Mentoring & Momentum: My Year with GNC at ODU

Why I joined: As a Senior Software Engineer at Slack, I’m passionate about developer experience, architecture, and uplifting underrrpresented engineers. Mentoring lets me pay that forward — bridging the gap between industry and aspiring talent.

About the program: The GNC Executive Mentorship Program connects local professionals with motivated college students from Old Dominion University and partner schools for a full academic year of career-focused mentorship. It emphasizes professional readiness, networking, and insight into career paths, with monthly mentor-mentee check-ins coordinated through ODU’s Center for Career & Leadership Development.

My mentee’s path: My mentee was a computer science student who had recently switched majors and discovered a passion for both design and cybersecurity — a unique blend not often seen together. Over the course of our sessions, we:

• Clarified how design and security intersect in modern product development
• Built a roadmap for internships and self-guided learning in cybersecurity while maintaining a strong CS foundation
• Developed strategies for networking, portfolio building, and communicating the value of a hybrid skill set

What I learned:

• Mentoring is as much about listening as it is about advising — I gained fresh perspective from my mentee’s curiosity and ambition.
• Supporting someone through a major change takes empathy and structure — balancing encouragement with actionable steps.
• Representation matters — seeing a woman of color thrive in tech can be transformative for students finding their voice.

Outcome & reflections: By the end of the year, my mentee had a stronger sense of direction, confidence, and clarity about combining design and security into her future career. Although I couldn’t attend the closing ceremony in person, I was deeply proud of her growth and the connection we built along the way.

Looking ahead: Mentorship continues to be one of the most rewarding parts of my career. Programs like GNC at ODU create pathways for emerging engineers — and I encourage others in tech to get involved. Mentoring challenges you, grows you, and reminds you why paying it forward matters. 🚀

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