Blog

Hometown

San Francisco Bay Area

What did you do prior to Tuck?

I was a software engineer and development team lead at Workday.

What made you want to be part of the CDS fellows program? What is the best part about being involved with the center so far?

I wanted to be around other people with as keen an interest in how rapid change in technology could impact firms’ strategies moving forward. I enjoyed the conversations I had in the Associates program and was looking for deeper, more focused conversations about topics in tech. I also found the idea of doing a proper research paper intriguing as it would pose an interesting challenge.

What other activities are you involved in at Tuck?

Consulting Club, Career Mentor, Leadership Fellow, Tuck Community Consulting, Cheesemongers Club.

What has been the biggest growth moment at Tuck, where you stepped out of your comfort zone? What did you learn from that experience?

The First-Year Project (FYP). Although I’d gone through the consulting recruiting process and had signed a job offer, I’d never worked on a real consulting case before. The FYP was a great opportunity to work on a real business case and practice skills that hadn’t been necessary in my prior career as a software engineer. Going through that process with cooperative teammates and our instructor’s guidance helped me get what I wanted out of the project: a taste of my future career and a confirmation that I’d made the right choice.

What CDS opportunities or experiences have you learned the most from your time at Tuck so far?

“Digital Drop-Ins” are always interesting. Despite having worked in the software industry for many years, I found great value in listening to experienced people in all kinds of roles in the tech space talk about their work, their professional journey, and their current thinking about what’s ahead. I always come out of these with an appreciation for the variety of past CDS fellows and Tuck alumni we’ve gotten to listen to.

What class at Tuck pushed your thinking the most?

It’s a tough call, but I’ll go with Professor Teresa Fort’s research-to-practice seminar The Global Structure and Conduct of Firms. Every week, we analyze academic literature and discuss its ramifications and application in real-world business decisions. It’s a fascinating class helped by its small size and enthusiastic instructor. The readings are dense and highly scholarly, but the level of learning is just as intense.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy listening to music, learning languages, and trying new restaurants.

What advice do you have for Tuck students interested in tech- and digitally-focused career pathways?

Staying up to date on tech trends takes real effort as things are changing so rapidly. And remember that no matter what career you end up targeting, you’ll have to wrestle with the same issues at work as we do in CDS discussions. Whatever role you enter, you’ll need to have an understanding of these topics. Whether it’s CDS or your classes, complete assigned readings faithfully and push yourself to participate in discussions. You’ll get so much more out of Tuck that way. I know I have.