Purposeful Work will be hosting an alumni panel for our Government, Policy, and Public Service week. Please join us to learn more about alumni who have pursued careers in these industries. We will learn about their career trajectories and how Bates helped them achieve their goals as well as the purpose they find in their respective roles.

Watch the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqduW7Rbow8

We’ll be engaging our guests in a discussion about their pathways from college to their current roles in different areas of human resources — talent acquisition, learning & development, executive search, and organizational change. They’ll have the chance to share how their undergraduate experiences prepared them for life beyond college as well as their current roles and responsibilities.

Connect with our guests to learn about their areas of expertise and how they found themselves at their current organizations. Make sure to research our guests and their various organizations in advance so you can ask informed questions about their professional experiences. Guests include:

• Scott Miller, Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources, The Academy, Bank of America, Enterprise Strategic Initiatives Education & Change Management Executive 
• Marquise Clark (’19), Associate, Financial Services & Technology Officers Practices, Heidrick & Struggles

Product Management

Joined by David Akinyemi ‘21, Associate Product Manager at Atlassian, who will discuss his exploration and entry into technology, his journey to Atlassian, finding purpose in product management, and all the lessons he learned along the way. He’ll provide more insight into what exactly product management entails, the relevant skills to pursue this kind of work, and how you can get started while still at Bates. 

Software Engineering

Joined by Rakey Drammeh ’14, Partnership Engineer at Pinterest, Peter Kreig ’15, Lead Software Engineer at Logickull and Michael Somkuti ’19, Software Developer at Comcast who will share their experiences and advice for students interested in exploring engineering and software development. A variety of Bates experiences set them on the path to where they are today, so they’ll connect those dots for us and discuss how they continue to craft work that aligns with their interests and sense of purpose.

User Experience (UX)

Joined by Raven Moore ‘03, Design and Research Operations Manager at CDK Global; Eric Vilanova ‘17, a freelance product designer; and Colleen McCretton ‘93, Director of UX Design at Fidelity Center for Applied Technology. All three of these UX professionals will share what drew them to UX work, how they established themselves in the field, and where they think the field is going. They’ll share guidance and resources for what you can do to determine whether UX is where you’ll find meaning and purpose.

Highlighted alumni engaged in policy research, communications, consulting, and strategy, with representation from: Brookings Institution, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), DCI Group, and Internet Association.

Focused on alumni operating in roles and organizations at the intersection of STEM and business. From healthcare to pharmaceuticals, from marketing to operations, alumni shared their academic and professional pathways from Bates to: Boston Scientific, CVS, LevelEx, and Pfizer.

Exposed students to alumni with a broad range of experiences in environmental careers, including: climate impact research, corporate sustainability, environmental law, municipal planning, and urban planning. The program also included alumni at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Invited students to connect with alumni and friends operating in the mental health space. Students had the opportunity to hear about the similarities and differences in the work being done by those with a PhD, a PsyD, an MD, a DNP, and a MA/MS in counseling.

Provided students with the opportunity to hear Bates alumni discuss their experiences with entrepreneurship, ranging from building their own businesses, to supporting their communities, to innovating within large organizations. Led by Bates Trustee and longtime entrepreneur Chris Barbin ‘93, the program also served as a kick-off for Bobcat Ventures, Bates’s entrepreneurial program and pitch competition.

Offered students the chance to hear from alumni engaged in different kinds of consulting work, with representation from: Analysis Group (AG), Artisan Healthcare Consulting, Beacon Group, Business Intelligence Advisors (BIA), and Ernst & Young (EY).