Mentors

Dan Baird

Prashant has over 13 years of Sales experience across Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. He is an extraordinary balance between high aspiration, strategic vision and a down-to-earth management style. He is a technology forward executive who is always grounded in value for customer and ROI. He was instrumental in formulating multiple large deals, leading cross-cultural teams and managing relationships with clients across geographies. He is an official member of Forbes Business Development Council and panel member to the Digital Communications Working Group of the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s Future Tech Panel. In addition, he works with some niche start-ups for global strategy.

Areas of mentorship: Sales, new product development, Internships

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/enablingenterprises

Tyler Burch

Sr. WW GenAI Category Manager, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Tyler is a seasoned business leader with over a decade of experience building and scaling strategic partnerships across startups and large technology companies. He has built and led international teams responsible for global go-to-market and partnerships. In his current role at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Tyler leads worldwide go-to-market, partnerships and strategy for Generative AI partners across the infrastructure stack: Foundational Models, Training & Inference, and Agent-powered Applications. His experience spans business development, partnerships and cross-functional management with engineering, product, finance, and corporate development teams.

Areas of mentorship: Career Navigation: how to transition from school to professional world, exploring different career paths, and stand out in interviews. Professional Skills: leadership presence, building strong professional networks, effective communications. Innovation: how to think like a builder, validate ideas, and work in a fast paced environment.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tylerlburch/

Arnav Chatterjee

Principal Tech Product Manager, Amazon

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/arnavchatterjee

Satyabrat Chowdhury

Founding Member and Field CTO, CoreStack

As the Field CTO at CoreStack, Satya leads the strategic direction and development roadmap for our multi-cloud governance platform, designed to enable enterprises to achieve efficient cloud governance at scale. With over 23 years of expertise in product development, engineering management, and solution architecture, Satya brings a unique perspective garnered from collaborating with both early-stage startups and established enterprises across diverse industry sectors.Satya is also a Member of Forbes Technology Council that which is an elite group of individuals providing perspectives on the latest technology trends.

Areas of mentorship: How you build a career in tech industry

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/satyachowdhury

Daisy Chu

Financial Analyst, Boeing

Daisy is a finance and accounting professional with over five years of experience across public accounting and the aerospace and defense industry. She began her career at an accounting firm. For the past four years, Daisy has worked at Boeing, where she has supported NASA Space Launch System (SLS) through Financial Planning and Controls (FP&C); contributing to enterprise-wide Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), and managing contract finance for initiatives in partnership with the United States Air Force.

Most recently, Daisy rejoined Boeing’s Finance team as part of the Center of Excellence (COE), where she supports enterprise IT efforts and delivers strategic financial insights to drive business performance.

Daisy is passionate about aligning financial strategies with operational goals, optimizing processes, and supporting mission-driven programs through sound financial stewardship.

Areas of mentorship: Financial planning & analysis (FP&A), Navigating large, matrixed organizations, Working with government finance and compliance, Building strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, Transitioning from academics to corporate environments in finance, Career planning and goal setting in finance and business

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daisy.l.chu

Philip Drammeh

Principal Group Technical Program Manager, Microsoft

I’m a technology leader at Microsoft with over 20 years of experience in telecom, engineering, and program management. As a mentor, I enjoy helping students and young professionals discover their strengths, navigate challenges, and build confidence in their career paths. My approach is supportive and practical—I like to share real-world lessons, open doors to opportunities, and encourage continuous growth.

Areas of mentorship: Program & Project Management, AI use cases that brings business value, Service Operations and Quality Improvements.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/philipdrammeh/

Vijay Duraiswamy

Principal Technical Program Manager, Target

As a Principal TPM – Enterprise Architecture at Target, I lead and influence cross-pyramid tech initiatives to set up the company for long-term success. With 15+ years of experience in software development and management, I have a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions that drive business growth and efficiency.

I hold an MS in Information Systems from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor of Engineering from Anna University. I am also certified as an Information Systems Security Professional, by the Committee of National Security Systems and a User Experience designer from Cornell University. My skills include conjoint analysis, machine learning, and microservices. I am passionate about leveraging technology to solve complex problems and create value for my organization and stakeholders.

