Category Archives: Interviews

QUEST Spotlight: Catching up With Dr. Herrmann Before His Sabbatical

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Dr. Jeffrey Herrmann has been a staple in the QUEST community for the past decade. Occupying a position as the Associate Director when he first joined and most recently, as the BMGT/ENES 490H instructor, he has changed the program in many ways.

He has a unique perspective that only comes with years of experience, so before leaving for his sabbatical, I made sure to sit down with him to better understand who he is and the impact he’s had on the QUEST program.

 

When did you join the QUEST program, and how were things different back then?

When I first joined, I was working with Dr. Suarez, who was the Executive Director at the time. I’d been a faculty advisor for a couple of projects before that, and in 2007, I got asked to serve as the Associate Director.

From my perspective, the mission of the program has stayed the same all these years. It’s an undergraduate program that gives students from three colleges the opportunity to learn timeless skills. Along with that, the core courses have stayed the same despite us adding new electives such as the data analysis, scoping, and study abroad courses.

If the core mission and structure have stayed the same, have the methods shifted during your time here?

We’ve always had an emphasis on active learning. Having said that, the nature of the projects, especially in 190H, has changed over the years with the introduction of atoms-, bits-based, and on-campus consulting projects. It’s safe to say these types of classes have become even more active as time has passed.

Thinking back on your time with the program, what would you say are your happiest moments?

The happiest moments come from being with the great people in QUEST. I’ve been fortunate to be the faculty advisor for numerous 490H projects in which I’ve been able to see the students go on site visits to clients, and their excitement for learning more is infectious. At the end of the project, the QUEST conference and client presentations are also amazing. To see them deliver value and solve difficult problems is a great feeling.

On the other hand, working with Dr. Bailey, Dr. Armstrong, Jessica Macklin, and everyone else who’s been involved with the program has been a great experience. Working with them in a professional context has been eye opening, but even the casual experiences, like making our cheer at QUEST camp, have been a lot of fun.

Which course do you think provides the most value to students?

The students are very different. Some will see 490H and the consulting project as the opportunity where they learned the most. For some, 390H was their favorite part of QUEST because it gives them a chance to explore new ideas and gain new techniques. For a lot of other students, 190H is the course they connect with the most. It’s difficult to pick one course because they’re designed in a sequence so that students learn more as they go through.

If you can’t pin one course, then is there one skill that you think all students should pick up from QUEST?

That skill would be the general skill of being able to talk to a client, understand their situation, and identify ways to make it better, then to do the analysis and evaluation needed to make an effective recommendation. It’s a skill that’s reinforced in every course and even some of the electives as well.

What is something that you hope to see change in the future of the QUEST program?

I believe the QUEST students will continue to find ways to make the QUEST community a better place to be based on their interests and skills. What makes QUEST so special is the support that students receive to pursue their ideas. I imagine students coming up with activities, events, and different structures to help each other learn and feel more connected to the program.

Shifting away from the program, what do you hope to accomplish during your sabbatical?

I’m looking forward to spending a lot of time working with engineers and researchers at the Naval Air Warfare Center at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River down in southern Maryland. They have a group that works on route planning for autonomous systems (unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface ships, etc.) for different Navy missions. I’m very excited to learn more about what they’re doing in terms of their systems and their research.

I’ll be looking into difficult problems that occur when planning missions that involve unmanned vehicles, and I’ll be continuing the research I do here on campus. I’ll also be working on proposals for funding with different agencies and meeting a lot of new people during the process.

After the sabbatical, do you have plans on coming back to the program, and if so, what do you want to bring with you when you return?

Being a faculty advisor would be a fun thing to do again. In terms of how my sabbatical will impact things, I’ll be learning about new technologies and new techniques (data analysis and optimization) so maybe those techniques will be relevant to different project areas throughout the program.

Thanks Dr. Herrmann for your 10 years of service to QUEST!

QUEST & Constellation: Thoughts on the Site Visit

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In early November, a group of QUEST students had the opportunity to visit Constellation in Baltimore and get a tour of the facility while talking to some higher ups in the organizations. The following is a short recap from some students who were on the visit and their thoughts about the entire experience.

How did this visit change your opinion of Constellation?

Jeff Zhao (Q28)

I originally thought that Constellation was just an energy provider to commercial homes, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Constellation is actually the nation’s largest supplier of electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. A huge part of their operations takes place in their trading group (where Ricky Wilson, our QUEST Alumni Board Chair works) that hedges against price fluctuations by selling and buying units of megawatts/hr. The parent company, Exelon, is the nation’s largest power generation company as well! This site visit really opened my eyes to understanding the size of Constellation and its parent company Exelon.

Brian Yuwen (Q28)

I didn’t really know what Constellation did prior to the visit. I knew that they provided energy, but I learned that they aren’t just an energy provider—they also provide risk assessments about the energy industry so that Exelon’s energy providers know when and where to supply energy. Also, the office is really nice.

Michael Vetter (Q28)

I originally thought that Constellation was just an energy producer and supplier. However, I did not realize that the company is only focused on wholesale and retail. Many of their employees just focus on trading and finance, which fit my career goals more closely. I now see them as a possible future employer.

 

How do you think the QUEST tools and mission align with the work that Constellation does?

