You know if you reflect back, you know to your younger self
 2
00:00:02.902 --> 00:00:05.472 and to your future self, what would you tell yourself?
 3
00:00:05.472 --> 00:00:08.208 Like, you know, this is you know, this is how to go through things.
 4
00:00:08.208 --> 00:00:10.844 I don't know if my younger self would have listened, honestly.
 5
00:00:10.844 --> 00:00:14.347 I mean, at this point right now, I think if my younger self could see me,
 6
00:00:15.015 --> 00:00:16.583 they'd be lost for words.
 7
00:00:16.583 --> 00:00:19.953 We were in a pretty dark place, and, you know, it's a long story short, but
 8
00:00:20.487 --> 00:00:24.557 I ended up going straight to, to work after high school because my father
 9
00:00:24.557 --> 00:00:28.728 at the time was disabled, and my mother, had just been incarcerated.
 10
00:00:28.762 --> 00:00:31.731 And you want to talk about depression and not having a direction?
 11
00:00:31.731 --> 00:00:33.500 That's exactly where I was.
 12
00:00:33.500 --> 00:00:34.567 I didn't know what was next.
 13
00:00:34.567 --> 00:00:37.537 And, I was really fearful of what was happening to my family.
 14
00:00:37.537 --> 00:00:39.205 But doors opened.
 15
00:00:39.205 --> 00:00:42.208 The community around me stepped up to support me.
 16
00:00:42.375 --> 00:00:43.576 And I did have a group of people
 17
00:00:43.576 --> 00:00:45.779 who believed in the things that I talked about.
 18
00:00:45.779 --> 00:00:47.580 And I think that's such an important element, right?
 19
00:00:47.580 --> 00:00:48.848 Like your dreams shouldn't
 20
00:00:48.848 --> 00:00:51.851 just be things that people laugh at and change the station on.
 21
00:00:51.851 --> 00:00:53.386 They should they should invest.
 22
00:00:53.386 --> 00:00:56.589 You know, when I said, hey, like, I see myself moving out of Philadelphia
 23
00:00:56.589 --> 00:00:57.924 one day, you know, people
 24
00:00:57.924 --> 00:01:01.261 that ask me, oh, where and what does, your first apartment look like?
 25
00:01:01.728 --> 00:01:05.632 These conversations really help promote the idea that it could happen.
 26
00:01:05.698 --> 00:01:06.533 And so,
 27
00:01:06.533 --> 00:01:10.603 navigating what was going on at home with my family having a big why, right?
 28
00:01:10.603 --> 00:01:14.007 The reason why I was working also helped propel me forward.
 29
00:01:14.174 --> 00:01:15.775 Because again, you got two outcomes, right?
 30
00:01:15.775 --> 00:01:17.977 Things stay the same or they change.
 31
00:01:17.977 --> 00:01:19.712 I needed things to change badly.
 32
00:01:19.712 --> 00:01:21.614 And I needed them to change for my entire family.
 33
00:01:21.614 --> 00:01:25.318 So I told you earlier, you know, you'll go through a bad day and bad days happen.
 34
00:01:25.318 --> 00:01:28.788 But I am a living testament to the idea
 35
00:01:28.788 --> 00:01:31.958 that what's coming is so much better than what's happening right now.
 36
00:01:32.325 --> 00:01:33.860 I can promise you that.
 

In the tech world, you don't necessarily need a college degree. Certifications are a more cost-effective way to build skills and break into tech. However, if you have C-suite aspirations, it may be a good idea to pursue a bachelor's degree and MBA. I recommend taking a moment to map out what exactly it is that you want. Build a vision board. Figure out what you want first and then map the route it takes to get there.

I went into the workforce after high school because my father was disabled and my mother was incarcerated. It was a dark time. I struggled with depression and lacked direction. My faith and the support of my community is what pushed me forward.

Each day, I design learning experiences and partner with Fortune 50–500 companies to help them build equitable, inclusive cultures. I research, develop curricula, and collaborate across teams to ensure our programs open doors for diverse talent.

