“I plan to get as much experience as possible in my time as an undergraduate that pertains to my career of choice. This, along with professional development and mentorship, will help me grow as a more knowledgeable and capable individual.” – Alexis Luna Martinez (Photo: Center)
Our young professionals’ journey through Genesys Works is often characterized by grit and determination. While a lot has changed in ten years, our role has remained constant: we guide and equip these young professionals to pursue the career pathway that will suit them best with the aptitude they’ve had all along.
Alexis Luna-Martinez is one of these young professionals. Last year, he interned at Boston Scientific, a company who has been a Genesys Works corporate partner since 2017. Throughout his internship, he learned to react and adapt to various obstacles, which enabled him to provide value to the company and “be seen as an equal within my team.”
It also enlightened him to the benefits of a college degree and how it could present more opportunities for him down the road, specifically within the field of technology. Says his former program coordinator Lindsey Myrick, “Alexis quickly became a valued and trusted member of the Boston Scientific team due to his passion for technology and excitement for learning. He was open to trying any task in order to grow his skills and broaden his exposure to the world of IT.”
In the midst of his year-long internship, our organization was also hard at work to develop a more responsive structure of continued support for our post-high school graduates. From these efforts, we developed the Talent Development Pipeline (TDP) program. Designed to connect young professionals with long-term career success, the program provides experiences and enhanced support from Genesys Works throughout college, preparing them for competitive careers within their field of choice.
Open to graduating high school seniors pursuing degrees in technology or business, the TDP program was a perfect fit for Alexis. Now a first-year student at the University of Minnesota, he’s chosen to major in Computer Science with his sights set on becoming a software engineer. “Alexis applied to the TDP program this spring, and has already stepped up as a future leader in the field of technology,” says Marit Aaseng, Career Success Specialist and key Genesys Works contact for TDP students, “This industry has been a lifelong interest for him, which he developed further through his internship at Boston Scientific.”
He initially applied because of his newfound interest in technology and simply valued the additional support he would receive as an undergraduate student. He soon realized that there was significant long-term value as well: access to college internships. Says Alexis, “I plan to get as much experience as possible in my time as an undergraduate that pertains to my career of choice. This, along with professional development and mentorship, will help me grow as a more knowledgeable and capable individual.” According to Marit, he’s wasting no time and hopes to have another Genesys Works internship by his sophomore year.
Thus far, Alexis has participated in multiple TDP opportunities, volunteering for the Genesys Works Alumni Reunion, attending a networking event hosted by Target, and participating as a panelist for Class of 2019 summer training students. For Alexis, the biggest challenge so far has been stepping out of his comfort zone to network with as many people as possible.
Until college graduation, he plans to continue his TDP experience with the same determination he had at the onset of his high school internship. “The amount of time you put into this organization, building connections and developing your skills, directly affects all of the opportunities that open up as you continue your time as a young professional.”
For the next four years, we’ll continue to guide and equip Alexis and other TDP students like him, as they close the gap between high school internship and successful career.