Jeff Zhao

QUEST’s dedication to quality really mirrors Constellation’s mission to ensure quality and reliable energy to customers. The most prominent QUEST tool that I saw was “data-backed recommendations” where the trading group takes into account the root causes that affect electricity prices and aggregates large amounts of data to really be able to accurately send competitive prices to its consumers.

Brian Yuwen

Constellation’s work goes towards providing service, results, and recommendations for Exelon, which aligns with QUEST principles.

Michael Vetter

Constellation is constantly working in multi-disciplinary teams and combines quantifiable data with qualitative information as employees know how to speak both technically and conversationally with each other and with customers. Thus, they work very similarly to QUEST. Also, when they acquire new companies, they usually re-design their systems, which is one of the three pillars of QUEST.

 

In what ways do you think Constellation is an innovator in comparison to other players in their industry?

 Jeff Zhao

Constellation has a smaller “VC” group dedicated to up-and-coming companies in the energy business. We weren’t able to meet many people from that team, so I wasn’t able to really gleam anything else from that.

Brian Yuwen

I don’t know much about Constellation’s competition, but their trading floor is pretty neat. I think the general atmosphere of the office implies that they care about moving toward more collaborative spaces and innovative practices. I’m pretty sure we saw a group conducting a stand-up meeting when we got in that morning.

Michael Vetter

Constellation’s main source of innovation comes from its acquisitions. That is why their main innovative unit is their venture capital department that searches for disruptive start-ups that will change their systems and business model.

 

What other strategies do you think Constellation could employ to remain a leader in their industry?

Jeff Zhao

In order to remain competitive and continue to innovate, Constellation should continue to look into new energy generation methods outside coal and fossil fuels such as wind and solar as the world continues to move in a “greener” direction.

Thanks to Ricky Wilson (Q6) and Constellation for hosting QUEST!

Soon-to-be Alumni Feature: Julia Lomakina and Rohan Bajaj

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As the semester approaches the stage when students are completing projects and beginning to start studying for finals, for many, it’s a time when they are thinking about the soon-approaching winter break. While some people will be using this as a time to rest up for the upcoming spring semester, some students will be celebrating an important milestone: graduation.

Recently, I was able to catch up with two Q26 students/soon-to-be-alumni, Julia Lomakina and Rohan Bajaj. Both students are graduating a semester early compared to their peers and also have exciting plans in store for after they graduate next month.

 

Rohan Bajaj (Q26)

Julia Lomakina (Q26)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s something that you cherish from your time at UMD?

Julia:

I cherish all of the wonderful humans I have met during my time at UMD. From rampaging around College Park bars with friends to pulling all nighters for projects, I’ve loved every moment of it. This school also gives you incredible opportunities whether educational, career, or social. I️ am so happy I️ decided to come to UMD – no regrets!

Rohan:

I cherish the people I met here. Fellow students, faculty, and friends have all had a great influence on my interests and goals. I have gotten the opportunity to teach, experiment majors, and work professionally all because of the people that surrounded me.

 

Favorite QUEST memory?

Julia:

1) Getting run over at QUEST camp within the first 30 minutes during an ice breaker resulting in a nice head gash. Haha!

2) I got to ride around in a tractor and meet the Cataraptasaurus during a client visit to a Caterpillar Dealer.

3) A few QUESTees went to play laser tag and my greatest mistake was wearing a grey shirt because that was the most intense workout I had all semester.

Rohan:

My favorite QUEST memory was just one month ago, when we went to our BMGT490H client Caterpillar’s Equipment Sale and Expo at their Alban CAT dealership. From an academic perspective, it was great to personally communicate with clients and observe the business opportunity real-time. From a fun perspective, we were treated to award-winning Chaps Pit Beef, free ice cream, and, best of all, got to drive tractors. It was a blast.

 

What are you plans after graduation?

Julia:

First, I will be traveling after graduation. I will spend a few weeks in Texas and Florida around the holidays. Then, I will travel to India and backpack around Southeast Asia for a few months. After scampering around the world, I am buying a few rain jackets and will work at Microsoft as a Program Manager in Seattle, Washington.

Rohan:

I plan to take a long break and start working at least past June. My plans are very much in the air, but I will try to volunteer. I am thinking of volunteering as a part of Habitat for Humanity or the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster for the many recent natural disasters. If that falls through, I plan on travelling as much as I can.

 

Any other parting words you want to give to your peers?

Julia:

Things I wish I told myself as a freshman: First, do random stuff on campus and around the area. Sounds interesting? Go. Don’t have a friend to go with? Still go. People are friendlier than you think. Second, use all of your resources/network (like the QUEST directory). Don’t be afraid to contact random people and ask them for advice. Third, exams are easier when you pay attention in class.

To the QUEST Community: I am extremely lucky to have you guys. Thank you to the Quality Guild who make it all happen and the students who make the program what it is. I learned and laughed so much with all of you. You are all so exceptional and I am proud to be a part of QUEST. I thank you for your part in my journey.

Final Farewell: I genuinely hope our paths cross again. Keep in touch!

Rohan:

People often get stuck and fixated on wanting and “achieving” more. Don’t try to say yes to everything, but instead say yes to things that make sense for you. Take a step back, put things in perspective, and live your best life!