Associate Director, Learning & Advisory Services

Adversity

Perseverance

Support & Encouragement

How I Persevered Through Adversity

Was it tough for you to, like, make that decision to say like college
 2
00:00:02.836 --> 00:00:03.770 wasn't for me?
 3
00:00:03.770 --> 00:00:05.005 Because I remember, like,
 4
00:00:05.005 --> 00:00:07.907 my last few years of high school, I was really, like, lacking,
 5
00:00:07.907 --> 00:00:10.410 like, the motivation and the confidence even go into college.
 6
00:00:10.410 --> 00:00:11.444 And then I kind of, like, felt
 7
00:00:11.444 --> 00:00:14.447 the pressure from, like, people outside and like, the friends around me,
 8
00:00:14.647 --> 00:00:16.649 like they're all getting accepted to colleges like Ronnie,
 9
00:00:16.649 --> 00:00:17.751 what's your next move?
 10
00:00:17.751 --> 00:00:20.920 So did you feel any pressures or, like, did you feel like when you made a decision
 11
00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:22.856 you didn't want to go to college no more? How are you feeling?
 12
00:00:22.856 --> 00:00:24.424 Yeah, my pressure was a little bit different.
 13
00:00:24.424 --> 00:00:27.360 I'm the first of my immediate family to graduate high school and go to college.
 14
00:00:27.360 --> 00:00:29.429 So I kind of felt like I was the one that made it.
 15
00:00:29.429 --> 00:00:32.165 So there was the weight of trying to be the person who could kind of,
 16
00:00:32.165 --> 00:00:35.235 you know, get to the finish line of, you know, going through high school,
 17
00:00:35.235 --> 00:00:37.437 graduating and then going to college and graduating.
 18
00:00:37.437 --> 00:00:39.873 But I had to realize that I'm on my own journey.
 19
00:00:39.873 --> 00:00:42.876 And navigating that was going to be what I needed to do.
 20
00:00:42.876 --> 00:00:45.011 And I couldn't worry about what everybody else thought about it.
 21
00:00:45.011 --> 00:00:47.080 I had to literally find myself, I had to go through
 22
00:00:47.080 --> 00:00:50.350 some really tough life challenges where unfortunately, I ended up
 23
00:00:50.950 --> 00:00:53.620 making poor choices, hanging around people I probably shouldn't,
 24
00:00:53.620 --> 00:00:57.323 and unfortunately landed myself incarcerated, for about a year.
 25
00:00:57.323 --> 00:00:59.726 So part of that journey to me ended up being that, you know,
 26
00:00:59.726 --> 00:01:01.428 I guess the young people say like, be lifing.
 27
00:01:01.428 --> 00:01:05.965 And like, I went through life challenges and it forced me, in a sense,
 28
00:01:05.965 --> 00:01:08.902 to have to really get focused on what did I want to do with myself.
 29
00:01:08.902 --> 00:01:10.537 What was important to me, what mattered.
 30
00:01:10.537 --> 00:01:13.840 And I just am super thankful that, you know, I was able to get connected
 31
00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:17.410 to an organization like Year Up United to really help me kind of chart that path.
 32
00:01:17.644 --> 00:01:19.979 And having, you know, a lot of people who supported
 33
00:01:19.979 --> 00:01:21.848 and cared about me along the journey to really help
 34
00:01:21.848 --> 00:01:23.583 that to me is the secret sauce.
 35
00:01:23.583 --> 00:01:25.785 You're going to want to do a lot of things you want to do,
 36
00:01:25.785 --> 00:01:28.855 but if you're not connected to people who've charted the path ahead of you
 37
00:01:28.855 --> 00:01:32.158 that you can tap into, who care about you will support you along a journey,
 38
00:01:32.759 --> 00:01:35.829 it's not impossible, but I feel like it's just a lot harder to do
 39
00:01:35.829 --> 00:01:37.063 if you don't have that.
 

