On October 30th, the Colin Powell School hosted representatives from Kyndryl — a global IT infrastructure services company — for a Lunch & Learn panel focused on careers in technology and professional services. The panel was composed of Kyndryl professionals of Hispanic and Latino backgrounds from across different divisions: Brianna Fernandez, Lead Experience and Event Strategist; Alfonso Hernandez, Vice President of Customer Partner BNY; Elsie Paulino, Associate Director Chief of Staff; Madeline Schwarber, Vice President Tax Controller; and Daniel Fleismacher, Chief Marketing Strategist US. The panel was moderated by Pamela Hacker, Vice President of Social Impact.
In the hour-long conversation, Kyndryls had the opportunity to share their personal journeys, their experiences as first-generation college students, anecdotes from their first internships and odd jobs, as well as share tips on what worked for them when interviewing for a job and how to identify your skills and turn them into a successful professional pitch. The big takeaway? embracing your multicultural background can become a highly valued skill in the corporate environment.
The panel was supported by the CCNY Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) chapter, with members of the group in attendance at the event. ALPFA is the largest national minority-based professional organization in the US focused on creating opportunities and building community for Latino professionals in fields such as finance, accounting, and tech. Students were eagerly engaged during the Q&A, and even had the opportunity to do a takeover of the Kyndryl LinkedIn page, allowing them to further develop their professional networks and gain online visibility.