 

Congratulations to all of our seniors graduating this December:

  • Rohan Bajaj (Q26)
  • Angelina Bingei (Q25)
  • Pete Dziki (Q25)
  • Eric Huang (Q23)
  • Julia Lomakina (Q26)
  • Max Samuels (Q26)
  • Janae Savoy (Q23)
  • Derien Scott (Q24)
  • Gabe Vostal (Q24)

On behalf of the QUEST student and faculty community, we’ll all genuinely miss your presence on campus; we hope that you’ll be able to visit sometime soon, and wish you the best of luck with your careers and post-UMD life!

Rou Tzamaras and Andrew Jones (Q26) attend Forbes Under 30 Summit

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Rou Tzamaras (senior, mechanical engineering major, international engineering minor, Q26) and Andrew Jones (senior, aerospace engineering major, Q26) both had the recent pleasure of being invited to attend the Forbes Under 30 Summit as U30 Scholars. This was a 4-day event held in the heart of Boston, MA, and it brought together students, young entrepreneurs, innovators, corporate sponsors, and celebrities such as Kendrick Lamar and former Apple CEO John Sculley. Recently, I had the chance to catch up with both of them to ask them to reflect on their experiences and insights from the event.

I know you were recently at the Forbes Under 30 Conference so what was your favorite part of the whole event?

Rou: My favorite part was the area called the under 30 village where everyone could go and hangout. They had multiple tracks, but if there were no events going on during your track session, you could just go and hangout there. That’s where they had speakers and different networking opportunities.

Andrew: I think the event was interesting because it was spread throughout Boston and over the course of 4 days, so there was a lot of freedom to choose where you wanted to go.

There was a hub called the “village” which had a mainstage set up for companies such as Fidelity, Microsoft, and Samsung to host booths where you could visit, learn more about the companies, and network. There was also another tent with different types of startups in multiple fields such as medicine, technology, and others. There was even a stage for entrepreneurs to talk and host roundtables too.

I was on the tech track with two sessions and different speakers ranging from CEOs of companies like One Plus to actors like T.J. Miller and engineers from Reddit and Bumble. I loved that there was so much for you to pick and choose from.

Which speaker was your favorite and why?

Rou: I was on the create track which was all about branding yourself, making your image, and creating cool things with an impact on society. During this time, TJ Miller from Silicon Valley came to talk to us and he was not only hilarious, but also very candid. He spoke about what you need to do to follow what you want and the advice that he left us with was, “Make your own meaning, work for a reason, and work harder than anybody else.”

Andrew: I listened to Saket Modi, an ethical hacker and CEO of Lucideus Tech, talk about the recent wave of data hacks. He discussed how easy it was to get access to people’s information and even hacked into a person’s phone in the audience after they handed it to him for about 10 seconds. He pulled out his laptop and projected all their contact information, texting history, audio, and location information as well.

This was so eye opening to me because I had no idea how easy it was to do something like that. It became especially interesting once I realized how many people use their phone numbers as a secondary authentication service for Facebook, Gmail, and other social networks. I’m studying aerospace engineering, and I don’t do too much coding, but it was cool to see how much you can infiltrate a person’s life despite all the measures of security we have in place.

From your perspective, why do you think an event like Forbes Under 30 is so significant when it comes to bridging the gaps between young people and older people who are more established in the industry?

Rou: I met a lot of people in a lot of different startups, and I think it’s important for people who have been in the industry for a long time to see the types of things that younger people can come up with. I also think it’s important for younger people to talk to the people who have been in industry to see how they got to where they are and what kind of path they should follow.

What if anything would you say you learned after being at the conference?

Andrew: I would say I learned how to feel more confident in my progress and comfortable with my pace. I felt reinvigorated after seeing everybody doing their own thing. I concluded that if you keep pushing forward, doing your own thing, and staying humble then you’ll eventually see the returns from those efforts. We had big CEOs and then people from obscure startups talking about their success and failures and it was all incredibly inspirational.

After being at the event and learning what you learned, how do you feel the conference impacted your thoughts about what you want to do with your career and your life moving forward?

Rou: I went to the create stage because it was something different from engineering. I have always been interested in media and content creation, but the biggest thing for me is having a platform that I can use to speak on things that matter to me.

Looking for a job has been stressful, and I feel like I’ve been thinking too much about what location is the best, what’s going to pay the most, and what’s going to look the best, but not what’s going to help me make the greatest impact possible. I want to do something where I feel like my work is helping people. I want to make a personal impact, and this conference drove home how important that is for me.

Do you still think you want to focus on the engineering side of things, or do you want to make an impact in another field of study?

Rou: That’s TBD, but I’m applying to a lot of engineering and non-technical roles so we’ll see how things turn out. When it comes down to it, if I take an engineering role, I hope to supplement that time with meaningful activities on the side by volunteering and doing pro bono work. If I take a nontechnical role such as consulting, those tend to have these opportunities built in so I hope to utilize those opportunities and make an impact there. Regardless of where I go, this conference showed me that I want to be a change maker. Whether it’s in a technical or non-technical role, I want to be a mover and a shaker than can make a lasting impact.

Andrew: During the past few months, I’ve been going back and forth between consulting and engineering, but I’ve always wanted to do something service related like AmeriCorps or Princeton in Asia. I’ve been talking to my parents and various other people, but being at the event made me even more confident about pursuing what I want to pursue and doing what I want to do. For some people, there’s a rush to go corporate and climb up the ladder, but for me, I’ve realized that I want to do something more service-oriented before going into corporate. After attending the Under 30 conference, I feel even more energized to move towards that.

