Hi! my name is Kelly! I recently graduated Summa Cum Laude with Business Analytics Honors from North Carolina State University, majoring in Business Administration (Marketing concentration) and a minor in Chinese studies. During college, I interned at Cisco in Product marketing for Cisco Secure (Summer 2022) and at IBM in Marketing Analytics for IBM.com (Summer 2023).

Now I am an IT asset manager at Cisco Systems, where I help manage software and hardware portfolios (install bases) for service provider segment clients in the Americas region. In a nutshell, my role involves, but is not limited to, these four main facets: Consulting, Analytics, Management of customer install bases, and Cross-functional collaboration.

Outside of work, I serve on national leadership for my sorority as a program manager and on executive leadership for Menti, a fast-growing career and personal development-focused non-profit community with 500+ members on Discord. From a hobbies standpoint, I enjoy pilates, cardio, cooking, traveling, concerts, fashion, spending quality time with friends and family, and learning about personal finance!

Within my first few weeks as a full-time Cisconian, I collaborated with my mentor on an impact metrics slide deck to pitch our software asset management service to potential customers. This project was challenging due to limited context on prior progress, an incomplete understanding of the service’s technical nuances, and unfamiliarity with the data. However, my determination, curiosity, and optimism as a new hire helped me navigate these hurdles.

By asking questions, acknowledging my confusion, and collaborating closely with my mentor, manager, and data SMEs, I bridged my initial learning curve and contributed effectively. Ultimately, my hard work paid off as I confidently co-presented our work over two months—an iteratively developed slide deck and robust PivotTable data analysis Excel template—during our team’s bi-weekly presentations call, which received positive feedback!

You have probably heard the saying, “Your network is your net worth.” While I agree with this notion, real-world experience is just as impactful. Engaging in projects, participating in on-and-off-campus organizations, and exploring early insight programs from companies you aspire to work at can make a significant difference. I strongly believe that a combination of networking, industry mentorship, meaningful experiences, understanding your purpose (why you want to pursue your chosen field), and maintaining a passion for learning will take you far. On that note, do not be afraid to try new things—you might discover that a challenge is more rewarding than what is familiar!

President Donald Trump announced a monumental AI infrastructure initiative called “Stargate,” in partnership with industry giants OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank. The announcement was made at the White House alongside notable figures including SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, Open AI CEO Sam Altman, and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.

The project aims to pour between $100 billion initially, with potential investment reaching up to $500 billion over the next four years, into creating a separate company focused on building AI infrastructure. This includes setting up data centers in Texas, enhancing national security, and bolstering the re-industrialization of the United States. Read more HERE from NBC News.

Goldman Sachs has launched an AI assistant named GS AI Assistant to its employees, aiming to enhance productivity across banking, trading, and asset management. This rollout, part of a broader adoption of generative AI by top investment banks, involved initial functionalities like email summarization and code translation.

Chief Information Officer Marco Argenti envisions this tool evolving to perform tasks autonomously, reflecting Goldman’s specific operational styles and culture, ultimately blending human and machine capabilities in decision-making processes. This initiative aligns with industry trends where AI tools are poised to reshape finance and technology sectors significantly. Read more HERE from NBC News.

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