Preparing Students for Real-World Success while Building a Lasting Community
“How do I make my students successful?” That question guided me as I designed a curriculum to equip my students with the confidence and professional readiness skills they needed to compete with graduates from universities like Santa Clara, Stanford, and UC Berkeley. With that goal in mind, I reimagined the classroom experience, building a pedagogy that simulated real-world business scenarios such as job interviews, personal branding, and annual performance reviews. In the process, I shifted from being a traditional “professor” to serving as a coach, mentor, and cheerleader.
My commitment to students didn’t end when the semester did. Many still reach out for guidance, and I created a dedicated LinkedIn group for alumni of my classes. It’s become both a safe space for candid career conversations and a networking platform to help them connect and grow.
More recently, I launched a series called “Where Are They Now?” to spotlight former students. Some of those who sat in my classroom in the early 2010s are now senior directors, VPs, and seasoned professionals with remarkable stories. Others are navigating career transitions or setbacks: journeys I believe are just as valuable to highlight.
My hope is to give this community of graduates a sense of perspective and encouragement, especially in today’s uncertain job market. By sharing these stories, I want them to see that success is rarely a straight line; it’s built over time, through resilience, and by having the courage to make bold choices.
Where Are They Now?
Sharing the journeys of former students to inspire perspective, hope, and bold career choices
Challenge
Over the past year, more and more former students began reaching out to me for support. Many waited until they were in “desperation mode,” ashamed of being laid off and fearful that asking for help might make me less proud of them. They tried to navigate career transitions alone until they had exhausted every option before turning to me, someone who had supported them since their student days. I realized I needed a way to provide encouragement and resources not just for those willing to reach out, but also for those who were hesitant or afraid to ask.
Strategy
I developed a two-part approach to create scalable, ongoing support:
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Virtual Office Hours: Modeled after corporate all-team meetings with an open Q&A format, these sessions offered students a safe space to ask questions, sometimes with the candor of an “Ask Me Anything”session.
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“Where Are They Now?” Spotlight Series: A content initiative designed to share authentic career journeys, both the wins and the setbacks. By highlighting a wide range of experiences, the series reinforces that success takes many shapes and often requires bold moves.
Execution
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Invited dozens of former students to participate in the spotlight series, giving them the choice of a live Zoom interview or a written Q&A.
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Built a pipeline of stories before launch to ensure consistency.
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Established a weekly Thursday release cadence, aligned with LinkedIn engagement data showing peak traffic on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
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Positioned each story around the theme: success is not linear and resilience and courage often open new possibilities.
Impact
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Former students now have access to an ongoing support system that normalizes both career growth and setbacks.
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The spotlight series creates a sense of community and connection, helping alumni see that career transitions, even difficult ones, are part of the broader journey.
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The initiative continues to build momentum, offering current and past students a source of perspective, hope, and practical inspiration.
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As one student told me: “I really love the articles you're putting in our LinkedIn channel. They have such a personal touch and it’s nice to see real stories."
Virtual Office Hours
I created these interactive sessions as part of a two-part approach to offer ongoing, scalable support. Think of them as more than just a “power lunch” learning session. Modeled after corporate all-team meetings, the format features a brief lecture followed by an open Q&A, giving students a safe space to ask questions and share challenges. Over time, these virtual office hours became a way to reconnect, laugh, and relive the strong classroom community we built together. Students often tell me they miss the connection, and I like to joke that it’s a bit of Stockholm syndrome. The following slides are from my most recent Lunch 'n Learn, which focused on job search strategies.
Featured Articles and Conversations
I’ve had the privilege of sharing my former students’ stories through articles and recorded interviews in our LinkedIn channel. Each example offers an honest look at career journeys: through the triumphs, the setbacks, and the resilience it takes to keep moving forward. My hope is that they spark connection, perspective, and encouragement for others navigating their own paths.
My Winding (But Worth It) Career Path: How Cinthya Gonzalez Followed the Breadcrumbs to Google
Cinthya and her family enjoying a day of happiness at Disneyland.
Cinthya Gonzalez never set out to become a program manager at Google. Her career has been anything but linear. “It’s been more like a series of breadcrumbs I followed,” she said. “I’d get curious about something, dive in, and the next step would reveal itself.”
She started in customer success at a tech startup, where she learned how to build relationships, stay calm under pressure, and make people feel heard.
“Working with customers gave me a masterclass in emotional intelligence.” That role gave her a front-row seat to how products were built. She found herself asking questions and learning how decisions got made. Curiosity eventually led her into program management.
Today, Cinthya works in AR/VR at Google. The pace is fast; the tech is cutting edge; and the people, in her words, are “some of the smartest, kindest humans I’ve ever worked with.” The culture values ownership and flexibility equally. “You’re trusted to get things done and to take care of yourself. That’s rare.”
Her job is to bring clarity to chaos. “Program managers are the translators. I speak enough ‘engineering’ to ask the right questions, but I also understand timelines, user needs, and business goals. It’s like being fluent in five dialects and knowing which one to use in each meeting.”