While I was growing up, my mother battled addiction and I didn’t know my father, so my extended family stepped in to raise me, teaching me resilience and service.

I went to college straight out of high school but I wasn't quite ready for that level of responsibility at that age. I decided to leave college and then reinvest in my education later in life when I was ready.

I made some wrong choices and ended up incarcerated for about a year. It really made me reevaluate my life and focus in on a plan for my future.

I spend my days helping faculty solve their tech issues at MIT. Each day is different. One moment I’m walking an older faculty member through the basics, the next I’m guiding a young professional through complex systems. I love making people feel supported, helping them navigate fast-changing technology, and ensuring they leave our interactions more confident and capable.

IT Support Engineer

Education

Pressure

Charting My Own Educational Path

What like hardships or adversities,
 2
00:00:01.768 --> 00:00:04.771 like roadblocks did you face, like, getting to where you are?
 3
00:00:04.838 --> 00:00:07.741 As I started to become more successful in my career,
 4
00:00:07.741 --> 00:00:10.343 one of the things that I really struggled with that,
 5
00:00:10.343 --> 00:00:13.113 I now have a name for, which was imposter syndrome.
 6
00:00:13.113 --> 00:00:16.983 Any time I was sort of in a new, challenging environment,
 7
00:00:16.983 --> 00:00:21.087 I would have a voice in my head telling me that, I didn't belong there.
 8
00:00:21.221 --> 00:00:23.623 I wasn't smart enough. I hadn't done enough.
 9
00:00:23.623 --> 00:00:26.826 I hadn't achieved enough to earn a spot in that room.
 10
00:00:26.826 --> 00:00:31.826 So that underlying, like insecurity and that voice that I was an imposter
 11
00:00:32.032 --> 00:00:35.869 really lived in my head, for many, many years.
 12
00:00:35.869 --> 00:00:38.271 I actually had a manager one time.
 13
00:00:38.271 --> 00:00:39.739 He used to say,
 14
00:00:39.739 --> 00:00:43.143 you're the meanest person to you that you know because of that
 15
00:00:43.143 --> 00:00:47.147 internal voice and that self-talk about undermining my own
 16
00:00:48.281 --> 00:00:50.984 thoughts and undermining my own knowing.
 17
00:00:50.984 --> 00:00:53.987 And so it was a real journey to,
 18
00:00:54.254 --> 00:00:57.257 to get to the point where I got my mind right
 19
00:00:57.424 --> 00:01:00.927 and I could sort of release that sense of being an imposter.
 

2025 SXSW Conference
Interviewed in Austin, TX but works in Seattle, WA USA.

Each day is different—some mornings I’m deep in game design or planning new features, and other times I’m building partnerships or launching esports pilots with schools. I get to lead a team that brings learning to life through Minecraft, helping students stay curious and joyful. In my role, I’m surrounded by kind, heart-forward people who share a mission to make a real impact.

Head of Minecraft Education

You don't belong here. You're not smart enough and you haven't done enough.

