Reading “Follow Dubious Orders or Speak Up” made me think about certain difficult situations I have been in during my own internships in big tech. Even though no one ever asked me to misrepresent myself, I have definitely felt the pressure to stay agreeable and move fast, especially when I was trying to earn trust on a new team I strongly wanted to return to post graduation. When you speak up to a manager, the risk feels obvious. You worry about being seen as difficult, slowing things down, or not understanding the unwritten rules of how the team operates. At the same time, agreeing to something that feels ethically off creates a different kind of risk. In big tech, where work is visible and documented, it is easy for small decisions to become part of a larger pattern. You carry the feeling that you compromised, and you also learn that you are willing to trade your own standards for convenience. That is what stood out to me about Susan’s situation. She knew the request did not sit right with her, even though everyone around her was treating it as routine.
The three-step plan from “How to Speak Up When It Matters” fits well with what I have learned in my own roles. The first step is recognizing that speaking up will feel uncomfortable and that the discomfort does not mean you are wrong. Interns and early-career people often assume that hesitation means they are overreacting, when it is actually a sign that their values are engaged. The second step is reducing the social threat. This is something I have done by framing concerns around shared goals, like accuracy, trust, and the long-term reputation of the team. It shifts the conversation from confrontation to collaboration. The third step is having a plan. When I raised concerns in my previous internships, I always made sure to bring concrete alternatives or a different approach. It shows that you care about getting the work done, not just pointing out problems. Seeing the case through my own experience reminded me that these moments matter. They shape how you think, how you work, and what you are willing to stand for as you grow in your career.