 

Student Spotlight: Didac Hormiga & “Flee”

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Didac with his new App, Flee

 

Didac Hormiga is a junior in the QUEST Program (Q28), and he’s been working on his startup “Flee” for the past year! The work he’s done has allowed him to connect people in his community and push the event finding platform to the next level. Click below to learn more about his experience, and follow these links to download the app!

iPhone/IOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flee-find-local-events/id1207597483?mt=8

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flee.flee

 

What is Flee, and what value do you believe you provide your users?

Flee stands for “Find Local Events and Entertainment,” and we do just that. I started working on it during my sophomore year because I felt like I didn’t know what events were going on. It seemed like I was finding out about a lot of things after they had happened so regarding our value, I believe we’re expediting the event finding process and making it more social. We aim to help people find out where their friends are, where their friends are going, and determine the atmosphere before they arrive.

 

What’s contained in the latest update of Flee?

The big update adds a lot of different things to the experience. The main aspect of the update is the addition of a “Connect with Facebook” button that will allow users to connect their Flee accounts with Facebook and see which friends are on the app. When we first launched the app, we found that a lot of people couldn’t find their friends on the app. We had a native log-in so people had to search for friends by username which made the process a lot more difficult. This button should make the process easier and improve connections within the app.

We’ve also improved things on the back end and made changes to allow the app to run faster and smoother. The database and security have also been improved along with additions to the social experience. We added likes and comments on events and stories to allow people to interact with stories to improve the way users interact with each other on the app.

 

What were the things that went through your mind when making the decision to connect your app with Facebook?

There were a lot of strategic factors that went into the decision-making process. Choosing Facebook could lead to a lot of complications in our app, but after thinking about the future of our app, we determined it was worth the risk.

One big issue we foresaw was that our users would assume all Facebook events were present on Flee. Another issue was centered around the technical aspects of our product. By using Facebook’s API, we’ve connected ourselves to the company so if they make a change that could potentially hurt our app.

Initially, we tried to avoid the Facebook connection, but after hearing feedback from our users regarding the difficulties finding friends, we thought it made sense for us to work with Facebook and give our users the ability to gain more from the app and better connect with each other.

 

Where do you see the app moving forward?

The goal for Flee has always been to connect people to their communities. Regarding our next steps, it’s all going to be in the realm of facilitating the event finding process and improving the connections within communities.

 

What’s the biggest mistake you think you’ve made in the creation of Flee?

It’s been a long journey filled with many ups and downs, but I would say one of the bigger downs was when I connected my personal debit card to AWS instead of my business credit card. This resulted in a $10,000-dollar charge being placed on my personal card which was a hassle to get straightened out. Something I’ve learned is that anytime you’re signing a contract, or doing anything with your product, you must be detail oriented and make sure that you properly understand the terms of any agreement and its implications.

 

What’s been the greatest success you’ve seen so far? What’s the greatest success you hope to see?

The greatest success has been seeing my friends find events on Flee that they weren’t aware of, inviting their friends, and going to these events. It’s been a long journey to get to this point so it’s rewarding to see that type of support from my community.

In the future, I’d like to see growth and aim to impact more people around the country and around the globe. Right now, we’re pretty event focused, but I feel that in the future we’ll be able to broaden that focus and help people be more connected with their communities in all aspects of life.

 

Student Spotlight: Ishaan Parikh & His KPCB Summer Experience

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Last semester, we interviewed QUEST student Ishaan Parikh (Q28) before he left for the KPCB Design Engineering Fellows program this summer. It’s a very selective program that offers its participants a valuable opportunity to engage with the culture of Silicon Valley. Learn more about his experience below!

 

What exactly were you doing over the summer?

There were 2 aspects to my summer internship in Silicon Valley. First, was being a software engineer at Indiegogo. I was doing full stack web development for them, working primarily on their back end with some front-end work added in as well.

 

The other side of my summer was the KPCB experience that I shared with the 79 other fellows. We attended talks led by people like John Doerr (a partner at KPCB) and Mary Meeker (a partner at KPCB) along with other CEOs from the KPCB portfolio companies. Outside of the professional sphere, I was also able to develop close relationships with the people in my cohort. We went paint balling, hiking, sailing, and were able to have fun as a community!

 

In what ways, do you think you were able to step out of your comfort zone?

In the context of the internship, I had not worked with any of the languages or frameworks to the extent that I did this summer. It was also challenging being thrown into the deep end on my project. My manager switched teams during my summer which left me as the only engineer with experience on the project. This gave me the opportunity to take a leading role and teach the other engineers what I had been doing.

Outside of that, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, I was constantly meeting people, both professional and personally. There were multiple chances to attend talks and take advantage of being in the Valley. 

 

What was something new that you realized after your experience this summer?

Something that struck me this summer was the difference in team dynamics when comparing a work environment to a school. At school, people often end up dividing the work evenly by doing a little bit of everything. There might be implicit roles, but the lines are blurred a bit due to everybody’s ability to contribute to one part or another. This summer, I was in an environment where everyone on the team had assigned roles, and it was important to take control of your own work stream. At times, I had to stop from overextending myself and trying to fill the role of a PM or designer.

 

How did you feel about the diversity within Silicon Valley in reference to racial, gender, and ideological aspects of the culture?

Silicon Valley is definitely lacking in diversity, but having said that, a lot of companies are introducing diversity initiatives in hopes of turning things around.

