Srividya Narayanan’s Co-op Story at Culture Care Collective Is a Must-Read: From 1,000 Applications to a Career-Shaping Experience

Widler Casy
Sep 14
5 min read

"Culture Care Collective® is a care coordination solution that helps organizations connect clients to health and social resources in their community." — ***"Culture Care Collective***^® ***is a care coordination solution that helps organizations connect clients to health and social resources in their community."***

Biotech Intern Newsletter: Spotlight on Srividya Narayanan

Welcome to this edition of the Biotech Intern Newsletter. We are excited to feature Srividya Narayanan, whose remote internship at Culture Care Collective demonstrates how persistence, adaptability, and curiosity can transform challenges into opportunities for growth.

Internship Snapshot

Company: Culture Care Collective

Location: Remote

How It Started: “I discovered the opportunity through the Northeastern University website. What began as a search for a meaningful internship turned into an experience that shaped my career path in compliance and healthcare technology.”

A Day in the Life

Srividya worked as a Regulatory Compliance Specialist Co-op, where she focused on data validation, HIPAA compliance documentation, and quality checks for healthcare resource databases.

Her work showed her that compliance is about much more than one regulation. “Compliance is so much more than just HIPAA. I discovered it encompasses everything from data validation to quality assurance processes, and it is really the backbone that keeps healthcare companies running safely and effectively.”

Lessons from the Lab

Biggest Learning: “Compliance is so much more than just HIPAA! I discovered it encompasses everything from data validation to quality assurance processes, and it is really the backbone that keeps healthcare companies running safely and effectively.”

Best Advice Received: “Try, learn, and don't worry if you make mistakes, that is how you grow. And stop apologizing for everything! This really helped me build confidence in my abilities.”

Wish I Had Known: “I wish I had not just targeted the big companies. Boston has so many amazing healthcare startups that I was not even aware of. I wish I had directly emailed CEOs of those companies on LinkedIn, shared my story, and taken a chance to showcase my skills. Also, read job descriptions thoroughly instead of just scanning for familiar role titles, because different companies use different names for essentially the same position, and you might miss great opportunities that way.”

Wish I Had Learned: “I wish I had gotten more exposure to how app development works, especially since our platform had such a strong tech component.”

Fun Moments and Growth

Most Fun Experience: “The moments when I could really contribute something valuable to the team. Seeing my work directly impact the platform and knowing I was helping improve healthcare access for real people.”

Biggest Struggle: “At first, it was really difficult for me to understand the work environment. Startups operate so differently from what you expect. Everything moves faster, roles are more fluid, and you have to be comfortable with ambiguity. I learned to embrace that flexibility and see it as an opportunity to wear multiple hats and learn more.”

Behind the Scenes

Who Made It Memorable: “I will give myself the first credit because I took the time to really learn and understand what the company needed, then streamlined my approach accordingly. And I also have to credit my CEO, Cynthia Orofo, who trusted me, appreciated my work, and gradually gave me more responsibilities as I proved myself.”

Resource I Wish I Used More: “Beyond LinkedIn, I wish I had tapped into more professional networks and industry-specific resources earlier in my search process.”

Advice for Future Interns

Words of Wisdom: “Explore all types of companies, do not just focus on the big A-list names. Look at startups and mid-size companies too. Reach out to people directly. If you are at Northeastern University, definitely take advantage of XN projects, which give you direct communication with CEOs and let you work closely with leadership. You will start to accustom to the work culture, learn more about how to communicate, work in teams, and address issues in a broader way.”

What Interns Should Focus On: “Learning should be your top priority. Be curious and ask questions about everything. Take initiative to understand not just your specific tasks, but how your work fits into the bigger picture. Do not be afraid to ask if you can attend meetings, conferences, or training sessions beyond your immediate role. Look for opportunities to contribute in unexpected ways.”

Closing Thoughts

Srividya’s journey was not without its struggles. “I submitted over 1,000 applications. I got rejection mails every time because of my career transition. I was not given a chance to explain my story in my dream companies. It was honestly exhausting and demoralizing at times. But I kept refining my approach, learning from each rejection, and staying persistent. Eventually, the right opportunity came along, and all that experience had actually prepared me to recognize it and succeed when I got there.”

Her advice for others: “Do not lose hope. The process can be tough, but if I can do it, you can do it too. Every no gets you closer to the right yes. Referrals really work, so put yourself out there. Every time you attend conferences, network with new people, and show eagerness to learn, you are building connections that could lead to your next opportunity.”

Rapid Fire

Coffee or Tea: Coffee

Meetings: Online meetings

Mountains or Beaches: Beaches

Srividya Narayanan’s internship at Culture Care Collective is a powerful reminder that persistence, curiosity, and adaptability open doors in biotech. From compliance operations to startup culture, her experience shows that every rejection can be a step toward the right opportunity, and that meaningful growth happens when you stay curious and refuse to give up.

Do you have a story that can inspire the next generation of biotech professionals? Submit your experience to the Biotech Intern Newsletter today.

Connect with Srividya Narayanan on LinkedIn to follow her journey in biotech.