Formal Work Experience
Roland Berger
Boston | June-August 2024
I interned as a Junior Summer Associate for Roland Berger, a global management consulting firm, at their Boston office this summer. At Roland Berger, I was part of a 6-member team that conducted a commercial due diligence of a global plastic packaging company for a private equity client.
I supported my team by evaluating resin pass-through dynamics across 8 customer contracts to develop a pricing model that compared expected pass-through scenarios with actual sales data to assess the target company’s margin stability. I also researched relevant plastic production processes and analyzed 10-year pricing data for 3 different plastic resins to identify EU-NA market volatility differences.
Cisco
Boston | June-August 2023
As a Communications Intelligence Intern at Cisco, I spearheaded an analysis of media trends for industries relevant to the company, such as AI, cybersecurity, and cloud networking.
Using boolean search strings and Quid, a market intelligence software, I analyzed 3.5M articles and 10 industry events across 3 years. My work encompassed research design and execution, seeking to mitigate the news cycle's unpredictability and its impact on media planning: a major pain point for the Global Communications department.
I presented my analysis to department, empowering the 300-member organization to forecast the news cycle and optimize media strategy around emerging tech trends.
2Life Communities
Boston | June-September 2022
I served a Community Insights Analyst at 2Life Communities, a non-profit providing affordable housing for senior residents in Boston.
Drawing on data from surveys and Salesforce, I explored the impact of video conferencing on resident well-being. I identified methods to enhance digital literacy and trained 50+ staff on new digital signage software that conveyed critical health announcements to a multilingual community of over 1,000 residents.
Working in an office integrated within a senior housing campus, I gained firsthand insight into community design, interacting with residents for my projects and absorbing their collective wisdom.
My Startup & Design Journey
JusticeArch
Evanston, IL | October 2023-Feb. 2024
I was a Business Strategy Intern at JusticeArch, an early stage startup founded by a Northwestern Law student. The startup provides a platform that simplifies the attorney search process, reducing barriers for quality legal help.
In my role, I launched more than 20 different organic traction channels to get our product in the hands of the legal consumer, which was crucial in establishing market validation. For example, I spearheaded a campaign on Nextdoor, a hyperlocal social platform, that engaged 150K+ households and 65 different neighborhoods in the Midwest. The result of these traction channels was a 10x increase in our user base, representing $40K in potential revenue and 325 leads valued at $206K for the startup's network of 30 attorneys.
Working closely with Nima, the Founder & CEO, provided invaluable insights into transforming ideas into solutions that impacted real people. Each user, beyond mere statistics, represented an individual facing legal challenges impacting their well-being. Learning to "push the needle forward" and pitch actionable ideas, I was inspired by Nima's conviction, passion, and tenacity.
During my entrepreneurial journey, I've discovered two pivotal lessons that have significantly shaped my approach to both life and business.
First, I learned the importance of treating my mind like a muscle. Second, I recognized the power of momentum. I learned the importance of doubling down on effective strategies rather than diversifying focus prematurely.
TikTok
San Francisco | January-March 2023
I participated in Northwestern's Bay Area Immersion Program, a 10-week intensive in design and digital journalism. Working with a team of diverse majors, we collaborated with TikTok's product managers to revamp advertising interactions on the platform, focusing on ethics. Through thorough user research, we identified a pain point: users struggle to differentiate between sponsored and organic content, fostering a general distrust of ads. To address this, we developed a chatbot feature for transparent ads, seamlessly integrated into the feed.
Additionally, we identified an unexplored space for implementing physical solutions within this digital challenge presented by TikTok. I led efforts to apply this approach to investigate how influencers could benefit from advertising on the platform. Conversations with creators revealed frustrations with compensation and clarity in TikTok's ad campaigns involving them. This motivated us to propose converting unused office spaces into co-working hubs, offering empowering programs for creators.
Acorn Genetics
Evanston, IL | March 2022-April 2023
At Northwestern, I had the privilege of being a part of Acorn Genetics, a Thiel-fellow-backed biotech startup making genetic testing more accessible. My experience at the startup introduced me to the dynamic world of entrepreneurship. Collaborating within the startup's small team empowered me to contribute to projects beyond the scope of my coursework and other organizations.
I joined as a Legal intern, where I participated in crafting a provisional patent for Acorn’s genetic sequencer. I then transitioned into the startup’s sole Business intern, where I assisted in creating materials for its data room when the startup was raising pre-seed funding. Furthermore, I had the invaluable opportunity to provide ideas and conduct research for Acorn's CEO and CFO, gaining insights into their expertise and discovered areas for personal growth in translating ideas into tangible solutions.
Hold the Code
Evanston, IL | March 2022-December 2023
When I first arrived at college, before the era of ChatGPT, my growing interest in tech and law led me to join the Responsible AI Student Organization on campus as a writer for Hold the Code, a newsletter that explored the societal implications of tech. I eventually became the newsletter executive of the 10-person committee later in my freshman year and served in that role until December of my junior year.
One of the most memorable moments from my time with the newsletter was creating an interactive poster game. During a period of slow reader growth, I found inspiration from two distinct sources. I came across an amusing case study showcasing an AI algorithm's struggle to create appealing ice cream flavors. Additionally, with Wordle's rising popularity, I saw an opportunity to introduce interactivity and fun to our marketing efforts. This approach helped differentiate our materials among traditional student organization channels and doubled our total subscribers.
Since our audience was non-technical, I honed my communication skills and ability to distill complex tech ideas into digestible language. Running the newsletter served as a valuable opportunity for me to delve deeper into my interests, allowing me to channel this exploration into a creative outlet.