Regarding my experience at Indiegogo, I felt that the company was very diverse. One of the founders was a woman, and they had multiple diversity and inclusion groups. My mentor over at the company was a woman who was an insanely talented engineer and taught me a lot over the summer.

The KPCB program was also 50/50 men/women which was really cool since it allowed me to meet a lot of people and learn from them. I noticed that I enjoy myself a lot more when I am surrounded by diverse groups of people and able to learn from them.

 

Where do you see Silicon Valley moving in the next 5 years in terms of the types of ideas and problems people might be trying to solve?

I want to preface my answer by saying that I don’t feel I know enough to accurately make any judgement on the future of the Valley, but I have seen a trend towards companies that are less flashy, but more impactful.

I met a lot of interesting companies in the KPCB portfolio and one meeting that stuck out to me was Nuna Health. They’re a data company that stores data for Medicare and Medicaid which isn’t flashy work like the things you’d see at Facebook, but it’s just as important.

I hope that in the coming years, we see more companies that are using tech to do something good. I think current grads should be looking out for companies that will provide them with opportunities to make an impact and bring about change in their communities.

 

After your experience over the summer, what do you believe your next step is going to be?

I love coding! I love the way your mind has to operate when working through questions, and I also love being able to make something that people are going to use. For now, I plan to continue coding while I still can. In the future, I could see myself moving up to more high level stuff, but for right now, I just want to keep coding.

 

Kylie King: A Happy Farewell

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By: Chineme Obiefune (Q25)

Kylie King, QUEST’s Program Director, recently announced that she will be leaving QUEST after seven years and taking on a faculty position at Champlain College in Vermont. As Kylie embarks on the next leg of her journey, we wanted to take the time to talk with her and reflect on her experience at Maryland and her work with the QUEST program. I recently had the privilege of interviewing her and getting a better understanding of where her mind is at prior to the big move. The following is a transcript of the discussion that ensued:

Kylie King (right) was honored at QSO’s End of the Year BBQ on May 7th

If you had 3 words to describe how you feel in this moment, what would they be?

Excited, Hopeful, Heavyhearted

Looking back on your time here, what are you most proud of?

I love the relationships that I’ve formed with people and the ones that I’ve helped people form with each other.

I’ve had the opportunity to teach and advise cohorts 18 through 28, and it’s wonderful meeting them as students and getting to know them better as they move on as alumni. Seeing where their careers go and what different ventures they move on to is a very rewarding experience. I’m actually still in touch with many alumni, and I hope to keep those connections open forever.

I also love that I’ve been able to help students and alumni meet each other. I believe it’s important for all members of the community to get an understanding of who is in the program and how they can leverage their connections and knowledge.

Is there anything that you would have done differently?

Looking back, when we moved into this new space, I think we could have thought a bit more about the design of the QUEST lab and the new QUEST classroom. There are so many different tweaks and changes that are just coming to mind now, and it’s a shame they couldn’t have been implemented the first time around.

Where are you headed to next?

I am going to be an Assistant Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. It’s a small private school, and I’m looking forward to it since I don’t have much experience working within small institutions. Having said that, I think QUEST has prepared me well for that since it’s a very tight knit program in its own right.

I’m also excited for the opportunity to have a role as a faculty member as opposed to a staff member. I plan on continuing my research and shifting it to focus on how teams work in entrepreneurial settings. I have plans to continue partnering with people at the University of Maryland, so I’m excited to continue that connection!

What do you think you’ll take with you from your time in QUEST?

I’ve been around some really great teachers in the QUEST program. I remember when I was a Grad Assistant and I commented on Dr. Bailey’s classroom being like a magic show. It was as if the students were on the edges of their seats waiting to see what would come next! All the instructors in the program have been great role models and have taught me the value of relationships. I hope to build a community of learners in my own classroom at Champlain where discussions can flow and students can feel open to asking questions.

What words do you have for people taking 190H, 390H, and 490H?

For those in 190H, say yes to as many opportunities that you can in the QUEST program. The bulk of the academic content is already under your belt so don’t forget to apply that content in future classes. I encourage you to go to social events and say yes to meeting alumni or going to the conference. Try to put yourself out there as much as possible to maximize all that QUEST has to offer.

For those in 390H, you have a gap next semester so I encourage you all to stay invested in QUEST. At the end of the day, it’s not just about the classes that you take. When I talk to alumni, what really sticks with them are the opportunities that they took outside the classroom. Try to get involved with things and get to know people. If you think the first 2 years went by fast, just wait until the next two disappear!

For those in 490H, I hope that you continue to work hard. You’ve all worked hard in 490H and I hope you recognize that hard work is valuable in and of itself. You should want to do your very best at all times, but don’t do it just to impress people and get a good job. Do it so that you can feel good about the work that you’ve done! I hope you learn to appreciate the value of working hard for the sake of working hard, not just for what comes next.

What advice would you have to people considering making a big move in their career?

The first piece of advice is to believe in yourself. If you think a job is out of your reach, then apply yourself and put yourself out there. The worst thing that could happen is that you update your resume, build a bigger network, and put yourself in a better position for the next job. Having said that, make sure to take risks as your risk tolerance will allow!

The second piece of advice is to not be paralyzed by looking for the best possible option. Don’t be afraid to make a decision because you’re not sure if it’s the best decision. If making a move is better than staying where you are right now then you shouldn’t be afraid to make that move!

