beyond my internship.
3. Challenges & Overcoming Them
Were there any challenges you faced while working on the project, and how did you overcome them?
One of the challenges I faced, was the lack of connections. While remote collaboration is effective, arranging occasional virtual meetups could enhance team connection, motivation and authentication processes. Currently, I only know a few team members personally and meeting more people would foster better collaboration. Additionally, occasional delays in responses from team members due to them being occupied, sometimes slowed my progress. To overcome this, I developed a habit of documenting every step of my work, allowing me to stay on track and revisit my notes when needed. Frequent team meetings and self-motivation also played a crucial role in maintaining my productivity and engagement.
4. Influence on Skills, Perspective & Career Aspirations
How has being part of the Lotus Project influenced your skills, perspective, or career aspirations?
Being a part of the Lotus Project, has significantly enhanced my technical expertise, especially in AWS services, ETL processes and data pipeline optimisation. Beyond technical skills, I have improved my problem-solving abilities, collaboration and adaptability. This experience has reinforced my passion for data engineering and my aspiration to contribute to impactful projects, that leverage technology for positive change. Additionally, I have learnt how to engage with people, practice storytelling and write blogs; skills that have broadened my perspective.
5. Advice for Future Interns/Volunteers
If you could give one piece of advice to future interns or volunteers looking to make an impact, what would it be?
My advice to future interns and volunteers would be to stay proactive, curious and engaged. Real – world projects offer immense learning opportunities and the more you immerse yourself, the more valuable your experience will be. Don't hesitate to ask questions, document your learnings and seek ways to contribute meaningfully – you will be amazed at how much you grow. Stay focused, keep learning and maintain a solution-oriented mindset rather than dwelling on challenges. Believe in action and impact.
Tulika Choudhury (Data Engineer at Lotus Project)