Areas of mentorship: Professional and personal development, technology management and communication with senior leadership.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vijaydj/

Amber Gschwend

Director, GDS Associates

Amber Gschwend is a seasoned professional at GDS, specializing in economic and financial studies for regulated utilities. She brings deep expertise in cost of service analysis, electric rate design, wholesale rate setting, and power supply cost evaluation. Her work supports utilities in navigating complex regulatory environments and optimizing financial strategies.

Amber’s background includes econometrics, data analysis, energy efficiency and demand response evaluations, electric and natural gas usage forecasts, integrated resource planning, community choice aggregation, renewable energy, and financial evaluations.

I enjoy working with clients to implement new rates and strategies that balance community priorities while reflecting system costs. I also enjoy mentoring new analysts and sharing my experience and knowledge of the industry, working with others, and developing gold standard analyses. In my free time I love creating beautiful things and camping with my family.

As a senior consultant I have experience in interviewing potential candidates and reviewing resumes as well as building and writing technical proposals. I have given hundreds of presentations to decision makers. I have also worked as a writing assistant at both of my universities and authored hundreds of technical reports during my career.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amber-gschwend-88619957/

David Huford

GM, Communications, Microsoft (retired); consulting, coaching, and mentoring

With more than 28 years at Microsoft in marketing and communications, I led teams responsible for everything from launching the original Xbox to ushering Microsoft into age of AI. Prior to my retirement from Microsoft in June, 2024, I led an 84-person Communications team and mentored and sponsored earlier-in-career employees across the company, Now, I consult and coach with Microsoft leaders and students at Chico State, where I also serve on the Board of Governors overseeing the university’s endowment. I believe strongly in mentoring. If it weren’t for my fantastic managers and mentors, I wouldn’t have achieved my success–and overcome big challenges–at Microsoft. Microsoft taught me the importance of modelling, coaching, and caring for people–and I love helping hungry students eager to make a difference.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidehufford/

Albert Jalso

Managing Principal, SkyRiver Advisors

Albert is CEO of SkyRiver Advisors, a financial services firm that specializes in CPA and CFO services for families and small businesses.

Prior to SkyRiver, Albert was Head of US Fixed Income Portfolio Management for Russell Investments over 2022-2025. In this position Albert oversaw the management of $25+ billion in fixed income funds and separate account mandates for institutions and high net worth retail clients. Albert’s tenure with Russell Investments included 5 years in London managing the firm’s $4+ billion global bond platform.

In his spare time Albert supports his community by leading free work out groups and raising money for charity with F3 Puget Sound. Albert has held various leadership roles within F3 Puget Sound, including social chairman and treasurer.

Albert’s experience includes serving as a volunteer business and education advisor for the US Peace Corps in Hungary. In this capacity Albert worked with micro entrepreneurs on marketing and business development. He also designed business curricula and taught courses at the Andrássy György Economic Secondary School and Eszterházy Károly University.

Albert has a Masters in Public Management & Policy from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelors in Finance from Duquesne University. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Areas of mentorship: Finance / Asset management

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jalso

Kavita Kamani

Partner Group Product Manager, Microsoft

I lead the Copilot Platform Product team at Microsoft. My team delivers the platform for training, inferencing, evaluation and analytics, and Responsible AI. Prior to this, I worked on .NET Developer Platform, Supply Chain platform that powered Surface/XBox and the Azure Datacenter Hardware, and productivity experiences in Lync/Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams. Outside of work, I am a certified coach, enjoy spending time with my family, and pursuing outdoor adventures.

Areas of mentorship: Product Management, Leadership, AI

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kavitak

Josh Karch

IT Manager, Ten Gun Design

My name’s Josh and I’m an IT leader who is passionate about providing people with technology support through empathetic customer-focused interactions. I have a dynamic background in IT leadership, Security Program Management, System Administration, and Agile Project Management. I love to coach, mentor, and help others grow their careers! My specialty is IT leadership which includes Security Program Management, Project Management, and System Administration. Though my background is technical, what I’m most passionate about is the emphasis on social intelligence and empathy as an IT professional. These are skills that are often under-appreciated and personally, are most important to me as an IT leader.