Thanks Kylie for all you’ve done for QUEST!

Ishaan Parikh: KPCB Fellows Spotlight

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By: Chineme Obiefune (Q25)

QUEST student Ishaan Parikh (Q28) was one of only two UMD students accepted into the KPCB Design and Engineering Fellows this summer. This program has just a 5% acceptance rate across the country! Learn more about Ishaan’s plans this summer below!

Congrats on your acceptance! What KPCB track are you in?

There’s the design track, the product track, and the engineering track. I decided to pursue the engineering track.

What is it that drew you to the program?

I’m a computer science major, and I really want to be in Silicon Valley and get into the startup culture, but I don’t want to dive too deeply into the coding aspects of it. I find coding interesting, and I think it’s the backbone of many companies, but I want to experience the entrepreneurial part of things.

KPCB understands the need to mold these two disciplines and will be giving me the opportunity to intern with their portfolio companies and receive advice from the founders of these companies. I see this as a chance to learn from the founders of the companies and build my network with the people in my cohort and the Venture Capitalists in the program as well.

Do you know what company you’ll be interning with?

I’ll be at a crowd funding startup called Indiegogo (https://www.indiegogo.com/#/picks_for_you).

Where do you see this taking you in the short term (after summer) and the long term (after graduation)?

I’m interning with a lot of cool people from across the country. UMD only has a few people in the program, but there are over 50 other interns from the country who I hope to connect with. In the short term, I’m hoping to make friends and gain an immediate network of people.

In the long term, I’m confident that these people will go on to do amazing things so I’m looking forward to learning from them. I know they all share the same goal of potentially starting a venture or being involved in the startup sphere, and I can’t wait to interact with them.

How do you think QUEST and your other activities at UMD are preparing you for your internship?

QUEST and the Academy of Innovation and Entrepreneurship are teaching me a lot about the design process, which is going to be very important if I want to start a company. I’ve learned about empathizing, defining, and prototyping, which I’m sure will be beneficial during my time in the program.

What advice would you give to those interested in the KPCB fellows program?

Reach out to me when I come back from the summer and be sure to talk to other fellows at Maryland to hear their experience. I know they want more Maryland people so check out the website and apply!

Senior Spotlight: Michelle He

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By Grace Cha (Q24)

For this month’s senior spotlight, I had the wonderful opportunity to get the scoop on Q23’s Michelle He. You’ll notice her 490H team’s winning poster hanging brightly in the QUEST Lab – a poster that she helped her team design last semester for their project with Caterpillar.

Photo of Michelle He

Michelle He, Gelato Aficionado

Originally from Rockville, MD, Michelle will be graduating this May with a degree in Marketing and Information Systems. Her interests and hobbies include long-distance running, drawing and painting, losing at trivia nights, hiking, and attending dog meet-ups (even though she doesn’t own a dog). Some of her ambitious goals as a senior are to reach Yelp Elite status (Michelle: “Please like my reviews, guys!”) and to successfully complete a headstand by the end of the year.

Michelle has kept herself busy these past four years. Apart from QUEST, she also completed Smith’s Design Fellows program due to her interests in marketing and graphic design. She served as the Community Service Chair and VP of Marketing for SUSA, the Smith School’s student governing organization. She also is an active member of the professional business fraternity Phi Chi Theta and leadership society Omicron Delta Kappa. Currently, she designs various marketing materials for the Smith Undergraduate Office. Outside of the business school, Michelle works at the Eppley Recreational Center, and this past spring break, she led a community service trip in Baltimore focusing on socioeconomic equity.

The highlight of her college career was her study abroad trip to Milan, Italy for an entire semester in Spring 2016.

“Going to Italy was amazing. I took a picture of every gelato I ate abroad,” Michelle said, proudly smiling. She took a grand total of 42 pictures.

Post-graduation, Michelle will be working full-time for Deloitte Consulting as a Business Technology Analyst in the DC Metropolitan area.

“I decided to go into technology consulting because it provides the flexibility to apply different skills to a wide range of projects,” Michelle explained. “I ultimately want to pursue a career in design and technology, and I think Deloitte Consulting would be a great start to achieving that goal.”

However, Michelle isn’t quite just ready to jump into full-time employment. This upcoming summer, Michelle will be biking over 4,000 miles in a span of 70 days from Baltimore to Portland for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. After hearing about her Alternative Break co-leader’s experience running for the same organization, Michelle was inspired to do the same.

“This trip combines many different things I’m passionate about – traveling, fitness, and my commitment to giving back. It gives me the opportunity to connect with people all over the country and learn their stories… Ultimately, I think this would be a meaningful and epic way to end my senior year.”

The bike ride begins when she and other participating cyclists dip their wheels in the Baltimore Inner Harbor. Over the span of 10 weeks, Michelle will be raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, only bringing a small duffel and a sleeping bag. Staying at local YMCAs, churches, and community centers along the way, Michelle will also be donating time to cancer communities in select cities.

“I actually just got my bike last week. I’ve never owned a bike until now, but I’ve been taking cycling classes to prepare,” Michelle said. “I feel so conflicted. I’m excited for the summer to start but not excited for my final year at Maryland to end.”

And although there isn’t much time before graduation arrives, Michelle attributes a lot of her success to QUEST and its supportive community.