Doubt

Dealing With Imposter Syndrome

What adversities or like roadblocks did you face getting to where you are now?
 2
00:00:04.204 --> 00:00:06.673 So I was born in Egypt.
 3
00:00:06.673 --> 00:00:09.676 To a middle class family that was all about education.
 4
00:00:09.943 --> 00:00:12.579 We weren't wealthy, but we were very well educated.
 5
00:00:12.579 --> 00:00:17.450 However, I was born into one where my parents didn't see value in having girls.
 6
00:00:18.284 --> 00:00:20.587 So I was, kind of left behind
 7
00:00:20.587 --> 00:00:24.124 by my mom and dad because I came out a female, and left
 8
00:00:24.124 --> 00:00:28.228 to kind of the family to take care of me while they went off and did their thing.
 9
00:00:28.528 --> 00:00:31.931 That's why I went into medical school, because I had this thing where
 10
00:00:32.465 --> 00:00:34.501 I was always sad as a kid.
 11
00:00:34.501 --> 00:00:37.070 And I wanted to help make people feel better.
 12
00:00:37.070 --> 00:00:38.171 Make kids feel better.
 13
00:00:38.171 --> 00:00:42.142 So I went into medical school wanting to be a pediatrician, wanting to
 14
00:00:42.642 --> 00:00:45.278 help kids, but then I went into medical school,
 15
00:00:45.278 --> 00:00:46.246 and I realized this.
 16
00:00:46.246 --> 00:00:50.717 It wasn't designed the way I would have wanted a health care system
 17
00:00:50.717 --> 00:00:51.651 to be designed.
 18
00:00:51.651 --> 00:00:55.588 And I was like, you know, I want to fix the system, not just be another doctor.
 19
00:00:55.655 --> 00:01:00.655 So I left medicine, and when I did, I come from a family of all doctors and stuff.
 20
00:01:01.428 --> 00:01:04.431 So my parents disowned me for, like, three years
 21
00:01:04.564 --> 00:01:09.035 because I left the career that all of my cousins are in and stuff like that.
 22
00:01:09.202 --> 00:01:12.806 And then I got married and my marriage didn't work out, and I had to,
 23
00:01:12.806 --> 00:01:15.141 like, escape the country and, come back.
 24
00:01:15.141 --> 00:01:19.345 So adversity has been a core thread in my whole life.
 25
00:01:19.345 --> 00:01:21.915 It's not been something that's, like, new to me.
 26
00:01:21.915 --> 00:01:25.485 But I think landing in this space of diversity, equity, inclusion
 27
00:01:25.985 --> 00:01:30.985 is rooted in my history of pain and trauma in my youth, because I
 28
00:01:31.724 --> 00:01:35.695 look at diversity, equity, inclusion as healing corporate consciousness.
 29
00:01:36.563 --> 00:01:41.534 You know, to help people feel valued and seen and heard, no matter who they are
 30
00:01:41.534 --> 00:01:46.039 and what they are and what walk of life they came from is probably rooted in,
 31
00:01:46.206 --> 00:01:50.610 my origin story of feeling like I didn't matter because I was a girl.
 32
00:01:52.245 --> 00:01:53.813 I love that you-
 33
00:01:53.813 --> 00:01:56.182 you're really just, like, turned everything around from that.
 34
00:01:56.182 --> 00:01:58.118 And I really love what you were saying about, like,
 35
00:01:58.118 --> 00:01:59.619 wanting to help the kids and stuff like that.
 36
00:01:59.619 --> 00:02:01.721 Like I want to, like, make people smile.
 37
00:02:01.721 --> 00:02:03.156 That's why I wanted to be the child psychiatrist
 38
00:02:03.156 --> 00:02:06.292 or orthodontist because, like, giving them that, like
 39
00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:10.263 happiness, like it's I don't know, there's so much like darkness
 40
00:02:10.263 --> 00:02:11.698 going on in the world and stuff like that.
 41
00:02:11.698 --> 00:02:13.867 It's why not be a light, you know?
 42
00:02:13.867 --> 00:02:15.502 Why not not be a light. Exactly.
 43
00:02:15.502 --> 00:02:20.373 And we need more people like you like that who are taking whatever their life story
 44
00:02:20.373 --> 00:02:24.477 is, and not thinking that your life story is who you are.
 45
00:02:24.477 --> 00:02:26.412 It's just the story you're living.
 46
00:02:26.412 --> 00:02:29.916 And then how do you transform that into giving and into light?
 47
00:02:30.049 --> 00:02:33.052 And so I'm happy that you're on this journey.
 48
00:02:33.086 --> 00:02:33.786 Thank you, earlier
 

2025 SXSW Conference
Interviewed in Austin, TX but works in Minneapolis, MN USA.
advanced-degree
career-change

Build your network. It's important to be a person of increase. When you meet someone, make sure they walk away with value from you. Don't just wait to network when you need something. The best way to make connections that will benefit you in the future is to make sure you're benefitting others and helping them too.

