When Anika Corpus was finishing her computer science degree at California State University, Fullerton, she was offered two internships: one with an NBA team and one at Cox Automotive.
She chose Cox because the role “felt more like a career,” and she viewed the company as a place where she could learn and grow. She also appreciated that the employees interviewing her for the internship had been with Cox for years and what they said when she asked what’s kept them at the organization.
“They all said it was because of the people they work with — that was really nice to hear,” Anika said.
That was seven years ago, and Anika has risen through the ranks at Cox ever since. She’s now a lead user interface engineer based in Irvine, CA, and she continues to embrace every opportunity to reach her goal of becoming an engineering manager.
Here, Anika shares what she loves most about her job and how she strives to keep advancing.
Always ready for a challenge
Anika, who’s originally from the Philippines, began her career as a web development intern at Cox Automotive. After a few months, she was hired full-time as a user interface engineer, supporting two key brands: Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader.
“I integrated with the team well, and I was just willing to learn,” she said. “Even though I didn’t have a lot of experience, I was open to the challenge and willing to figure it out.”
Embracing new challenges and problem-solving remain Anika’s favorite parts of the job. “Figuring it out is fun for me; it’s never boring,” she said.
In her current role, she works closely with Cox’s product and business partners and her own team to make the company’s websites more user-friendly.
Another crucial aspect of her job is staying up to date on the latest, ever-changing technology. Anika said she focuses on trying new things, asking questions and collaborating with her team.
“Even though I’m a lead user interface engineer, there are still a lot of things I don’t know,” she said, adding that being vulnerable and honest with her team is important for coming up with solutions and learning from one another.
Seeking growth opportunities
Anika strives to be a leader. Last year, she said she felt ready for new challenges beyond her senior engineering role, so she discussed ways to move up within the company with her manager.
She envisioned two ways to advance: becoming a manager or lead engineer. The manager’s route would have involved moving to a new team, which she didn’t want to do. So, she chose the lead engineer path — for now.
She was promoted to her lead user interface engineer position in March 2024. One day, she wants to be a manager, though. She’s had conversations with her own manager about this and says he’s helping her come up with a path to get there.
For instance, Anika was nominated for the Cox Automotive Edge leadership development program, which helps prepare top talent for leadership roles within the organization. She said the program has helped her learn how to become a leader, find her unique leadership style and transition from an “individual contributor to a leader role.”
She also meets with two mentors to discuss progressing her career and is involved in a women’s book club, where the group reads books on topics like career advancement and the challenges of women in tech.
Embracing a culture of support
Anika values the supportive culture at Cox Automotive, and it’s what makes her want to stay with the organization.
“I feel valued here,” she said.
She appreciates that the company has many women engineers, that the organization is innovative in embracing new technology and that she feels supported to learn and grow.
“You can honestly take your career anywhere you want,” Anika said. “I'm the type of person who wants to keep moving forward.”
Supporting others is also something she values. Anika empowers her team by listening to their ideas and concerns, providing feedback and ensuring they have opportunities to learn, build their skills and reach their own career goals. She also mentors others on exploring their own career paths.
Anika’s best advice for anyone wanting to rise through the ranks within Cox is to “express where you want to go.” That’s how she’s accessed opportunities.
“As long as you express that, you’ll get support,” she said. “You have to manifest it; otherwise, it’s never going to happen.”
