ocsharvard

[ocsharvard]

Where are you located now?

Greenwich, CT

What are you doing?

I'll be joining Ogilvy's associate program in NYC.

What advice do you have for Harvard undergraduates, now that you’ve graduated?

Don't stress if you don't have a job until the spring. Good things come to those who are patient and persistent. Sometimes you have to submit many, many, many applications to get an interview, but if you stay optimistic, it will happen!

[ocsharvard]

Where are you located now?

Washington, D.C.

What are you doing?

Working as a Staff Assistant at the White House Presidential Personnel Office.

What advice do you have for Harvard undergraduates, now that you’ve graduated?

Harvard, for me, has become less of a place and more of a community. The relationships you foster can and will truly stay with you forever. As much as you can, be open to meeting new friends, engaging with your classmates, and reaching out to grad students, professors, and alumni that might share the same interests as you! You might just find your future best friend, mentor, or advisor — and at the very least, you can share a great conversation!

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

Vancouver, British Columbia - Currently I work as the managing partner of a boutique law firm in Vancouver, British Columbia. Having completed my ALM in Psychology, I will be pursuing a career in Sports Psychology in collaboration with my law practice. I am in the process of incorporating a company by the name of "Clutch State Training" that will focus on mental performance training for elite athletes. We will be utilizing virtual reality technology, mindfulness practices, and cognitive reframing to help athletes easily trigger a "flow state" (also known as "clutch state" in athletes) so that they can achieve success in high pressured athletic competition. This is a passion of mine, having previously worked briefly in the NBA before pursuing my post-secondary education, and I would not be able to pursue this career had I not completed my degree at the Harvard Extension School.

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

Use this opportunity to achieve your dreams as your HES experience can open up doors far and wide. I embraced the fact that Harvard gave me a chance, as busy working professional, to gain quality education at a pace that was sustainable while balancing a busy career and helping raise 3 children. I was very interested in Sports Psychology and all of my professors encouraged me to focus on my interest throughout my ALM degree. Don't be afraid to ask for guidance - one of my professors, upon learning about my interest in sports psychology, connected me with a classmate who was a scout for the Boston Celtics, and that was the first time my dream felt real. Take the time to get to know your classmates whether virtual or on campus. They come from a diverse background and everyone was willing to help each other out. For example, I am in the process of helping a classmate try and gain funding for to make her capstone project a reality and we will be meeting in person in Vancouver, BC next week to start the process. Another classmate has also connected me with an editor at Psychology Today to see if they are interested in me authoring articles on the topic of Sports Psychology.

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?

My degree has the potential to change my career trajectory in such a way that I have a real opportunity to achieve my dream job of helping athletes flourish in professional sports. During my capstone project, we were required to reach out to key stakeholders. I aimed for the stars and contacted a few professional athletes with success. After receiving feedback on my project, I received an open invitation from a former NBA basketball player (and NBA champion) to connect in person and discuss my project further once the COVID-19 restrictions open the US-Canada border. I am also currently collaborating with an Olympic Gold medalist sprinter in relation to refining my mental performance training techniques. I would not have had that opportunity without the Harvard name behind me and I fully embraced the Extension School concept. Whenever I explained the HES experience to people near and far, they response was universally one of interest and excitement.

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

Cambridge, MA - I completed two novels during my time in the Creative Writing and Literature program, and after much editing and review, am now querying those novels. It is a long road to publication, and one with plenty of rejection and no guarantees. Write, revise, and improve! And so, while agents read my current manuscripts, I'm writing the third novel. Alongside writing, there is also the practicality of full-time employment, for I will continue working as a program manager. Even if my books are published, they might not pay the bills, which is a reality that many novelists face. My stance is this: I must approach my writing as a professional in both time and effort, because the goal is professional-level success, but a deep love for storytelling must always be the foundation. It helps that I intentionally hold a job outside my field of study, which saves word-smithing energy for creative projects.

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

If you are studying creative writing, you have an enormous opportunity to build working relationships with other writers. Pay attention during workshops and reach out to people. You might become lifelong beta readers in critiquing one another's work.

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?

My writing has improved enormously during my time in the program, and I emerged with several short-fiction publications and two novel manuscripts. I am at the querying stage for those novels, which is a step forward in my writing career. In terms of my day job, a degree shows an ability and desire for continued growth, and when you juggle that growth while holding down a full-time job, it creates an impression.

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

Romania - I'm looking forward to engage into a range of diverse activities that can help to build a better community using new technologies (Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and other data driven approach), becoming a consultant and research new opportunities that aligns with the interests and goals of development for my current area of residence (like European research programs).