I was born in Egypt to a family that didn't see value in women. I was essentially left behind by my parents because I was born a girl. I was always sad as a child so I decided to pursue medical school so that I could help other children feel good.

Every day, I work to weave equity and inclusion into the fabric of our global company. I lead with heart, strategy, and urgency—whether I’m reviewing diversity metrics, shaping policy, or mentoring young talent. I collaborate with leaders to design inclusive systems and launch programs that open doors to education and careers. It’s about healing corporate culture so everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

Foundation President & Global Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer

You're not worthy because you're not a doctor anymore.

Family

Negativity

Adversity Has Been A Core Thread In My Journey

So how did you get a job in the States after you moved here?
 2
00:00:02.869 --> 00:00:03.937 That's a great question.
 3
00:00:03.937 --> 00:00:04.971 Not easily.
 4
00:00:04.971 --> 00:00:07.941 When you grow up in a country, right, and you go to school there, that's where
 5
00:00:07.941 --> 00:00:11.244 all your connections are, your contacts, the people who know you.
 6
00:00:11.544 --> 00:00:15.215 And I moved to the states in my 30s and I literally knew nobody here.
 7
00:00:15.382 --> 00:00:19.552 And I spent two years applying for jobs, and nobody would interview me.
 8
00:00:19.552 --> 00:00:22.122 I wouldn't it was like a black hole here just going in.
 9
00:00:22.122 --> 00:00:25.125 So then I started contacting people who knew me
 10
00:00:25.125 --> 00:00:29.162 from when I worked back in Egypt I was like, I can't get any jobs here.
 11
00:00:29.162 --> 00:00:32.966 I'm, I'm, I'm applying, but I'm not seeming to fit anybody's bill.
 12
00:00:32.966 --> 00:00:33.800 What do I do?
 13
00:00:33.800 --> 00:00:38.471 So a friend who, knew me from a job we worked on, I said,
 14
00:00:38.471 --> 00:00:42.275 look, when I put my stuff through the HR channels, nobody interviews me.
 15
00:00:42.275 --> 00:00:43.510 Can you just put my resume
 16
00:00:43.510 --> 00:00:46.780 in front of somebody and see if, like, they'll interview me?
 17
00:00:46.780 --> 00:00:50.483 So there was a leader at Kaiser Permanente who needed somebody to do product
 18
00:00:50.483 --> 00:00:51.885 recalls and stuff like that.
 19
00:00:51.885 --> 00:00:54.921 And that job was literally four levels below
 20
00:00:54.921 --> 00:00:59.192 where I came to the States from, like I was a direct report of a CEO.
 21
00:00:59.259 --> 00:01:02.429 But I took the interview and I said, you know, I'm new to this country.
 22
00:01:02.429 --> 00:01:05.265 I don't have my, you know, Rolodex of contacts here.
 23
00:01:05.265 --> 00:01:06.733 And I'm willing to prove myself.
 24
00:01:06.733 --> 00:01:09.736 And I took an insane pay cut, just to join.
 25
00:01:09.869 --> 00:01:13.239 And then within 2 or 3 years, I kind of got back on track.
 26
00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:17.844 What I would tell people when they're transitioning is don't hold on so tightly
 27
00:01:18.078 --> 00:01:22.649 to where you were and what you're owed and what your education would allow you
 28
00:01:22.649 --> 00:01:26.619 to because different contexts require different things.
 29
00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:30.390 And if you're the common denominator, you will always succeed.
 30
00:01:30.390 --> 00:01:35.228 So I took the same person I was who overcame other tribulations,
 31
00:01:35.228 --> 00:01:38.465 and I applied myself, and I did the things that I normally do.
 32
00:01:38.598 --> 00:01:40.733 And within five years I was back on track.
 33
00:01:40.733 --> 00:01:45.733 So, taking steps back to step forward is an okay thing to do is what I would say.
 34
00:01:46.940 --> 00:01:50.977 And don't let your ego get in the way of knowing your value
 35
00:01:50.977 --> 00:01:55.348 and your long term play versus short term things that you get stuck on
 36
00:01:55.348 --> 00:01:57.083 and therefore you just stay stuck.
 