Areas of mentorship: how to lead with empathy, compassion, and how to pair social intelligence with technical knowledge

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joshkarch

Jaspreet Kaur

Senior Cloud Security PM, Microsoft

Jaspreet Kaur is a Program Management professional with over 12 years of experience across technical and analytical domain. I started my career in 2009 with Morgan Stanley in Mumbai (India), supporting Analytics programs for launching investment banking products. Relocated to Seattle in early 2014 and worked for Microsoft in consulting role driving Social Intelligence programs. Then spent over 5 years with Amazon in the role of a Technical Program Manager to drive feature launches for Alexa Skills Security & Monitoring platform. In Aug 2021, I joined Microsoft as Senior Cloud Security Program Manager in the Microsoft’s Digital security division. My charter at Microsoft is focused on enabling Microsoft to build the most trusted products and services, while keeping our company safe and our data protected. I have been volunteering as a Tech Resilience Mentor through Microsoft and also an advisor with builtbygirls – mentoring college grads who are looking for guidance on navigating through career possibilities and develop coveted skills. I love to dedicate my time in promoting Diversity & Inclusion at workplace. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors with family. I love to cook and practice yoga.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jaspreet-kaur-7a1a4512/

Mohsin Khan

Staff Software Engineer, SAP Concur

I am a Software Engineer and Data Science Fellow with over 15 years of experience building scalable, high-impact solutions across cloud, platform, security, and data engineering domains. Currently, I lead machine learning and data science initiatives at SAP Concur, and have previously contributed to organizations like Thomson Reuters, CDK Global, and Syntel.

My work focuses on designing and operationalizing distributed systems, cloud-native services, and event-driven architectures. I work extensively with technologies like Java, Python, Scala, Go, AWS, Kubernetes, Kafka, and Spark, and have led projects involving cloud migrations, IAM frameworks, and ML pipelines for analytics and cybersecurity.

Recently, I’ve been applying Generative AI techniques—building LLM-powered bots using LangChain and Google Gemini—to automate cybersecurity data analysis and support compliance efforts.

I bring cross-domain experience across financial services, automotive, insurance, procurement, PLM, and travel & expense management. I’m passionate about mentoring, participating in hackathons, reviewing technical books for Manning Publications, and writing about technology on Medium.

I’m excited to be part of the Mentorship EDGE program and look forward to connecting with students interested in tech, cloud, AI, and data science.

Areas of expertise: Software engineering foundations — from object-oriented design to distributed systems, Cloud-native development — AWS, Kubernetes, and building scalable architectures, Data engineering & ML pipelines — using Spark, Python, and real-world data workflows, Generative AI & LLM applications — building practical tools with LangChain, Gemini, etc.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/moe-k-621803120/

Ash Koppal

Payments Partnerships Manager, Airbnb

Ash Koppal brings 14 years of experience in the technology industry, spanning marketing, sales, business operations, and partnerships. During her MBA at the University of Washington, she founded the PNW MBA Conference, which remains a core part of the student experience to this day. Ash currently leads Payouts Partnerships Enablement at Airbnb and is expanding into the field of children’s education through the acquisition of Best Brains Redmond, located on Avondale Road.

Areas of mentorship: Career growth and transitions in tech, Building leadership presence and cross-functional influence, Entrepreneurship and community impact, Balancing career and personal life, Business operations, partnerships and marketing operations

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashkoppal/

Dhiresh Kumar

Senior Vice President, Tech and Media Publish & Entertainment Business, Tech Mahindra, Ltd

Areas of mentorship: Business Development, Sales in IT Services Industry, Technology Alliances & partnership

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dhireshkumar/

George Lampe

Director, Accounting, T-Mobile

George is a CPA with 15 years experience working in public accounting and industry. He currently leads a revenue accounting team at T-Mobile where he oversees compliance with revenue recognition accounting standards and drives new product and technology transformation initiatives. Outside of work he enjoys travel, sports, fitness, and engaging with the community. George currently serves on the advisory board of the UWB School of Business.

