Building the Future, Securely: Reflections on My Summer at Galois

As a summer intern at Galois, I had the unique opportunity to dive into an organization whose work quietly but profoundly shapes the systems we rely on every day. Coming in as an MBA student with a passion for technology and innovation, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a company known for its deep technical expertise and research in formal methods — a specialized field in computer science that uses rigorous mathematical models to ensure systems perform as intended. What I discovered was far more than advanced mathematics and security protocols — I found a community of people deeply committed to building a safer, more trustworthy future.

Exploring the Frontier: My Work at Galois

This summer, my focus was market landscaping across several of Galois’s emerging technology innovations that have broad implications spanning national security, financial infrastructure, and healthcare systems. One of the first tools I explored was SAW (Software Analysis Workbench), a "universal equivalence checking" tool that mathematically verifies that a system — whether code, hardware, or binary — executes precisely as designed. I often thought of and visualized SAW as an octopus – a single tool with many arms (applications). Originally developed to verify cryptographic code, its reach extends into different domains including smart contracts, hardware verification, source code auditing, and binary analysis. Because of its wide applicability, mapping its market potential first required defining a set of core landscapes where it could best thrive. Ultimately, I identified four primary domains in which SAW is likely to have the most future impact.

Next, I turned to 5STARS, an automated threat detection tool designed to assure the security of networks. While it was originally developed for naval applications, I explored how its core formal methods-based capabilities could be adapted to a range of industries—from healthcare to telecommunications—especially in contexts where networks are growing in complexity and must maintain security without sacrificing performance. As a fellow Cornellian, it was also a personal highlight to see the collaboration between Galois engineers and Cornell researchers powering this project.

Through this work, I came to appreciate how formal methods serve as a foundational pillar in building secure, resilient, and trustworthy systems — the kind of systems we all rely on every day without even realizing it.

One of the most rewarding parts of the internship was interviewing the brilliant PhDs and engineers behind these technologies. Their insights not only shaped my research but also deepened my respect for the intellectual rigor and principled thinking that defines Galois. It's clear to me now: while tools like SAW and 5STARS are powerful, it's the human intelligence behind them that makes the real difference. Read: AI can’t do this. 

Culture of Collaboration and Autonomy

Galois is unlike any place I’ve worked before. There is a remarkable level of humility across the organization. Titles and hierarchies take a backseat to curiosity, kindness, and collaboration. Whether I was talking to someone in finance or cryptography, Galwegians were consistently generous with their time and insights. If you ask for help, it’s given — no questions asked, no ego attached.

This culture of mutual respect is paired with a strong emphasis on autonomy. Interns are encouraged not just to execute, but to explore. You won’t find a top-down list of tasks waiting for you — you get to shape your work, follow your interests, and take ownership of projects that matter.

As a founder of two startups, I especially appreciated this emphasis on autonomy. The encouragement to work on my own terms — to ask questions, propose ideas, and lead my own path — felt both familiar and deeply energizing. In my opinion this is a direct reflection of Galois’s ownership model. As a 100% employee-owned company, all Galwegians think and act like owners. That shared ownership model creates a sense of collective responsibility and trust that is incredibly rare. It’s not just autonomy for autonomy’s sake — it’s paired with a mindset that cultivates initiative, accountability, and long-term thinking. 

Galois balances this autonomy with a real sense of community. Weekly rituals like Tuesday game nights, Wednesday happy hours, Thursday all-hands lunches, and team excursions (yes, even waterfall hikes!) make the office feel welcoming and joyful. It’s a place where intellectual rigor and human connection coexist beautifully.

Why It Matters — For Me, and for the World

As an MBA student, this experience reinforced something I’ve come to believe deeply: the future will be built not just by technical innovation, but by the people and organizations who embed ethics, security, and thoughtfulness into that innovation from the start. Galois is doing that work — and doing it exceptionally well.

It’s inspiring to know that the same minds researching next-generation cryptographic systems and secure infrastructure are also the ones who make time to teach, support, and connect. I feel safer knowing Galois is helping to build our future — and I feel grateful to have played a small part in that mission this summer.