Struggling To Get A Job As An Immigrant

You know, when it comes to work-based challenges, I'm analyzing,
 2
00:00:02.936 --> 00:00:06.239 what's the problem and how do I solve it, and how can we reorient?
 3
00:00:06.239 --> 00:00:09.542 And I think the thing that caused me to change
 4
00:00:09.542 --> 00:00:14.381 the most was actually stepping back after the first part of my career,
 5
00:00:14.381 --> 00:00:16.416 [it] was entrepreneurial, all in career,
 6
00:00:16.416 --> 00:00:18.818 and at the same time try to be the kind of like wife and mom.
 7
00:00:18.818 --> 00:00:21.454 Like that was a challenge, but, you know, felt like I had it down.
 8
00:00:21.454 --> 00:00:25.792 But a few health challenges came into play that caused me to also step back.
 9
00:00:25.792 --> 00:00:29.629 And at first I felt like a failure, like, why can't I do all of these things?
 10
00:00:29.629 --> 00:00:33.700 And then I realized that that actually opened all these new doors for me
 11
00:00:33.700 --> 00:00:37.337 once I reframed my thinking, and I ended up then being in the
 12
00:00:37.337 --> 00:00:41.641 higher ed sector for almost a decade. And then that actually led me into venture
 13
00:00:41.641 --> 00:00:45.378 philanthropy, and where then I got to work with a bunch of social entrepreneurs
 14
00:00:45.378 --> 00:00:47.447 who were solving big problems around the globe.
 15
00:00:47.447 --> 00:00:49.749 And so my first was like resistance and like,
 16
00:00:49.749 --> 00:00:51.818 oh, I just thought I couldn't figure this out.
 17
00:00:51.818 --> 00:00:55.755 And instead I got like more of everything because our family is,
 18
00:00:55.955 --> 00:00:57.057 you know, very close.
 19
00:00:57.057 --> 00:01:00.260 And I got to have these new experiences yet in other sectors
 20
00:01:00.260 --> 00:01:01.861 that I wasn't really planning on.
 21
00:01:01.861 --> 00:01:04.898 And then that combination actually led to where I am now.
 22
00:01:04.898 --> 00:01:09.369 What is something you wish you knew when you were my age?
 23
00:01:09.636 --> 00:01:12.539 I wish I appreciated there were a lot of people around me
 24
00:01:12.539 --> 00:01:16.709 that I could reach out to for help along the way, and a lot of times
 25
00:01:16.709 --> 00:01:19.779 you go through really challenging times and you're like, I got this.
 26
00:01:19.779 --> 00:01:20.747 I'm strong.
 27
00:01:20.747 --> 00:01:24.217 And the reality is it's hard to go through some tough things and go through them
 28
00:01:24.217 --> 00:01:26.319 what feels like alone, or maybe with a few people
 29
00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:27.720 because you don't want to burden them,
 30
00:01:27.720 --> 00:01:31.658 but that actually a lot of people are there for you if you just reach out.
 31
00:01:31.891 --> 00:01:34.727 And I think there's this idea of being perfect or having it
 32
00:01:34.727 --> 00:01:38.531 together or not wanting to bother or burden someone,
 33
00:01:38.531 --> 00:01:42.869 and in fact, that actually creates stronger relations when you do reach out.
 34
00:01:42.869 --> 00:01:45.905 And then people reach out to you for help, and then that creates that cycle.
 35
00:01:45.905 --> 00:01:48.408 And I think I could have done more of that when I was your age.
 36
00:01:48.408 --> 00:01:51.444 I'm very appreciative for all the support I've gotten, but I realize I might have
 37
00:01:51.611 --> 00:01:53.046 not recognized that early on.
 

