For the newbies my name is Iain Wilcox and I was an intern in 2008, going over to Bellingham near Seattle to work on a market research project for SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering.  

I had a fantastic summer and learned things about the world and myself that gave me a real confidence boost.  Having had such a unique opportunity, you do feel like you owe it to yourself to deliver once you get back and settle into your final year.  You will hear many of the 2009 interns say this to you when you meet them, almost in an echo of what many of the 2008 interns would have said to them this time last year.  It's such a fulfilling domino effect to watch that happen.  And what's even better is that our little circle of people who had been through the Foundation has now grown and swelled to over 100 people now.  This in itself is a fantastic achievement, as our network is getting stronger and stronger.

I know I am one of the loudest advocates of the Saltire Foundation when it comes to telling people that it really does change your life.  I make no shame about saying this and for those of you who are just finding out about the results of your applications, I think it's important that you know that this is more than just 8 weeks.  You're embarking on a life-long journey, and nothing will ever again be black and white.

Some of 2008 have gone onwards and upwards to achieve phenomenal successes in short spaces of time after leaving university.  Congratulations to one and all of them.  Now as the final days of university draw to a close for the 2009 crew, we can see there will be similar, life changing achievements this year.

It's fair to say that 2009 was a pretty monumental year for me.  I was extremely successful with my marketing degree, and picked up a national award from the Marketing Society Scotland, as well as one from my university.  I'm certain this doesn't just happen.

I was invited to work as an Account Executive for a leading digital design agency in Edinburgh.  I did a bit of temping and had to be interviewed, but the vacancy I was applying for was only open for me - they made room for me.  Meanwhile, I was also sitting on 3 other job offers for positions that ordinarily I would have killed for.  These things don't just happen.

I was in that job for the best part of a year, during which the Saltire Foundation very kindly offered me a pass for the GlobalScot Conference, where I met the creme de la creme of business talent....

2010 has started pretty well for me too.  One of the individuals whom I met at GlobalScot got in touch to discuss opportunities, and within a month I was at dinner with this person to lay the foundations of a subsequent offer and to negotiate a salary - There would be no interview.  These things don't just happen.

I took that job, and started a month ago, and I am now a Senior Marketing Executive for a software company which powers an international online brand.  Already my job has taken me into Europe, and I will be going again in a few weeks after a brief stint in Dublin.  I'll be travelling a lot - we've got offices in Australia and Canada, and we're looking to move into other markets.

And I realised, we can offer a Saltire Foundation internship in the coming years, and I personally want to see that happen with us.

So if I ever get the time to stop for just a second, and I look back and see what the catalyst was for all this, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind as to what it was.  

I am pleased to say that this year I will be a Mentor for the 2010 cohort, and I am also closely involved with the Alumni Development Team - we try to play a role in increasing awareness of the Alumni and their achievements both within the Foundation community and also to the wider world.

I am looking forward to meeting everyone this year and introducing myself, but more importantly I am looking forward to hearing all about your experiences whilst you are away.

Good Luck.

Iain