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

A major advice that I can give to current students is not to hurry and dive deep into material and experience they go through as degree candidates, both in terms of knowledge and communications with professors and fellow students.

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?

I can really say that it broaden my horizon and helped me to make steps in my development regarding which I was not aware before.

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

San Francisco, CA - Upon graduation I'll continue my current path as the Founder & CEO of CrankChart. Our SaaS based platform leverages the combine powers of Conversational AI and Behavioral Sciences to nudge business decision makers and data professionals into better communication (and alignment) - with the goal of high impact decisions from analytics. With data driven decisions quickly becoming the sine qua non, the vision is to make high impact data driven decisions turnkey for enterprises of all scale. We're relocating from New York to San Francisco with the goal of expansion, in the quest for pole position.

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

My advice is to be clear on what you want. As a non-traditional educational path, clarity is your biggest asset. From my personal experience, having a clear objective really helped to shape the overall experience. More specifically, as an accomplished innovator I needed access to resources and great minds that only Harvard could deliver. Upon arriving to Cambridge, I was able to connect with amazing professors who were all too eager to help validate various hypotheses, goals etc. This provided the necessary motivation to start and complete the ALM in Software Engineering degree. Harvard provides a broad range of resources and opportunities. But to access either, you will need to be proactive and excited about the prospects of getting as much as possible from the learning experience. Finally, it's worth mentioning that Harvard professors generally enjoy working with HES students. From their vantage point, we bring a wide range of experiences, open minds and a youthful eagerness to learn. Ride that wave!

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?

The relationships made with various professors in SEAS have been highly instrumental in my professional success - as I'm often introduced to various experts, in (and outside) of academia, who are tackling the same or similar problems in industry. In addition, the hands on knowledge acquired in areas such as Natural Language Processing, Deep Learning etc. has better equipped me to make more effective decisions as a leader, board member or role player in various tech ventures.

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

Denver, CO - I'm currently finding the right place to practice my trade - sustainability, tactical and strategic.

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

Persevere. Having Harvard on your resume is an attention getter.

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?

In my position search, the HES degree sure gets me noticed. That's awesome.

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

New York, NY - I am starting my MSc in Mathematics at NYU Courant. I will be in NY for the next year and half. After that I will apply to PHD programs in Mathematics

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

Have your goal in mind all the time. My goal has always been to pursue an academic career in mathematics. I took pretty much all the Math classes that HES offered plus 6 graduate level classes at the college through the special student program. The ALB program opened the doors to many great graduate programs that I would have never thought I would be able to attend.

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?

My career has changed completely. I used to work in advertising, now I am a full time student seeking to enter the world of academia.

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

Vancouver, British Columbia - I will be developing and designing customized mental health programs for various companies parallel to running my educational consulting business. During my last year at the HES, I witnessed how the pandemic drained the financial and emotional resources of people in my community. My response to this was to develop a wellness program that offered psychological resources to people working in this new reality. This program took shape during my final semesters at HES as part of my capstone project. I plan to further develop my programs in collaboration with not-for-profit organizations and deliver my services to as many people as I can in order to improve their quality of life.

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

Get to know your instructors and classmates and nurture these relationships. Take advantage of resources such as the career services webinars. Stay connected with the HES global community by participating in various events.

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?

The knowledge I gained throughout my education at HES and the guidance I received from my knowledgeable instructors have equipped me with applied skills required to produce real change in the world. I am now helping adolescents and young adults with a wide range of backgrounds find schools and programs that are a good match for their interests and abilities. I have been able to guide young people to make informed decisions using evidence-based approaches and by doing so I have increased their chances of securing emotionally and financially rewarding careers in the future. I am grateful for having the opportunity to participate in such a transformative degree program.

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

Orlando, FL - I developed an app to help first responders when providing services to survivors of sexual assault. Next steps will be completing the development of SMART SART with a team of experts and beginning the pilot program at various crisis centers in the United States. I also founded a family development company and will be providing services to families ensuring they overcome mental health challenges and bridging the gap between mental health professional services and implementation at home using a psychosocial rehabilitation approach.

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

Embrace the experience and opportunities at Harvard. Find your fit among the Harvard community and pour your heart into your studies. It's truly life changing.

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?

I earned the confidence to launch my passion project SMART SART and my company is experiencing enormous amounts of success since August 2020!

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

Wilmington, DE - This week, I started my new position at Lasko Products. I am the communications manager for Lasko and managing the PR agency to ensure maximum positive impressions, editor inclusion on best product lists, and ensuring impactful influencer support. Organizing and drafting various organizational announcements. Managing PR releases and approvals as needed. Assisting in the organization and management of town hall and other company-wide meetings. Identifying opportunities to further promote the new cultural initiatives within Lasko including Mission and Values and other HR initiatives. Enhancing Lasko's presence and messaging on social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter to enhance the employment branding. Drafts proposals for special communications projects; present on and promotes these projects to management as needed.

