This month, I had the honor of interviewing some of our incredible students in Cohort 39! Dressed in their finest attire and equipped with their brightest smiles at the QUEST Conference on May 6th, Cohort 39 did an incredible job on their capstone projects.
Cohort 39 at the QUEST Conference.
As Cohort 39 wraps up their QUEST experience, let’s see what they have been doing to prepare for their capstone presentations at the QUEST Conference on May 6th!
Adelina Seck is thrilled to be working with BAE Systems on their ESS-IT program. Seck says that she has learned a lot about how developing a plan for meaningful change can be very important for the company as a whole. Aside from working on recommendations and conducting meetings with the client and the team’s advisor, the team has also been on site visits to York, PA! When asked what advice she had for the next cohort, Seck said, “Establish good, consistent communication with your client and make sure that everyone is on the same page throughout the entirety of the semester.”
Annaika Taneja has been working hard on delivering meaningful change for her company, Capital i. In order to prepare for the conference, Taneja and her team have been meeting twice per week to work on their final deliverables. They have also been having weekly meetings with their client and team advisor. Taneja advises future cohorts that if data analysis is necessary, do it early! Finally, she said that spending time with her team has made the class worthwhile.
Annaika Taneja (second from the left) and her team meeting with their clients for the first time.
Annie Ni is also working with BAE Systems in their Combat Mission Systems department, which manages online access for suppliers and utilizes manufacturing routings through Oracle. Ni says that the most exciting part about working with BAE Systems is that their work is held to a high standard and taken seriously. Interestingly, Ni’s team has taken a couple of extra steps throughout their time on the project to prepare for the conference. In order to understand and remedy complicated concepts, the team translates the processes into layman’s terms. Just last week, they used a sandwich analogy in their second status presentation! Ni suggests that future cohorts always be ready with a backup plan, especially because the class has a strict timeline for deliverables.
Annie Ni (middle) and her team.
Matthew Weirich is working with PepsiCo on developing a totally new project, allowing the team members to exercise their creative sides. Weirich thinks it’s important to continuously incorporate feedback from the client and faculty in order to enhance the presentation and project. For future cohorts, Weirich believes that regular, in-person meetings are the way to go. “Building strong connections with your teammates is key, since making friends with your team members makes it a much more fun and productive class!”
But never fear, Cohort 40! Jimmy Takieddine says that 490H is hard work, but very rewarding!
Good luck Cohort 39. We are so excited to see your presentations!
This month, I had the pleasure of speaking with some inspiring QUESTees about how the QUEST community has been a key element to their success. Let’s see what they had to say about their QUEST journeys so far!
Faith LeBrun of Cohort 41 says that working in QUEST teams has helped her become a better leader and team member. “QUEST has strengthened my communication skills, especially in teams with diverse perspectives. Moreover, it has helped me get better at managing my time, developing project ideas, and delegating tasks.” QUEST has also inspired her to reach out to her peers and the QUEST alumni network for interview techniques.
LeBrun (Cohort 41) with her BMGT190H team
Similarly, Abby Bond of Cohort 37 has learned a lot by networking with QUESTees both in and out of her major. “I was able to reach out to alumni in a plethora of roles and figure out what I wanted in a career. Through those professional interactions and interactions with our clients in classes, I’ve built confidence in my professional communication skills. Now I am able to present my best self and communicate my goals more effectively, which has helped me find roles that are best suited to me.” She also notes that the very nature of multidisciplinary teams has given her the opportunity to “communicate complex ideas simply by breaking them down into palatable ways.”
Bond (Cohort 37) giving a presentation at her previous internship
QUEST not only gives us opportunities to learn from our amazing alumni, but also from our peers currently going through the program. Sometimes, they can give the best advice!
Sebastian DeCady of Cohort 41 says that his peers have inspired him in many ways. One piece of advice that he’s gotten is to “be comfortable being uncomfortable.” He says, “This advice has propelled me further than I ever imagined, allowing me to look at my weaknesses as opportunities to build new strengths.”
DeCady (Cohort 41) with his BMGT190H team
Ume Habiba of Cohort 38 says that the most beneficial advice she’s received is to take advantage of all opportunities, whether or not they align with your immediate goals. “I think this was very valuable to me and my career because I was able to try different things and broaden my skillsets in different roles.”
Habiba (Cohort 38) with her BMGT490H team
Bond thinks that sometimes inspiration can be hidden. “I am constantly inspired by QUESTees around me. Seeing how they are driven by their passions and how they are able to be such caring, fun people inspires me to be my best self. I am so grateful for the friends I have made through this program.”
Cohort 42 at QUEST Camp
Earlier this semester, we swore in our newest members of QUEST: Cohort 42! Let’s take a look back at their QUEST Camp/Orientation. Continue reading
Although finals season is in full swing, there is something we can all look forward to: Winter Break. Let’s see what some of our QUESTees will be up to this break.
The QUEST Honors Program at UMD is a popular and selective program. But what makes the program so popular? Or rather, who?
This month, I had the pleasure of talking to some of the members of a fabulous QUEST student organization: QUEST Recruiting. Let’s see what they’ve been up to!
QUEST Students, Alumni, Staff, and Faculty at the Homecoming Tailgate
Despite the cloudy weather and rain, the annual QUEST Homecoming Tailgate was a hit. On October 14th, QUEST students, alumni, staff, and faculty came together in Lot 11B for a day of fun.