Cinthya leads global teams across time zones and cultures, and relies on strong documentation, SOPs, and regular check-ins to keep things running. But relationship building is still her top super power. “You can't fake trust. Showing up consistently matters more than showing up perfectly.”
She doesn’t micromanage. “That’s not my style. I work with incredibly smart people. I’d rather spend my time unblocking and uplifting them.” Her leadership is rooted in dependability and openness. “I’m not the loudest in the room, but I remember your dog’s name, follow through, and don’t shy away when things get messy.”
To her, program management isn’t just spreadsheets. “It’s about alignment, momentum, and clarity. There’s real art in helping a team feel steady when everything’s shifting.”
For those breaking into tech or pivoting into PM, especially women and underrepresented professionals, her advice is clear: “You belong in these rooms. Don’t wait to feel ‘ready.’ Start asking questions and take up space. Find people who see your potential and hold the door open behind you.”
What’s next? Cinthya wants to grow her impact, lead bigger programs, coach new PMs, and sharpen her technical fluency.
Outside of work, her world revolves around family. She and her husband recently celebrated 15 years of marriage. Their 4 year-old son keeps them laughing and grounded. Her path hasn’t followed a formula, but it’s been guided by curiosity, courage, and care. And that, she says, is more than enough.
From Rock Bottom to Roof Tops: How Nick Grote Built a $2M Business and a Life of Purpose
Nick Grote and Laimin Lo reconnect over Zoom.
When Nick Grote first walked into my classroom, he didn’t expect it to change his life. But that class, full of tough feedback and unrelenting assignments, became a turning point.
In our recent conversation, Nick reflected on how challenges in and out of the classroom helped him develop mental grit, personal branding, and the courage to carve his own path. After facing rejection in corporate America, a situation compounded by the constrained job market during the pandemic, he pivoted to roofing—yes, roofing!—where he discovered an unexpected passion and a whole lot of opportunity.
Today, Nick is the founder of California Roof Runners, a growing roofing business in the Bay Area that’s closed over $2M in sales this past year. He’s using AI tools like ChatGPT to streamline proposals, scale faster, and still maintain a personal touch with clients.
But his story isn’t just about business. It’s about resilience, parenting through loss and transition, and breaking through systemic barriers that often hold back students from schools like San Jose State. He’s living proof that you don’t need Ivy League credentials to make a real impact; you just need drive, values, and vision.
Thank you, Nick, for your honesty, your hustle, and your heart. Can’t wait to see what you build next!
👉 Watch our conversation unfold on Panopto.
From Milk and Cookies to Senior Manager: Charlie Hua's Career Journey
Charlie Hua sharing his career pro-tips.
I've had the pleasure of teaching for two decades, and sometimes, a student just sticks with you. Charlie Hua was one of my very first, back in 2005. I’ll admit, I was pretty green, but Charlie was always a positive force. He'd always sit in the front-row seat on the right, meticulously scribbling notes. I was always thankful he was so attentive, at least one student was paying attention to my sloppy lectures!
I'll never forget the day we had a mini-potluck and he brought milk and cookies. A wave of nostalgia hit me; it was from the same store my mom and I used to go to when I was a kid. That simple, warm treat not only brought back fond memories for me but was also a huge hit with all his classmates.
Today, Charlie is a Senior Manager of Support for Sage Intacct Solutions with Baker Tilly US. He recently shared his incredible career journey in a video, offering advice for all of us. His path is a powerful reminder that careers are rarely a straight line.
In his video, Charlie talks about turning down a full-time offer from PwC after graduating from San Jose State to become the general manager of a local store. He explains, "I wanted to keep building my leadership and operational experience in an environment I knew and cared about." He invested his life savings into the business, managing a team of 25.
Years later, he made a massive pivot. After selling his share and feeling "useless," he landed a job at Sage Intacct with almost no formal training in cloud software. He learned on the job, leading a team of analysts within nine months.
He recounts a valuable lesson from a role at Ernst & Young, which he left after realizing it was "misaligned" with his personal values. This experience taught him the importance of recalibrating and focusing on work that matters.
Charlie’s advice for students and young professionals is invaluable:
👉 Start with the work. "I didn’t wait for passion to find me. I started with the work, found the parts I enjoyed, and poured myself into them. Over time, those became my passion."
👉 Effort and care matter. His attention to detail has carried him further than any title or credential. He says that the fear of not being able to retool was "overblown."
👉 Leadership is about people. Whether it's a CFO or a warehouse worker, "they each have their own pressures and needs." The best leaders understand the work firsthand and provide guidance to grow.
Charlie’s journey is a powerful testament to the fact that a slow, steady, and intentional career can be just as powerful as the fast-moving, always-hustling one. The meaning, the growth, and the career itself are all in the details of the work you do.
Watch Charlie's full video to learn more about his incredible story.
Thank you, Charlie, for being you and sharing your story so candidly! I cannot believe we've remained connected for over TWENTY YEARS!!! ❤️ 🙏
Note
This LinkedIn case study is here to give you a sense of how I think and approach my work. I appreciate you respecting the time and thought behind it by not copying, sharing, or reusing it without my written permission.