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

It is never too late and never give up!

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?

HES and its professors prepare you for your field of expertise. HES is on the cutting edge of my field. My HES education allowed me to hit the ground running at my place of work and understand trends in the industry.

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

Burlington, MA - I'll be building a line function group to serve a multitude of needs within my current company. I'll also be leveraging the research and project planning skills I generated during my thesis to take on more independent research projects and lead more cross-functional teams.

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

Take the time to celebrate the accomplishments you've achieved thus far! After letting the degree sink in, figure out what your next step will be. You pushed yourself to complete this degree in order to grow, so the exciting thing is where you will grow next!

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?

I've been able to take skills I learned in class to my job the NEXT DAY and find the lessons relevant. It's also a great vehicle to showcase your personal pursuit of professional development outside of your day job responsibilities. I'm always surprised at the number of people in the Biotechnology field that are interested in continuing to take classes, and to be able to share my experience with them helps the whole community of learners at large.

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

California - I will be working as an Applied Machine Learning Engineer at Apple.

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

Talk to your professors as much as possible. I have forged a bunch of really great relationships by having conversations with professors even in asynchronous classes where we never met for lecture. This has the added benefit of giving your professor some context around who you are.

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?

HES has shown me that there is no bound to what I can learn. Given the right environment and motivation, I leverage the experience I had at HES to do anything!

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

Berkshires, MA - Upon graduating, I will be looking into starting my own Sustainability Consulting Firm with a focus on corporate sustainability. I am also planning to start a hobby farm and seeing what that can grow into (pun intended). My hope is that one day the farm will grow into a sustainability immersion center. I will also be continuing my work in creating community fridges and uplifting local communities through redirecting salvageable food to those in need.

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

Use your network and follow your dreams. Reach out to the professors or classmates whose journeys you found interesting and never be wary of starting a conversation. We are so lucky to be part of a community of so much talent and passion. I truly believe that we can transform the world by working together.

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?

I believe the support network that I have found at HES is going to be absolutely instrumental in my future success.

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

Canada - I will continue working as a software engineer but not limited to it. I have three plans in the to do list. 1) launch an app to help those who lost their jobs in the pandemic finding more work opportunities. 2) work with organizations to regularize internet especially social media usage. Educate people of their rights and risks of using online service. Develop tools for normal users to protect themselves online because no one should be manipulated by algorithms. 3) finish the book I am writing to my daughter. I was pregnant right after I received the Harvard offer. Almost everyone told me that I only can/should choose one of them because I have a full time job at the same time. I want my daughter to know that her life can have all kinds of possibilities as well if she has enough courage.

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated? You will graduate with more knowledge and more responsibilities from Harvard. Never forget who you are and why you study here. The power you obtained from knowledge should always be used to make our world better and people happier, not the other way around. All people are created equal. This should not be changed by gender, race, nationality, or anything. Only God is in the position to look down on someone.

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?

The degree itself doesn't impact as much. What impacted me most is the study experience in these four years. I encountered all kinds of people and gained knowledge from various aspects. Negotiations and Game Theory are two most impressive courses. One shows you the glory of humanity while the other reveals the dark side of us. These years of study make me understand and love myself more, and also inspire me that I can contribute to this world more than I thought.

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

Cambridge, MA - I'll be a full time graduate student at Harvard Divinity School studying for a Master of Theological Studies degree in Hindu Studies/Philosophy of Religion.

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

Extension is what you make out of it. Have a goal and make Extension work for you. You can definitely go places!

[ocsharvard]

Where will you be living next year, and what will you be doing?

Boston, MA - I just joined a great startup, Interos, as VP of Product. I will spend the better part of the year making sure we have a product and a platform that can deliver value to our customers and users and help the company grow in a market that is ripe for disruption. On the personal front, I will catchup on travel and visit Alaska and Yellowstone this year!

What advice do you have for Harvard HES students, now that you have graduated?

Have a strategy for your education that follows a determinant as well as an emergent strategy. Pick some courses that you should complete to achieve your career goals but also pick some courses simply to indulge in a topic that interests you but is outside of your immediate area of focus. Another thing is to make the most of your time on campus. Those memories are special and there is no way to go back and make up for that time.

In what ways has your Harvard Extension degree impacted your career?

The ALM degree in Management provided me with a very strong foundation in strategy and leadership. I was able to take on more responsibilities and be involved in strategic programs at work due to my education and experience at school. The education helped me grow from a manager, to a leader and to confidently and successfully step into executive leadership role at Interos.