Areas of mentorship: Careers in accounting, Managing yourself, Strategic thinking, Emotional intelligence, Leading teams

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/glampe

Michael McIntyre

Vice President, Chinook Capital Advisors

Michael joined Chinook Capital Advisors in 2018. As a lifelong Pacific Northwesterner, he is passionate to understand the needs and challenges regional business owners face in transitioning to the next phase of their lives. He contributes to the team by performing financial and data analysis, preparing informational marketing materials, supporting diligence efforts, and assisting with closing activities. Since 2020, Michael has been an active member of Vistage International. Michael graduated cum laude from Gonzaga University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with concentrations in Finance and International Business. During his time at Gonzaga, Michael completed internships with Northwest Farm Credit Services, a farm cooperative lender, and Kaspien, an eCommerce startup. Michael competed in the CFA Institute Research Challenge, where the Gonzaga team placed second place regionally. He studied abroad at Queen Mary University of London for a semester.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mmcintyre2/

Annelise Muhr

Business Development Coordinator, The Intellekt Group

Annelise Muhr is a Business Development Coordinator with experience in federal contracting, innovation project management, and business development. She began her career at Media Monks (formerly Jam3) during her senior year at the University of Washington Bothell, creating a new role for herself while completing her degree in Business with a concentration in Technology & Innovation. There, she worked with Fortune 500 clients on Web3 and interactive advertising projects before transitioning into federal contracting, where she now manages government opportunities, supports winning proposals, and drives competitive capture. Annelise holds a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) credential and has mentored students at UWB Hacks.

Areas of mentorship: Creating your own opportunities and career path, Building confidence and credibility early in your career, Turning your strengths and curiosities into strategic assets, Thriving in fast-changing environments and small companies, Careers in federal contracting and advertising; pivoting across industries

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annelise-muhr

Xavier Nieves

Senior Flight Control Engineer, Boeing

Xavier Nieves is a Senior Flight Controls Systems Engineer at Boeing with over a decade of experience advancing flight-critical avionics, certification, and test integration across Boeing, Blue Origin, and Eviation Aircraft. A University of Washington alumnus with a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering (Aeronautics & Astronautics) and an MBA candidate at the Foster School of Business, he bridges technical innovation and strategic leadership. Recognized for his FAA/EASA certification expertise and systems thinking, Xavier mentors emerging engineers and business leaders, focusing on aviation safety, technology integration, and global collaboration to shape the future of aerospace.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/xavier-nieves-70916575/

Riley Ovall

Alumni and Stakeholder Events Manager, University of Washington

Riley (she/her) is the Alumni and Stakeholder Events Manager at UW Bothell, where she leads high-impact alumni engagement events including the Husky 5K, Block Party and Homecoming Tailgate. With more than eight years of experience in social media and branding, Riley specializes in building meaningful connections through storytelling, strategy and community-focused experiences.

Beyond her work at UW Bothell, Riley is a public speaker and fitness coach who brings energy and authenticity to every stage, whether she is leading an event, guiding clients or coaching runners. A passionate half-marathoner and dog mom to her mini Aussie, Junie B, she believes in the power of discipline, creativity and balance to fuel both personal and professional success.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rileyovall/

Allison Pan

Director of Professional Services, Stackline

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/allison-pan-693964119/

Shrustishree S

Sr Technical Product Owner, T-Mobile

Shrutishree is a UW alumna with a Master’s in Computer Science, specializing in Product Management, AI, and Cloud solutions. She combines strong technical expertise with strategic thinking to drive innovation and deliver impactful business outcomes. Passionate about bridging technology and customer needs, she focuses on building products that create real value in today’s digital landscape.

Areas of mentorship: Product Management fundamentals and best practices, AI and Cloud technologies and their real-world applications, Bridging technical expertise with business strategy, Resume review and interview preparation, Career pathways to technical roles, Supporting women in technology and promoting inclusivity

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shrustishree/

David Shadmi

Principal Technical Program Manager, New Relic

For over two decades, I’ve had a rewarding career in tech, holding leadership roles in engineering, product, and program management. I’ve had the opportunity to lead large-scale projects at companies like Amazon, AT&T, and New Relic, and also to experience the startup world firsthand as a co-founder at iNFOCell. Outside of work, my world revolves around my wife and three daughters, and when I get a free moment, you can find me reading, practicing Taekwondo, or tinkering with new projects. I’m excited to leverage my diverse experience to help others navigate their own career paths.

My specialty is at the intersection of engineering, product, and program leadership. I’m excited to mentor students on how these three disciplines must work together to succeed.

