Inside Illumio: Lynn Han

Inside Illumio is a monthly series that highlights the exceptional individuals behind Illumio’s world-class products. Each post will peek behind the scenes to spotlight a member of our team. Come get to know us a little better and learn more about what makes Illumio’s culture so unique.

This month, meet Lynn Han, Member of the Technical Staff. Learn about how she turned an internship into a full-time career at Illumio.

Tell us about yourself. What do you do at Illumio?

My name is Lynn Han and I’m a member of the technical staff here at Illumio. I joined the company full time a few months ago, after interning in 2020.

By way of background, I have a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the China University of Mining and Technology. After undergrad, I went on to study Computer Graphics at Purdue University. I was interested in exploring visualizations and UI development.

As a member of the technical staff, I focus on Illumination, the visualization interface for our products, and address bug fixes based on user feedback. I’m also part of a small hacking group that evaluates new tools and features that could help the product more efficiently provide graphic visualizations.

It’s exciting for me to build on the experiences I had as an intern at Illumio and to take on more responsibilities, with the help of my mentor.

Elaborate on that. What were you working on as an intern and how has your mentor helped you along the way?

As an intern, I focused on process-based visualizations for one of Illumio’s customers, who had a new requirement to visually highlight the core services in their network.

Illumio’s internship program was very hands-on and engaging. Upon joining, I was matched with a mentor, Joy Scott, to guide me throughout the program. Although I didn’t know her prior, Joy welcomed me to Illumio with open arms. She is transparent, willing to help, and provided a safe space for me to learn and grow while mastering new skills. She’s incredibly talented and intelligent, and, fortunately, I continue to work with her today.

What about the internship experience made you apply for a full-time job at Illumio?

Both the experience and the people led me to apply for a full-time job. Illumineers are always willing to help, whether you are a brand-new intern or a long-tenured employee. When you are faced with a challenge here, you are met with compassion and collaboration.

In addition to the more traditional mentorship I receive from Joy, I was also matched with a “buddy”, Raven Gao, upon joining the Illumio internship program. She assisted in my codebase set up, walked me through our product terminology, and helped me prepare for my final internship presentation. This is another example of the collaborative environment Illumio provides to all members of the team.

I was nervous about starting an internship remote, but Illumio made the transition easy and I was welcomed immediately. I can be a shy person, but people approached me right off the bat, even as an intern, to offer their assistance. The environment here makes the work both rewarding and fun!

Now, as a full-time employee, I work closely with individuals from different departments, and I love learning about what others do for the company.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned at Illumio so far?

I’ve learned to view challenges in a different way. I’ve learned that you can break any challenge down to find solutions, one item at a time. There is nothing to be afraid of and no challenge that is insurmountable if you work together with your colleagues and keep an open mind.

Which Illumio core value resonates most with you and why?

Onwards Together. In school, I didn’t participate in many group projects, most of my work was individual. But when I began my internship, I realized how much collaboration was needed in the professional world. I was surprised by this. I feel incredibly fortunate because the team I worked with for my internship involved me in all events and working sessions, so I quickly learned how important teamwork is at a company like Illumio. I also feel supported to take on any challenge because I know I’m not going through the process alone. My team is available and ready to support me. There is also an appetite for learning amongst my colleagues, which is a fun environment to be part of.

What are you passionate about outside of your career?

Outside of work, I enjoy going to museums. While attending Purdue in Indiana, I visited many different museums, but my favorite was the Indiana State Museum in downtown Indianapolis. It has a great exhibit on the Ice Age!

I also enjoy volunteering in my spare time. I recently began volunteering for my church creating posters. It’s a great way to use my graphic design capabilities and I love giving back to my community.

What do you want people to know about working at Illumio?

There is an openness here that you will not find at every company. My fellow Illumineers are not just intelligent, but an open book, willing to share their knowledge with interns and colleagues alike.

Find out more about our internship program.

Interested in joining the team? Check out our career openings.