Data 4 Days.
Here is a portfolio of innovative & creative individuals that I am currently mentoring in the field of data
Feel free to reach out to them!
Ryan French
The AI Trailblazer
I met Ryan as a freshman at Syracuse University’s iSchool First Year Seminar. The way he presented himself made me think, “This guy is going places.” I encouraged him to pursue his Master’s in Applied Data Science early. Fast forward roughly six years, and he’s now a Manager, AI Security at Vanguard. Apparently, my prediction engine had a few good data points. I’ll take the win. Watching that early confidence turn into a real career has been pretty awesome! It’s one thing to give advice; it’s another to watch someone run with it and build something bigger than you imagined.
From Syracuse freshman to AI security leader.
Vicky Farinango
The Doubt Defier
I met Vicky as a freshman at Syracuse during a peer academic advising session, when she was questioning whether Information Management and Technology was the right path. I told her not to count herself out. She didn’t. She graduated with both a B.S. and B.F.A. and is now a Software Engineer at Highspot. We haven’t talked in a while, but watching her journey from afar has been pretty awesome. Turns out, the doubt didn’t stand a chance. I’m glad she proved herself right! That’s the kind of outcome that makes mentoring worth it, even when LinkedIn makes you feel like you need a spreadsheet to keep up!
From questioning her path to building software.
Kenneth Hoe
The Data Storyteller
I met Kenneth in high school, not Syracuse; English class, to be exact. We went separate ways after graduation: Kenneth into Bioinformatics and me into Information Management and Technology. COVID eventually reunited us, and since then, we’ve spent hours going deep on data principles and turning raw information into stories that drive smarter, data-informed decisions. He’s held multiple roles across different companies, but titles aren’t what define him. Kenneth is always learning, leveling up, and finding another way to make data interesting. At this point, data is a hobby.
From bioinformatics to turning data into stories.
My personal story behind mentoring…
When I was an undergraduate, back in 2016, I was fortunate to give back my time to the School of Information Studies, Syracuse University, by providing academic advice and other help to incoming/transferring students by attending Freshman Forum classes and leading Peer Advising activities. With that experience, I learned that I had a passion to help others no matter the situation, small or large. Also, during that time, I had a pure interest in a specific topic, specifically in Data. That is one of the many reasons why I did my master's in Applied Data Science early. Crazy to think during that time that as the thing to study and it still is today. With that experience, I learned that data is here to stay for a while since data is everywhere, any industry or market.
“Data is such a powerful tool.”
Fast forward a few years, on September 30, 2020, I had officially completed my first year at Booz Allen Hamilton as a Data Scientist, and a light bulb instantly went off. I realized that while I was still early in my own career, I was already gaining valuable experience and perspectives that I could share with others. As I continued growing in the field of data, I also discovered how much I genuinely enjoy helping people navigate their own paths, especially when they need a different perspective, a little encouragement, or someone willing to share what they’ve learned along the way.
Fast forward to today, and I’ve continued to keep that mentoring door open. I’ve had the opportunity to support and learn from people at different stages of their careers, whether they were figuring out their academic direction, navigating a career transition, or simply looking for another perspective on where they could go next.
It has been a sincere honor and privilege to mentor and support these innovative and creative individuals at various stages of their careers. As detailed in their respective profiles, I have shared the unique story behind each of these professional connections.
Interested in being mentored? Feel free to contact me!
To me, mentoring isn’t about telling someone what path to take; it’s about helping them see possibilities they may not have considered and giving them another perspective when they need it.