“I had my first internship at Booz Allen Hamilton with a QUEST alum, who is still very much involved. From there, QUEST helped secure my next internship. I know alumni all over the world who I can connect with,” Michelle said. “Actually, people in QUEST were some of the first to donate to my account for the Ulman Cancer Fund – that means a lot to me. It’s reassuring to know that the QUEST community still stays strong after graduation.”

For incoming and current QUEST students who luckily have a bit more time in their college careers, Michelle also imparts some advice.

“Hang out in the QUEST Lab between classes. Go the the QUEST-sponsored events and meet people you wouldn’t have talked to before. Bond through the joys and sorrows of a long team meeting because those are the moments you’ll remember by the end of it.”

If you are interested in supporting Michelle He on her bike ride for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, check out her fundraising page here.

Alumni on Advanced Certifications and Degrees

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By: Jacob Wilkowsky (Q19)

March 2014:

Flying Back from Spring Break in Barcelona

I knew the CPA lay abruptly ahead. Committed to work in public accounting after graduation, it seemed like there was no alternative. My future employer provided the Becker study materials. My friends in the field either had the accreditation or were well on their way to achieving it. Pursuing the CPA didn’t feel like a decision, but an inevitability. Little did I know it was a slippery slope…

January 2015:

All Smiles in my Grandmother’s Guest Bedroom

Well the CPA didn’t go as planned, but at least I was done. Seven months, hundreds of hours studying, and six attempts later I passed all four sections (FAR, REG, BEC, and AUD). However, even before the results of my final attempt came out, I was registered to take Level I of the CFA in June. This time, the reasons I enrolled weren’t so clear. For certain the ease of the CPA wasn’t a factor—it truly was a miserable experience. However, my education in finance, past experience in valuation, and yada, yada, yada—none of you care.   

Today

I’m gearing up for Level II of the CFA. Facing the deep abyss ahead, I can’t help but wonder how I got here. In the approximately three years since graduation, I’ve lived in five apartments (including my grandmother’s guest bedroom), worked at two firms, and gone on one additional international journey. However, the singular constant has been the unyielding pressure of studying for advanced certifications. At least I can take solace in the knowledge that my obsession with abbreviations is shared by fellow QUEST alumni seeking advanced degrees in science, medicine, law, and business.

Santiago Miret (Q18), PhD student in Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Berkeley

You’re brilliant, we get it. Why get the PhD? Could you gain the same knowledge elsewhere?

One thing that you learn while doing a PhD is how truly not-brilliant you are, but I think that is the case for any challenging work that you do because you get exposed to how much more there is to do and learn. The PhD is very conducive for challenging learning because it is set up for you to explore topics that have never been explored and create new knowledge to share with the world. It may be possible to acquire similar knowledge somewhere else, but it is very difficult to acquire depth outside the environment of the PhD.

Tony Trinh (Q21), medical student at the University of Maryland School of Medicine

Since graduating it seems like my friends in Med School have had it the worst in terms of up front investment in their career (grueling workload, financial cost, longest-term payoff). Why do you think there are so many people lining up for the opportunity?

I think what it comes down to is that people in medical school are content to play the long game (and I mean L-O-N-G game). Although both the financial and even psychological costs of medical school are astronomically high, I don’t know a single person in my class who isn’t passionate about medicine. It might sound a bit romantic but I genuinely believe that everyone here has an earnest desire to help their fellow man and are willing to go through what can sometimes seem like hell to do so. Of course there is a financial driving force tied in there but anyone who’s looking for ONLY a quick pay out wouldn’t last a day in medical school. From my perspective of my class and my school, the job comes first and paycheck comes later (much later) but we’re okay with that and wouldn’t you rather have a doctor who looks at you like a patient rather than a source of income?

Matt Sarna (Q19), law student at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

People say that law school teaches you how to think like a lawyer. Did anything in QUEST help prepare you for this transformation?

Plenty of my peers questioned why a business school QUEST student would be interested in pursuing a law degree. My answer has always been that QUEST does not prepare you to go into a specific field, it prepares you to take a client’s opportunity head-on and develop a synthesized solution that addresses each facet of the issue. That is the foundation of a successful lawyer. Law school teaches you how to take black letter law, ambiguous regulations, and ever-changing political landscapes and massage a client’s needs to fit. It teaches you to keep asking, “What if…” and “Why.”

Richard (Ricky) Wilson (Q6), M.B.A at the University of Chicago – Booth School of Business

[Ricky also has a Masters in Electrical Engineering and Six Sigma Greenbelt]

Based on my friend’s Snapchat, business school is alternating sprints between the library and bar. How true is this interpretation and what was the best lesson you learned as an MBA?

That was not my business school experience, but it can be the experience of some.  It may likely depend upon your background prior to entering business school.  I never spent much time in the library.  Business school was really a lesson on time management, an opportunity for personal and professional development, and an immersion into diversity. The coursework is generally not very challenging for people with analytical backgrounds, but it can be time consuming.  There is a lot of reading and a lot of group assignments.  Besides homework there is recruiting, student groups, building friendships, and definitely going to bars.  It is basically always someone’s birthday, there is always a student group event, there is always a company on campus, and there is always homework to be done.  People have to learn how to manage and prioritize these demands.  The biggest benefit of business school is the relationships you develop, but that can’t be at the expense of finding a job and passing classes.

I’ve also never been in an environment with people having such diverse backgrounds across ethnicities, work experience, recreational interests, travel, country of residence, etc.  It really just exposes you to various opportunities and inspires you to accomplish great things.  It is a chance to try new things and to re-examine what you once considered your boundaries or limitations.

