<p><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/60005a08fe7e140019f7ee64-2400/rising stars of autonomous vehicle industry 2x1.png" border="0" alt="rising stars of autonomous vehicle industry 2x1" data-mce-source="Kodiak Robotics; Waymo; Nuro; LaunchSquad; Skye Gould/Insider"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>Insider sought out the autonomous-vehicle industry's leaders of tomorrow by collecting nominations for the brightest young stars working on automated-driving technology.</p><p>Those who made the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rising-stars-autonomous-vehicles-waymo-aurora-cruise-nuro-2020-12">final list</a> have established themselves as key contributors to their companies early in their careers. Insider asked them what advice they would give to young professionals who want to get their careers off to a fast start.</p><p>Here's what they said.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-car-hyundai-kia-near-deal-electric-autonomous-vehicle-report-2021-2" >Apple is reportedly nearing a deal to build its autonomous electric car with Hyundai</a></strong></p><h3>Derek Phillips, 24, Kodiak Robotics</h3><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5fe287baedf89200180936a9-400-300/derek-phillips-24-kodiak-robotics.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>Try to figure out what kind of company you'd like to work for, Phillips said. Finding a company that makes you excited to come to work every day is the most important step you can take to start your career on the right foot.</p></p><br/><br/><h3>Hana Lodhi, 26, Waymo</h3><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5ff47c673793140019e2859c-400-300/hana-lodhi-26-waymo.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>Lodhi emphasized the importance of taking opportunities to learn early in your career. Be observant, open to criticism, and willing to ask questions, she said.</p></p><br/><br/><h3>Himani Arora, 27, Nuro</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5fe28d5fa644880018193111-400-300/himani-arora-27-nuro.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>Talk to colleagues you don't normally work with, Arora said. Doing so can give you a better understanding of your company and stronger ideas about how you can contribute.</p><p><strong><em>Read more: </em></strong><em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rising-stars-autonomous-vehicles-waymo-aurora-cruise-nuro-2020-12">Meet 2021's rising stars of self-driving vehicles, from companies like Waymo, Aurora, and Cruise</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Jay Kuvelker, 28, Kodiak Robotics</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5fe280bca6448800181930fb-400-300/jay-kuvelker-28-kodiak-robotics.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>Use the job-interview process as an opportunity to learn about the company you've applied to work for, Kuvelker said. </p><p>Once you've landed a job, look for mentors and be proactive in seeking projects you can work on after completing the work you're assigned, he added.</p></p><br/><br/><h3>Melinda Kothbauer, 25, May Mobility</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5ff47b9a3793140019e28599-400-300/melinda-kothbauer-25-may-mobility.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>Kothbauer said one of her priorities at the beginning of her career was to find a company that would allow her to develop a broad understanding of the product it was developing, instead of forcing her to focus on a narrow set of tasks. Gaining that kind of big-picture knowledge will help you discover what you like and what you're good at, she said.</p></p><br/><br/><h3>Qian Chu, 27, TuSimple</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5fe276daa6448800181930d3-400-300/qian-chu-27-tusimple.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>Develop a first-principles approach to solving problems, Chu said. First-principles thinking means trying to determine the best way to complete a task, even if that means ignoring conventional wisdom.</p><p><em><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/waymo-cruise-zoox-argo-ai-salaries-engineer-to-manager-2020-8">REVEALED: How much Waymo, Cruise, and Zoox employees make, from engineers to managers</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Sarah Tang, 30, Nuro</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5ff47e316056b60018721ef1-400-300/sarah-tang-30-nuro.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>Be kind, Tang said. If you look for ways to help your coworkers, you can build a strong professional network.</p></p><br/><br/><h3>Shir Yehoshua, 29, Waymo</h3><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5ff47cb76056b60018721eea-400-300/shir-yehoshua-29-waymo.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>Find work that you enjoy and that plays to your strengths, Yehoshua said. Don't spend too much time trying to master things you're not good at.</p></p><br/><br/><h3>Luna Yang, 28, Aurora Innovation</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5ff62e6e6d61c10019cce086-400-300/luna-yang-28-aurora-innovation.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>When working on a project, ask questions about why certain tools or methods will or won't be effective, Yang said in an email. It may slow you down in the short term, but it will make you better at your job in the long run.</p></p><br/><br/><h3>Andrey Rykov, 28, Yandex</h3><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5fe38186edf892001809386d-400-300/andrey-rykov-28-yandex.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>Find a balance between learning things and doing things, Rykov said in an email. It's important to keep up on the lastest news in your industry, but don't spend too much time on research that isn't related to the work you're doing today.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rising-stars-wall-street-investing-trading-dealmaking-2020-9'r=risingstars-teaser" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Meet 2020's Rising Stars of Wall Street from firms like Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, and Bridgewater shaking up investing, trading, and dealmaking</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/startups-most-likely-to-go-public-2021-aurora-lucid-2021-2" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Aurora and Lucid Motors are among the 5 electric-vehicle and self-driving startups most likely to go public in 2021, experts say</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/40-rising-stars-on-madison-avenue-changing-advertising-2020-11" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Meet the 40 rising stars of Madison Avenue who are revolutionizing advertising in 2020</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-autopilot-elon-musk-ford-porsche-bmw-2021-2" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Elon Musk has talked to Tesla rivals about selling them its controversial Autopilot feature. Experts say these 3 carmakers are the likeliest buyers.</a></li></ul></li></ul></p><br/><br/>
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