This story was submitted by Yena Yu, grade 10, and JiaJia Jiang, grade 11.
Harker upper school students recently experienced a pair of rare learning opportunities with CareerConnect.
On Nov. 6, CareerConnect invited Andrew Filev, the founder of Wrike, to talk about his experience creating his company and give advice to high schoolers interested in the STEM and entrepreneurship fields. During the fireside chat led by officer Emily Mitnick, grade 11, Filev shared his insights on entrepreneurship, productivity and the impact of artificial intelligence on the modern workplace. Filev’s passion for productivity stems from his own experiences as a college student and software developer juggling multiple tasks simultaneously. He recognized the need for better tools to streamline workflows and enhance efficiency, which became the driving force behind the creation of Wrike. He also emphasized the importance of finding one’s passion when pursuing a business venture, believing that genuine enthusiasm for the product or service being offered fuels the determination to succeed in the face of challenges. Regarding AI, Filev expressed his belief that this technological advancement will revolutionize various white-collar jobs, and envisions AI as a catalyst for redefining job roles around the world.
Attendee Isabelle Niu, grade 9, said, “[I think the idea that] you should not only get help but also ask for help … was a really nice piece of advice, and I felt like a lot of the questions were [specifically] for high schoolers, which was pretty nice.” She also reflected on the knowledge she gained from his talk, saying, “He talked a lot about entrepreneurship and stock markets and how to create a business, and I thought it was really helpful for people who want to pursue that career.”
The event gave students the opportunity to learn about the experiences of a successful entrepreneur and gain insight about the impact of artificial intelligence, broadening their view on both the world of business and the future of technology.
On Oct. 6, CareerConnect took a field trip to Sunnyvale-based cybersecurity company Fortinet. The students met with Jaime Romero, vice president of corporate marketing; Wei Ling Neo, VP of product management; Rachel Moussa, business developer of Fortinet’s academic programs; and Anthony Pham, director of executive briefing programs. The visit started off with a Q&A panel, where the panelists introduced their roles in the company. They talked about their strategies for marketing, their unique security fabric and their methods of reaching out to a new generation of potential cybersecurity engineers. The visit concluded with a tour of the headquarters, where Fortinet’s technologies — from digital menu boards to pharmaceutical devices — were on display.
The field trip gave students the opportunity to learn about more job opportunities in the world of cybersecurity. Reflecting on the experience, senior Callie Yuan said, “It was interesting learning about different career opportunities in cybersecurity, and I enjoyed seeing real-world applications of Fortinet’s different products.”