The biggest thing I walked away with was self-awareness.  I learned a lot about how I am perceived, how I behave in various situations, how I can influence those situations, and where I can develop.  Beyond that, I think business school really teaches you to identify an unmet need (sometimes an unknown need) and how to successfully address that opportunity.  It provides tools, resources, and relationships that provide advantages.

Jason Graub (Q17), CPA and Co-founder and CFO at Gameplan

How much thought did you put into getting the CPA? What’s it worth to you now?

In terms of time put into CPA, once I made the decision to go the accounting route ( which I wavered on a few times throughout college) I knew I had to get the CPA in order for it to be worth it. Especially when KPMG would pay for Becker and the tests and I’d get the bonus when I passed.

What’s it worth to me now: Now it’s a nice fall back and provides some credibility on my resume. But I don’t view as something crucial to my long-term success. I’m debating whether to let my active license expire (I’ll probably renew next year through 2019, but since I’m not practicing and don’t see accounting in my long-term future there isn’t much incentive to keep up with the CPE’s, which are a pain).

Bryan Towns (Q7), Six Sigma Blackbelt and Director of Program Management at Abbott

[Bryan is also has a Masters in Product Development Engineering, MBA, and PMP]

The Six Sigma Blackbelt seems like the certification most aligned with QUEST’s core teaching curriculum. Can you talk to the value it’s added to your career?

While applying the Six Sigma methodology in my career, I have realized that it is a natural extension of the QUEST experience.  Systems thinking, an emphasis on data-based decision making, continuous improvement, and even techniques for effective team management are threads that are shared between the QUEST experience and in all variants of the Six Sigma methodology.  Therefore, it is difficult for me to isolate either the Six Sigma certification or QUEST experience as the sole contributor, as they are so intertwined.  As an example, I remember describing the use of a Pugh Matrix, which I had learned in QUEST, in a panel interview to land my first job out of UMD, before even realizing that it was part of the Six Sigma tool kit.  As an engineer, I relied on Designs of Experiments to build robust designs into the products that I developed, and as a Program Manager, I rely on Voice of the Customer techniques to ensure that my teams are aligned with our customers’ unmet needs.   In that sense, both QUEST and Six Sigma have provided me with tools that I have used to solve problems as I have grown in my career.

Ningwei Li (Q20), Investment fellow at T. Rowe Price, CFA level III Candidate

What is the CFA charter?

CFA, chartered financial analyst, is a designation for professionals interested in the field of investment research and portfolio management. Essentially the process requires passing three exams, each requiring about 100 hours or more of preparation, and four years of working experience in the investment industry. Many firms see the CFA designation as a way of showing commitment in the industry as well as a person’s ability to learn. I personally think the CFA exposes a candidate to so much of finance that learning alone is worthwhile. Luckily, I’m currently sponsored by my firm to take the CFA exams. To me, it’s a no brainer that I should pursue the designation.

What question should QUEST students ask themselves when planning to pursue an advanced certification or degree?

Richard (Ricky) Wilson (Q6)

The biggest question to ask is ‘do the benefits outweigh the costs?’  The cost is not just financial, but also the opportunity cost.  What else could you be doing with your time, does this provide you with the most utility, and what will you be able to accomplish that you could not without it (or at a faster pace than without it)?  The financial benefits will be related to supply and demand as well.  People should try to spend some time estimating the future demand, evaluating the future supply, and risk factors that could affect both and thus change the economic value of the decision.

Bryan Towns (Q7)

Be careful to pursue only those certifications that will be the most impactful within your field.  I have had a number of colleagues who had an “alphabet soup” of certifications in their email signature lines, but were not exceptionally strong within any one of their apparent areas of expertise.  Choosing a couple of accreditations that will better help you to serve your organization, customers, and clients is much more valuable than sheer quantity.

Santiago Miret (Q18)

I would suggest to conduct your own research as to what each degree or certification means. Many degrees showcase to the broader audience that you have certain skill sets or certain knowledge, yet there may be other ways to show that you have that skill set or knowledge. Degrees and certifications are often just a tool to help you get somewhere you are striving towards. That being said, it is also important to remain humble and acknowledge how much you truly know so that you don’t overestimate or underestimate yourself.

Jason Graub (Q17)

Students should be asking what are they truly interested in and what will provide them with the most value long-term. For me, I do appreciate the CPA and I think it’s good to have, but if I’d done it again, I would’ve gone a different direction most likely and not gotten it. Especially since it required 150 credits which is a lot to ask for a certification, if you’re not going to be a practicing CPA.  

Tony Trinh (Q21)

How much are you willing to sacrifice to get what you want?

Ningwei Li (Q20)

How will the certification help you reach your goal? I think as a student as well as a young professional, you can learn so much more through your work than pursuing an advanced certification that doesn’t help you reach your goal.

Conclusion:

Thank you guys for participating!

As a student you can often find yourself obsessing over your life after college– I certainly did. However, in all the simulations I ran in my head, I never predicted how dedicated I’d be to advanced degrees in my first two years out of College Park. Whether or not you want to be a doctor, lawyer, business executive, scientist, etc., it is important to do some research and investigate the opportunities for advanced certifications or degrees that may align with your interests. Thanks again to my interviewees for taking the time to share their insight!