At Improve Your Tomorrow, a non-profit committed to increasing the number of young men of color to attend and graduate from colleges and universities, I began my journey as a mentor and grew into the role of a Salesforce Administrator/Developer. This experience gave me a dual perspective on the critical roles both direct mentorship and efficient data management play in non-profit success.As a mentor, my responsibilities:Providing academic and personal guidance to a diverse cohort of students, empowering them to realize their potential and aspire towards higher education. This role honed my interpersonal skills, empathy, and cultural competence.Implementing learning strategies to enhance students' academic performance and self-confidence. This gave me the opportunity to combine creativity with pedagogical knowledge to make a positive impact.Liaising between students, families, and school staff, facilitating open communication to support student success. This experience enhanced my communication and diplomacy skills.As I transitioned into the role of Salesforce Administrator/Developer, my tasks shifted towards:Managing the Salesforce CRM platform, ensuring optimal performance and efficient use of resources. This responsibility required a keen eye for detail and strong organizational skills.Developing and implementing customized Salesforce solutions, based on the organization's needs. This gave me hands-on experience in Salesforce development, improving my problem-solving and technical abilities.Training staff on Salesforce usage, helping to increase user adoption and improve data management practices. This allowed me to use my interpersonal and teaching skills in a technical context.Collaborating with various teams to understand their needs and deliver effective CRM solutions. This experience reinforced the importance of effective cross-functional communication in a technology-driven role.

In collaboration with Osram Opto Semiconductors, a global leader in optical semiconductors, I served as the Co-Team Leader for our Senior Design Project at my university. Leading a group of seven dedicated students, we tackled the complex challenge of diffusing heat away from LEDs designed for use in Lidar technology, a critical component for advancing autonomous vehicles, robotics, and other advanced technologies.My responsibilities and accomplishments included:Co-leading a team of seven to meet project objectives, fostering a collaborative environment that encouraged innovative thinking. This experience honed my leadership and project management skills.Conducting extensive simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics to explore various heat diffusion solutions for the end product. These simulations improved my proficiency in COMSOL and deepened my understanding of thermodynamics and heat transfer principles.Creating and executing an effective project plan, including timeframes, resources, and milestones. This exercise sharpened my organizational skills and understanding of project management principles.Presenting our team's progress and results to stakeholders, both from our university and Osram Opto Semiconductors. This allowed me to refine my communication and presentation skills, particularly in explaining technical concepts to diverse audiences.Delivering a final design that met the project specifications and effectively diffused heat away from LEDs, contributing to the improvement of Lidar technology.

As a Warehouse and Field Assistant at Alcal Specialty Contracting, Inc., one of the largest independent insulation contractors in the western United States, I had a transformative summer immersing myself in the dynamic environment of contracting and warehouse operations.Main responsibilities:Learning the intricacies of warehouse operations, from inventory management to supply chain logistics. This practical experience provided me with a broad understanding of the operational and logistical elements that are integral to the construction and contracting industry.Assisting in the field, which offered a practical understanding of Alcal's services, including insulation installation, roofing, and waterproofing. This allowed me to see firsthand how our warehouse operations directly contributed to our field services, reinforcing the importance of logistical accuracy and efficiency.Participating in routine warehouse tasks such as organizing inventory, maintaining equipment, and preparing orders for shipment. These responsibilities sharpened my attention to detail, organizational skills, and efficiency.Collaborating closely with the warehouse and field teams, learning to communicate effectively and operate within a fast-paced, results-oriented environment. This collaboration helped improve my team working skills, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities.

At The California Endowment, a leading private health foundation, I spent the summer diving deep into a wide range of health-related topics to help drive evidence-based changes and improvements in community health. Working as part of a dynamic, interdisciplinary team, I conducted research, synthesizing information from diverse sources to create comprehensive research reports and actionable recommendations.Main responsibilities:Conducting in-depth research across various health-focused topics, including health equity, community engagement, systemic disparities, and innovative health solutions. This research helped to inform the Endowment's strategic direction and program development.Authoring detailed research reports that communicated the results of my investigations in clear, engaging prose. These reports were used by the Endowment's leadership team to make informed decisions on health funding and policy recommendations.Presenting my research findings to a variety of audiences. I developed and honed my public speaking skills, effectively delivering compelling presentations that captured the attention of both internal stakeholders and external partners.Participating actively in regular team meetings, collaborating closely with my direct reports to stay aligned with the Endowment's mission and current projects. My ability to communicate and work effectively within a team was instrumental in ensuring our research efforts were synchronized and goal-oriented.