Areas of mentorship: Career Navigation: How to identify and transition between technical leadership roles and how to navigate your career in the age of AI. Cross-Functional Leadership: How to effectively lead and influence teams across different functions, from engineering and design to marketing and sales. Strategic Planning: The process of defining a product vision, setting clear goals, and creating a roadmap that aligns with business objectives. Problem-Solving: Developing the skills to break down complex challenges and approach them from engineering, product, and program perspectives. Effective Communication: Learning to translate technical concepts to both engineering teams and non-technical stakeholders, a critical skill for any leader.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidshadmi/

Dushyant Sharma

Sr Technical Product Manager, T-Mobile

Dushyant Sharma is a results-driven telecom professional with close to two decades of experience in wireless communications, product management, and customer success. He has a strong track record of turning complex customer needs into tailored solutions that drive growth and strengthen partnerships. Known for his strategic mindset and hands-on leadership, Dushyant brings deep expertise in Telecommunications business. Passionate about mentoring, he enjoys helping others grow their careers by sharing real-world insights from both the technical and business sides of telecom.

My specialty lies in bridging technology and business—translating complex technical capabilities into solutions that deliver measurable value for customers. With 19+ years in telecommunications, I’ve worked across product management, pre-sales, and customer success, helping clients adopt wireless, RF, and network technologies that drive business outcomes.

Areas of mentorship: solution design, customer engagement, technical storytelling, and strategic thinking. I also enjoy guiding others on how to build influence, communicate with impact, and develop a growth mindset that supports long-term career success.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dushyantvedsharma

Katie Stiles

Chief Financial Officer, Instinct Science, LLC

Katie Stiles is a seasoned finance and operations executive with over 15 years of leadership experience helping organizations build strong financial foundations, streamline operations, and scale for growth. She currently serves as Chief Financial Officer at Instinct Science, where she oversees finance and strategy for a rapidly growing technology company in the veterinary space. In addition, she is the founder of Top Cat Consulting, advising businesses on financial systems, process improvements, and operational best practices.

Throughout her career, Katie has held senior finance and operations roles across industries, including technology, consulting, and retail, guiding companies through growth, acquisitions, and operational transformation. Known for her expertise in financial strategy, systems implementation, and building high-performing teams, she is equally passionate about mentoring and empowering others in their careers. Katie brings a collaborative, approachable leadership style and is excited to support Foster students as they explore career paths, develop their skills, and grow into the next generation of business leaders.

My specialty lies at the intersection of finance, accounting, and operations, with a focus on building strong financial systems and scalable processes that enable companies to grow effectively. Over the course of my career, I have led organizations through budgeting, forecasting, revenue recognition, and strategic financial planning, while also implementing systems and best practices that improve both efficiency and profitability.

Areas of mentorship: Financial strategy and decision-making – understanding how numbers tell the story of a business. Budgeting and forecasting – building practical, actionable financial plans. Operational excellence – creating processes and systems that help businesses scale. Leadership and career development – growing as a leader, building confidence, and navigating career transitions. Broader professional skills such as effective communication, problem-solving, and cultivating resilience in dynamic business environments.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katiestiles/

Dinesh Thangaraju

Head of AWS Data Platform, Amazon Web Services

With a career spanning global leadership in data engineering and cloud platforms, I currently lead transformative initiatives as Head of AWS Data Platform. My focus is building scalable, secure data solutions that empower hundreds of Amazon teams worldwide, with a strong emphasis on operational excellence, compliance, and business agility. My journey has taken me from hands-on engineering roles to executive strategy, giving me insight into the complete career spectrum within the tech industry—from entry-level contributors to seasoned architects and leaders.

Areas of mentorship: Data engineering and cloud platforms (AWS, data lakes, analytics), Building and scaling high-performance teams, Data governance, compliance, and security, Project management and cross-functional leadership, Career growth in technology: moving from contributor to leader, Enterprise impact measurement and business value alignment

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dthangar/

Kathiravan Thangavelu

Principal Cloud Solution Architect, Microsoft

Kathiravan (Kathir) is a Principal Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, where he leads the app modernization, AI, CoPilot and cloud native initiatives for large enterprise customers. He has recently completed his MBA (Leadership) at the University of Washington, aiming to enhance his business acumen and leadership skills.

