Virtual Career Talks For Your Classroom

Zené, Software Development Engineer
Fun Fact About Me: “I’m always looking for new activities to try. My most recent endeavors have been roller skating and gardening.”
When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “After my first tech internship. Seeing all the ways I could use tech to make a positive impact, even just a small one, in people’s lives confirmed that this was the right field for me.”
My favorite thing about working in STEM: “There’s nothing better than the feeling you get after solving a really tough problem.”
My favorite thing about Class Chats: “I think that introducing children to the world of tech at a young age is super important and so seeing their engagement and helping to develop it makes me so happy.”

Natalie, Enterprise Solutions Architect
Fun Fact About Me: “I’m a certified open water scuba diver”
When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “My first experience with coding was writing BASIC to control LEGO lights and motion in middle school. I was hooked.”
My favorite thing about working in STEM: “Always learning new things and collaborating with really smart people.”
My favorite thing about Class Chats: “I love encouraging kids to choose STEM careers, and they ask really good questions!”

Matt, Area Sales Leader for Central US
Fun Fact About Me: “They call me the “Cat Whisperer.”
When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “As a young adult, I knew that I wanted to be a part of something that was ever evolving.”
My favorite thing about working in STEM: “I am a problem solver, I love having the opportunity to solve business problems leveraging technology.”
My favorite thing about Class Chats: “Inspiring students to explore new opportunities and watching them light up as they engage with questions.”

Michael, Software Development Engineer
Fun Fact About Me: “I can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under 30 seconds.”
When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “When I could source, build, and configure my own computer, and saw that it worked!”
My favorite thing about working in STEM: “The people you work with are the brightest people in the world.”
My favorite thing about Class Chats: “Answering all of the awesome, tough, and insightful questions from students!”

Elisa, Program Manager II
Fun Fact About Me: “I have a minor in Special Education and a Degree in Kinesiology.”
When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “15 years prior to getting hired at Amazon - I just kept applying!”
My favorite thing about working in STEM: “I love my job. I get to line up talks on topics that are interesting and impactful to all our employees.”
My favorite thing about Class Chats: “You never know when the seed you plant will become the next James Gosling or a future co-worker. It is fun to see the influence we have.”

Khayla, Systems Development Engineer
Fun Fact About Me: “I collect roller coaster credits and have ridden 137 different roller coasters.”
When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “Once I took my first web development course, that is when I knew that I had a talent and passion for computers.”
My favorite thing about working in STEM: “I love the opportunity to build and design the future especially when I can take what I learn and design solutions to aid underserved communities.”
My favorite thing about Class Chats: “I love the engaging and out-of-the-box questions that I often get asked. The students are always the coolest.”

Brian, Sr. Partner Enablement Manager
Fun Fact About Me: “I referee High School Football.”
When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “When I was working as a cable technician and installing the first cable modems.”
My favorite thing about working in STEM: “The flexibility of my role.”
My favorite thing about Class Chats: “Empowering the next generation of tech leaders and sharing my passion for Allyship and gender equality with the classes I get to speak with.”

Luna, WHS Site Manager, Sortation Center
Fun Fact About Me: “I’ve climbed three mountains taller than 14,000 feet!”
When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “I always found myself interested in learning how things worked. Tinkering and curious about systems for animals, environment, and technology.”
My favorite thing about working in STEM: “Continuing to tinker and be curious about making systems better and working with people to learn from their experience to build with them instead of for them.”
My favorite thing about Class Chats: “Getting to meet students from all over the country and learn from them!”

Karl, Technical Program Manager
Fun Fact About Me: “I have lived in 3 countries and played a sport in 4 countries.”
When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “11th grade after a friend showed me hacking.”
My favorite thing about working in STEM: “Seeing ideas comes to life from scratch.”
My favorite thing about Class Chats: “Showing students that all career paths are different.”

Elaine, Connect Specialist Solutions Architect
Fun Fact About Me: “I’m a PSIA certified children’s specialist ski instructor.”
When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “When I bought my first consumer grade GPS unit. For someone directionally challenged, a mobile GPS unit is a miracle! My first “wow” moment with tech like a lightbulb lighting up for the first time.”
My favorite thing about working in STEM: “Sharing that same “WOW’ moment with coworkers and customers alike.”
My favorite thing about Class Chats: “Learning what’s special or unique about the location of each school area through the eyes of the kids we speak with.”

Kate, Associate Solutions Architect
Fun Fact About Me: “I’ve eaten bugs. Not on a dare. Trying new things is a hobby.”
When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “As an artsy-person looking for jobs to support my family, I discovered not only do careers in tech provide, but also allows me to be creative.”
My favorite thing about working in STEM: “Technology is changing rapidly, and with that I’m never bored and able to continuously learn new things.”
My favorite thing about Class Chats: “The questions part! I love hearing about students’ current interests and goals, and encouraging them to pursue them.”

Bill, Principal UX Designer Pharmacy
Fun Fact About Me: “I once won a Halloween costume contest by wearing a sticker that said, “Hello. My name is Macklemore.”
When I knew I wanted to pursue STEM: “Shortly after graduating from art school, I was working at a design agency and I volunteered to build a website for a client. I had no idea what I was doing but once I realized I could use my design skill and work within technology, I was hooked.”
My favorite thing about working in STEM: “Being able to solve incredibly complex problems on a daily basis..”
My favorite thing about Class Chats: “Class Chats allows be to be able to help influence young minds, which to me that is one of the most important things I can do in my career.”