At 18 years old, Viviana Mendoza is participating in an internship that has helped her to see herself as a transit CEO. Fortunately, her ambition has been encouraged.

Destined for a Career in Transport

As a child, Mendoza initially planned to be a bus attendant like her father. Coming from a low-income background, he has been sweeping and cleaning Los Angeles Metro buses for the past ten years. For Mendoza, her father’s occupation instilled a genuine fascination with public transportation. Of course, her father encouraged this curiosity but pushed her toward bigger goals.

A Door-Opening Internship Opportunity

As a college student in Los Angeles, Mendoza hasn’t forgotten her father’s advice, and she is actively participating in an internship at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. While she studies public affairs and urban planning at Pasadena City College, she is simultaneously learning first-hand how the metro operates—while getting paid $18 an hour.

Mendoza’s internship is one of many California job-learning opportunities for those from low-income backgrounds to land high-paying careers. The state has recently invested hundreds of millions of dollars into apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and internships to help set those like Mendoza up for success. According to Governor Gavin Newsom, the state plans to create over 600,000 similar opportunities by 2029.

The Impact of Mendoza’s Internship

In an interview with CalMatters, Mendoza shared just what the internship meant for her and her hopes for the future.

“In the fall of 2022… I met the CEO of Metal Toad, Mr. Lippincott,” Mendoza said. I asked him if he had ever had to fire someone, and he asked me why I would ask that. I wanted to know more about what it was like, as someone in charge of a company or agency. Maybe one day I’ll have to make a decision like that. I then followed up, explaining that I wanted to become the CEO of LA Metro. To my surprise, he offered to introduce me to her! A little less than a year later… she offered me an internship in her office.”

It was after this fortuitous meeting that Mendoza began her internship at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority—the summer before her junior year of high school. By making her voice heard and asking questions, Mendoza was able to get a foot in the door at her dream job and learn exactly what it took to become a leader.

“The internship has allowed me to work alongside the CEO’s team,” Mendoza explained when asked about her experience, “which has exposed me to an array of different aspects that come into play when running a transportation agency. I was able to shadow the CEO in her board meetings, create an operating procedure employees can use for creating a variety of documents and do research on rail station safety.”

Meaningful and Inspiring Work 

Collaborating with women in leadership at the exact place where she has always wanted to work appears to have been a game-changer for Mendoza. She has helped to conduct research on transport safety and security, observing how surveys are done and where changes are made. Though the work is fast-paced and demanding, everyone around her is willing to help, share what they know, and help her find a path forward. She is proud of the relationships she’s built and is glad to be surrounded by those who genuinely want her to succeed.

“I feel transportation has always been a part of my life,” Mendoza concluded. “My grandma would take the bus to go to downtown LA. It’s a great way for people to connect. You meet different people on the bus, and what it does for communities that are underserved oftentimes is overlooked.”