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College Experiences That Helped a CEO at Latina Advocates Succeed

To prepare for a successful career, Carol actively sought experience outside the classroom through internships, volunteering, and event organizing to gain "real skills and opportunities" and make connections; additionally, seeking out mentors and being open to new experiences proved invaluable, as demonstrated by a chance encounter with a lobbyist that eventually led to a professional connection.

Networking, Mentorship, Internships, Volunteering, Career Exploration

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Carol Gonzalez

CEO

Latina Advocates

CSU Sacramento

​

Communications, Political Science, American Studies

Government & Public Sector

Consulting

HSI Grad, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student

Video Highlights

1. Gaining experience outside the classroom through internships, volunteering, and organizing events provides real skills, opportunities, and connections.

2. Networking and building relationships with professionals in your field of interest can lead to unexpected opportunities and career advancements.

3. Seeking out mentors and being open to learning from their experiences can significantly impact your personal and professional growth.

Transcript

What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?

I feel like I talked about it a little bit, but I made it a point to get experience outside of the classroom, whether it was interning, volunteering, or organizing events. I tried to gain real skills, opportunities, and connections with people doing work I thought was similar to mine.

I also remember very vividly showing up to an event and meeting a lobbyist for the first time. I asked them how they got there, what they did, and how attainable that career was. Lo and behold, two years later, I was at a conference table with that same person.

You really never know where these opportunities will take you in college. I also think seeking out mentors was really helpful for me. It's always a little awkward when you get a mentor for the first time, isn't it?

It's not like you ask them straight up, "Hey, can you be my mentor?" But over time, they kind of get the point of how impactful their comments and experiences are in your life. So just be willing to learn and say yes to a lot of the things that come your way, because that's probably the best way I was able to grow.

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