Career Reflection Artifact

I grew up in New York City, surrounded by family in medicine. My parents were doctors who ran their own practices and worked part-time at hospitals. My older sister and two cousins also aspired to become doctors. Naturally, there was an expectation that I would follow the same path. Family and friends often joked that I’d become a doctor, too, but I always knew the medical field wasn’t for me.
I gravitated toward building and problem-solving. I loved creating structures with blocks, which evolved into building complex Lego sets far above my recommended age. This passion for building eventually led me to programming. In middle school, I was introduced to Scratch, a platform where I discovered how coding was like building with blocks, combining logic to solve problems. 
Throughout middle and high school, I participated in coding camps and developed small projects, including minigames and websites. During my sophomore year of high school, I collaborated with a University of Florida professor on a research project. I created a program to analyze video files which helped researchers identify movement areas for them to review the camera footage efficiently. This solidified my decision to study computer science at Washington University in St. Louis.

My freshman year took an unexpected turn when I enrolled in a business course, “Business for Non-Business Students,” to explore a new field. I found the content to be interesting  and applicable to the real world. The class provided me with practical skills such as using LinkedIn, networking, conducting interviews, and constructing a resume. These foundational business skills complemented my technical expertise, broadening my perspective. This class inspired me to switch to a joint degree in Business and Computer Science.

During my sophomore summer, I interned at Dot Foods Inc. as a Software Engineering intern, where I developed a chatbot using Microsoft Azure and got my first experience with artificial intelligence. While I enjoyed the technical challenges, I realized I didn’t want to code full-time. During the school year,  I took my first Center for Experiential Learning (CEL) course, where I served as team lead for a consulting project with a local business. I gained invaluable experience managing client expectations, providing data-driven solutions, and coordinating a team. This project sparked my interest in consulting as I saw the impact of my work on a small business.

During my junior summer, I interned at Centene Management Corporation as a Business Systems Analyst. My intern project was to develop a ServiceNow application to track retrospective meetings. I optimized workflows and addressed user needs while collaborating with stakeholders across different departments. I learned how to effectively communicate technical concepts to stakeholders. This experience reinforced my passion for roles that combine technical expertise with business acumen, like project management and management consulting.

At the beginning of my junior year, I participated in another CEL course, CEL Practicum, as a student consultant for SurgeryAI.com, a London-based HealthTech startup. The company uses artificial intelligence to optimize surgical procedures and improve patient outcomes. My team focused on market research, user discovery, and developing requirements for a minimum viable product (MVP) aimed at optimizing operating room usage and predicting surgery times. I conducted interviews with HealthTech entrepreneurs, NHS doctors, and EPIC employees to gain insights and identify differentiation opportunities. I evaluated market trends and identified competitors. This project taught me how to leverage data-driven insights to provide strategic recommendations. It deepened my interest in consulting, especially in roles focused on driving innovation and enhancing operational efficiency.

Reflecting on my career identity, I see how my growing knowledge of artificial intelligence continues to shape my aspirations. I am currently taking two AI specific computer science classes to further my interest in the field as AI becomes increasingly commonplace in the workplace. I want to learn how AI can help solve complex problems and drive efficiency.  I am excited to explore how AI tools can be leveraged in project management and consulting.

Next semester, I plan to study abroad in Dublin for both computer science and business classes. This is an opportunity for me to learn more about artificial intelligence, the European market, and entrepreneurship. I plan to take advanced computer science courses to refine my technical skills and business classes aligned with my career goals in project management, and management consulting. I hope to leverage these experiences to drive meaningful innovation and make a lasting impact in whichever field I pursue.

Growing up with family in medicine, I admired their dedication to helping others and create a positive impact. While I decided not to pursue medicine path, their commitment to meaningful work shaped my career identity. Their influence instilled in me a desire to make a positive impact in my own way, leading me to pursue roles where I can innovate and solve complex problems. Although our fields differ, I see shared values such as using our skills to improve lives, whether through healthcare or the integration of technology and business.