With over 22 years of IT industry experience, Kathir has a deep hands-on expertise in Microsoft Azure (PaaS/IaaS), Azure Open AI and Azure AI Services. He is passionate about solving complex business problems with innovative and scalable cloud and AI technologies.

Areas of mentorship: Azure, AI, Cloud, Leadership, Volunteering

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kathiravanthangavelu/

Karthikeyan Thirumalaisamy

Principal Software Engineer, Microsoft Corporation

Karthikeyan Thirumalaisamy is a Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft. He has 18 years of experience in designing and delivering large-scale, secure, and innovative software systems. Over the last 10 years, he led the architecture and implementation of Microsoft’s secure software supply chain platform, which is used to protect Microsoft products across Azure, Office and Windows. His areas of expertise includes cloud computing, cybersecurity, AI-based innovations and creating mission-ready systems focusing on scalability and resiliency.

In addition to his technical accomplishments, Karthikeyan is passionate about mentorship and sharing knowledge with people. He has also published number of research papers in cloud-native security, confidential computing, and AI use cases in cybersecurity. He has been working on innovating container security with Generative AI to proactively detect risk/vulnerabilities and enhance resiliency of systems even while threatened.

Karthikeyan is committed to empowering the next generation of technologist to close the gap between academia and industry and give them confidence in their skills, develop and cultivate a continuous learning and leadership mindset.

My areas of expertise include cloud architecture and supply chain security as well as AI-based platform development. I have developed secure scalable systems and led Microsoft’s software supply chain security platform design efforts throughout my career.

Areas of mentorship: learning secure software engineering and cloud-native development and DevSecOps practices and AI-based proactive detection methods. I am dedicated to teaching students about career development and leadership and problem-solving techniques which help them tackle actual workplace challenges.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karthikeyan-thirumalaisamy/

Martin Tiongson

Former Owner, Woodinville Bagel Bakery

Martin Tiongson was the business owner and operator of Woodinville Bagel Bakery in Woodinville, Washington, from 2015 to 2024. As an entrepreneur in the food service industry, he had to be knowledgeable in the different aspects of his companies and adaptive to the ever-changing needs of the times. He is also former owner of Mon Amie Bakery, a French bakery in Mill Creek, Washington, and Director of Operations & Corporate Accounts for Pino Gelato, a chain of Italian gelaterias.

As an investor, he is excited to learn about emerging companies and potentially contribute to pursuing their endeavors in a meaningful way. In 2024, he wrote and published his first book, Something To Be Proud Of: A memoir on small business and the bigger business of pursuing one’s passion.

Areas of mentorship: Entrepreneurship, Small business, Operations management, Buying & selling businesses, Investing

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/martintiongson/

Connie Wong

Content Designer, Alaska Airlines

My experience spans tech, manufacturing, aerospace, health & wellness, logistics, retail, and non-profits. In my recent role I was a UX Designer & Marketing Manager at Xemelgo, a IoT SaaS company that produces app solutions for people on manufacturing floors. I led B2B product design for both mobile and web apps. I also spearheaded marketing initiatives including entire e-commerce landing page revamp, all marketing collateral redesign, app store preview images campaign, Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning dashboard designs for manufacturing customers, landing us a $3 Million dollar deal to one of their biggest customers. I’ve also worked as a UX designer for major U.S. non-profits.

I’m currently an MBA student at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in ethnic studies with a minor in informatics: design & technology from the University of Washington. Before moving into creative, design, and marketing, I excelled in luxury retail management with brands like Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany & Co., where I led sales teams, provided client advisory, and managed operations. Currently, at Alaska Airlines, I support over 30,000 employees and lead design for Learning & Development, overseeing the leaders’ portal, employee portals, career websites, videos, job aids, PDFs, banners, and marketing for development programs.

Building solutions people love — where design is my tool of choice, and pixels become purpose. I love asking why and hate “we’ve always done it this way”.

Areas of mentorship: Breaking into tech & career transitions, First-generation & nontraditional paths in tech, Resume, portfolio & interview prep, UX tools, systems & workflows, Inclusive design & accessibility, Personal branding & networking, Leadership development, Talent development, Careers in consulting/start-ups/tech and the pros/cons, Navigating the early years of your career and how to get ahead, Critical thinking and effective communication, EQ over IQ, earning trust and building great relationships

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/connie-wong-/

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