Finance at Intel is unique because of our operational placement. I’m currently placed in the Global Marketing & Communications group, which allows me more access than the typical corporate finance role. In GMC, I help strategize, plan and execute the operational budget of the end user product marketing team. I also lead special projects that allow me to influence marketing spending efficiencies and cash savings. But of course, I still have accounting deliverables at the end of each quarter (there’s no escaping that).
As a kid, I watched my father pull apart and put together computer towers, and I was always fascinated by that. Additionally, math and science were always my best subjects. When I later attended the Bronx High School of Science in New York City, I was lucky enough to take several electronics and computer science courses. I was interested in both hardware and software, but I could not decide which route to take. Fortunately, Rochester Institute of Technology’s Computer Engineering Technology program included both areas.
Through researching cross-functional roles that would still allow me to be close to technology, I learned that most of the roles required an MBA, so it was a no-brainer. My MBA has allowed me to dive deep into any functional vertical while understanding how everything connects.
How did you land your Intel MBA internship?
My fraternity brother, Omar Moore, a former Intel employee, helped connect me to the necessary people, and then it was up to me take it from there. I was originally interested in Intel’s supply chain and leadership rotational program opportunities, but did not have enough related work experience. However, Intel representatives still took my resume during the National Black MBA Association conference.
Two weeks later, I received an email from Intel for an interview. I was extremely excited, but I forgot to open the email attachment. Three days before the interview I realized the interview was for a finance role. Finance wasn’t even my concentration in business school, but I decided to look at it as a challenge. Luckily, I had just finished my core economics, finance and accounting classes. Ultimately, everything worked out, and I used my lack of finance background as motivation to succeed.
In addition to your full-time role, you’re also the Co-Founder/CEO of the CrowdFit app. How did the idea and team come about and how did you bring the product from ideation to execution?
CrowdFit started off with an idea during my first year of business school. I was trying to figure out how to get in a workout during an upcoming recruiting trip. I spent hours on Google searching for a gym in the area and going to each gym’s website to see if it was sufficient. I asked myself, “Why isn’t there an easier way to do this?”
Soon after, I started vetting the idea of an app to solve this issue and recruited people who ultimately became my co-founders. Over the last year and a half, CrowdFit has become a unique social fitness app that is geared towards connecting fitness enthusiasts. We are set to launch this January, so my team and I are all pretty excited. Shameless plug: visit www.CrowdFit.training to learn more about the app and to take a look at our fitness blog.
Congrats to my brilliant son Richard.
Thank You for all of your hard work and vision. You are an inspiration. CONGRATULATIONS.
Expected nothing less from a fellow Simonite. Congrats!