2025 SXSW Conference
Interviewed in Austin, TX but works in Newton Centre, MA USA.
advanced-degree

Each day, I work with partners—from colleges to technologists—to remove barriers for students on their path from high school to career. I focus on digital innovation and systems change, but the most meaningful moments come when I see someone realize their own potential.

Overcoming Challenges

What's an example of an obstacle that you faced?
 2
00:00:02.102 --> 00:00:04.704 What steps did you take to address the problem?
 3
00:00:04.704 --> 00:00:07.774 And when do you decide to take calculated risks as an entrepreneur?
 4
00:00:08.141 --> 00:00:10.210 Okay, I'm gonna answer both of those questions.
 5
00:00:10.210 --> 00:00:12.412 The first one. We were on an upward turn.
 6
00:00:12.412 --> 00:00:17.412 I mean, we were growing as a company from 2012 through 2019,
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00:00:18.018 --> 00:00:21.221 you know, we're upward turned, growing and then Covid hit.
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00:00:21.454 --> 00:00:23.723 I have employees that are looking at me.
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00:00:23.723 --> 00:00:26.626 They have families that are looking at me and saying, hey, what are we going to do?
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00:00:26.626 --> 00:00:29.629 So what we did was we made a decision as a company
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00:00:29.662 --> 00:00:33.700 to make sure that we didn't fire anyone and we didn't let go anyone.
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00:00:33.900 --> 00:00:37.504 And I started going out there as people stayed at home.
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00:00:37.504 --> 00:00:41.007 I was still out there, and actually, construction was deemed essential
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00:00:41.007 --> 00:00:41.641 at the time.
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00:00:41.641 --> 00:00:45.712 Our volume and work actually cut in half, but we made sure I made sure
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00:00:45.712 --> 00:00:49.182 that I looked under every rock, called everybody that I needed to call
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00:00:49.349 --> 00:00:52.519 to make sure that, you know, we stayed viable during that time.
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00:00:52.519 --> 00:00:55.155 Did we make a profit? No, we didn't make a profit.
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00:00:55.155 --> 00:00:58.091 But I wanted to make sure that we worked to keep people employed.
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00:00:58.091 --> 00:00:59.325 As an entrepreneur,
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00:00:59.325 --> 00:01:01.895 these are all the things that I have to do and stay on top of.
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00:01:01.895 --> 00:01:04.030 So by nature I'm a risky type person, right?
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00:01:04.030 --> 00:01:04.964 I take risk, right.
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00:01:04.964 --> 00:01:08.068 So there's many opportunities out here that we come across every day.
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00:01:08.068 --> 00:01:11.771 When do I know to go after a bigger project than I ever done before?
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00:01:12.238 --> 00:01:15.542 That means okay, let me look at who I have in my wheelhouse
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00:01:15.542 --> 00:01:16.576 or who have in my office.
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00:01:16.576 --> 00:01:20.513 And if people have certain, background and experience that they've done work on
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00:01:20.513 --> 00:01:24.017 before that relates to that project, I utilize them.
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00:01:24.117 --> 00:01:26.686 And I make sure that we have a fair chance to win the project.
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00:01:26.686 --> 00:01:30.190 So I like to go after projects that are probably 80% winnable.
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00:01:30.290 --> 00:01:31.024 That's the most part.
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00:01:31.024 --> 00:01:35.361 I mean, sometimes I want to make sure that the owner recognizes that, hey,
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00:01:35.728 --> 00:01:37.297 I'm interested in your work.
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00:01:37.297 --> 00:01:38.731 So that's becomes the calculation
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00:01:38.731 --> 00:01:41.901 in my mind to say, okay, maybe I know I'm not going to win this first one,
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00:01:42.102 --> 00:01:45.238 but I know that this owner is going to see my name and recognize that
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00:01:45.271 --> 00:01:46.539 I want to work for them.
 

