The Faces of InterDigital

“The best thing about InterDigital is the people; I am surrounded by a group of very professional and talented people. Unlike many other companies, at InterDigital you don’t have to be on top of the pyramid to have an influence on a project. There is no one-man project here; people work and push every project forward as a team. InterDigital is a very ambitious company. We are given aggressive goals along with an excellent level of training. And that is good, because as an engineer, you always want to do new things and continue learning.”

Afshin Haghighat  earned his Masters of Science Degree and  Ph.D. from Concordia University.

“This company is like a big family. Everyone is so friendly and open, and they really teach me a lot. I feel so lucky to work here, and because it is a small company, everyone knows each other and there is better communication with the people you work with. It’s not just a job to me because I make friends here. If it’s only a job, then you can’t enjoy it. And this is really a peaceful place.”

Yi Zhang holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance Management. from Wuhan University, and attended the University of Colorado where she earned her Masters in Accounting.

“Since I started working at InterDigital, I’m more inclined to take challenges. At the beginning of 2006, I was given the opportunity to work in the software area and perform integration of hardware and software in the lab for a 6 month period. This occasion allowed me to extend my experience and learn about new areas, making my job even more interesting.”

Frederic Monfet is from a small town north-east of Montreal, called Shawinigan. He moved to Montreal to study at Concordia University and earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering. Frederic continued his education at the neighboring McGill University, and graduated with a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering.

“The difference between working at InterDigital and a larger company is that here, there is more flexibility within the engineering workforce and management encourages employees to branch out into different areas of expertise, whereas at a larger company, you tend to get pigeonholed in one particular task. There is a team mentality here, and people are willing to go the extra mile to get their work done in accordance with the highest standards. Your contributions really make a difference here, and you won’t become a number.”

Gregg Charlton graduated with a BSEE from Carnegie Mellon University  and later earned his MSEE. at the University of Michigan.

“InterDigital’s great commitment to employees’ education and flexibility helps people enhance their knowledge in their areas of interest. I find myself working with a very diverse group of people from many different countries and cultures. But one thing common across the board, is my coworkers’ drive for success and commitment to goals. Since it is a small group of people, we get to know each other not only from technical point of view, but at a personal level. Personally I am amazed at how the people in this group are always willing to help and guide you in the right direction. We not only get a chance to work with the latest technology here, we work with a group of people who are greatly knowledgeable, yet humble. As a team we look forward to facing new challenges, because we know we can meet them. And personally, I look forward to my day at InterDigital everyday.”

Lakshmi got her start in engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology earning a Master’s Degree in Technology with a concentration in Computer Science and Engineering. She spent two years working for Hughes Software Systems in India before starting at InterDigital in February 2001. As a Staff Engineer in the Software Department, Lakshmi contributes to all phases of  product development, starting from the architecture phase of the product, through the field testing phase.

“One advantage I find in the Montreal office is the cultural diversity of my co-workers. This diversity brings the globalization reality into our day-to-day work, and it helps us to better understand the global market.

Catherine Livet attended engineering school in Bordeaux, France, where she earned the French equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering. Catherine emigrated from France to Canada 7 years ago, and is now a citizen of both countries.