Exciting Times to Come!

I’ve just finished up my second week at the BMW Tech Office in Munich and I’m already having a great time. Everybody has been so welcoming, and I’ve already met some great people I’m excited to learn from. I’ve been given a lot of freedom in how I contribute to the team, and I fully intend to make a strong impact by showing our multinational partners the quality and work ethic QUT design students bring to the table.

That said, I don’t think the main takeaway from this internship will be the tasks I complete or even the technical experience I gain. I believe what I’ll take away from this most are the connections I build, the attitudes I learn from the people I work with, and the insight I gain into different lifestyles outside of Australia.

As anyone would expect, moving to a new country comes with its challenges, but reaching out to friends of friends, family friends, anybody that speaks the same language as you can go a long way. Don’t underestimate how far grabbing lunch with a couple of people you barely know can take you. The sooner you put yourself out there, the easier it gets to build a network of mates. That's when it really starts to feel like you're not all by yourself in some unfamiliar country but like you’re surrounded by people who’ve got your back.

I’ve also had the chance to meet the other interns, Riley, Sora, and Michael. Riley and Sora very kindly introduced me to some of the past interns as well. If you’re a future intern reading this, take this as your sign to reach out to anyone already in the program or those who have done it before. Including me! With the hardest part (the paperwork) finally out of the way, only time will tell what new things I’ll learn and what experiences are waiting just around the corner.

Zac McLay
BMW Group Design Intern, 2025