Every day, I tackle construction challenges as the founder and CEO of Corenic Construction Group. From building schools and office spaces to renovating major landmarks like the M&T Bank Stadium, my role is all about problem-solving and turning clients’ dreams into reality. I lead projects from start to finish, coordinating design and construction while also giving back to the communities we build in through food banks, school drives, and local nonprofit support.

President & CEO

Risk

Overcoming Obstacles As A Business Owner

I often find myself, in the tech field, feeling imposter syndrome
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00:00:04.504 --> 00:00:09.342 since I'm barely starting out and I feel like I have a lot yet to learn.
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00:00:09.509 --> 00:00:13.079 What advice would you give me in order to kind of
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00:00:13.079 --> 00:00:16.082 get rid of that feeling?
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00:00:16.249 --> 00:00:19.452 The advice I would give you is toughen up.
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00:00:21.254 --> 00:00:21.554 Okay.
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00:00:21.554 --> 00:00:23.390 Step out of your comfort zone.
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00:00:23.390 --> 00:00:25.458 That's the part we know you don't know anything.
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00:00:25.458 --> 00:00:27.727 And when I say we, I mean the professionals
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00:00:27.727 --> 00:00:29.496 in every industry, we get it.
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00:00:29.496 --> 00:00:32.665 And certain things you're not going to learn until after a certain point in time.
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00:00:33.299 --> 00:00:37.203 But go to these conferences, try to find more people and not just everybody.
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00:00:37.203 --> 00:00:37.771 Don't go shake
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00:00:37.771 --> 00:00:41.274 everybody's hand, because that's probably one of the worst things you can do,
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00:00:41.708 --> 00:00:43.777 because for one, you don't know who you're talking to.
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00:00:43.777 --> 00:00:45.211 Two, they may not know anything.
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00:00:45.211 --> 00:00:48.515 So for you specifically, there is a group called Women in Cyber.
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00:00:48.548 --> 00:00:50.650 You can find them on LinkedIn.
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00:00:50.650 --> 00:00:52.952 And there's also a group called Latinas in Cyber.
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00:00:52.952 --> 00:00:54.287 So you don't have to feel alone.
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00:00:54.287 --> 00:00:55.755 There are different groups
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00:00:55.755 --> 00:00:58.458 throughout every industry that will help you along your way.
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00:00:58.458 --> 00:01:00.160 But know your pattern.
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00:01:00.160 --> 00:01:03.163 Take the right things personally and finish what you start.
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00:01:03.263 --> 00:01:06.399 You have to know your pattern when you start feeling a certain way.
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00:01:06.933 --> 00:01:08.334 Why am I this way?
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00:01:08.334 --> 00:01:10.403 Are you afraid or you just don't know what's ahead of you?
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00:01:10.403 --> 00:01:11.538 It's two different things.
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00:01:11.538 --> 00:01:13.973 So my advice to you is toughen up.
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00:01:13.973 --> 00:01:15.642 Go to these conferences.
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00:01:15.642 --> 00:01:16.910 Know what you want to do
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00:01:17.911 --> 00:01:18.912 and do it.
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00:01:18.912 --> 00:01:21.214 There's no right or wrong at that point.
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00:01:21.214 --> 00:01:25.118 But once you figure out this is exactly what I want to do, this is perfect.
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00:01:25.485 --> 00:01:27.387 Then these people will start to show their self.
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00:01:27.387 --> 00:01:28.421 You start to recognize them.
 

2024 PGCO Roadtrip
advanced-degree
veteran
army

I help safeguard one of humanity’s greatest scientific tools—the Hubble Space Telescope. My job requires precision, collaboration, and adaptability. I work alongside experts who’ve dedicated decades to Hubble’s mission, ensuring its continued success. We analyze potential issues, follow strict protocols, and problem-solve in real time. There's no room for error—our work protects a telescope that has reshaped our understanding of the universe.

Adversity

How I Persevered Through Adversity

How I Persevered Through Adversity

Michael Baldwin Jr.

641 videos on Adversity: