Manos Intern Returns to Cornell University After Being Exposed to the Startup Lifestyle
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in San Jose, California.
What do you aspire to accomplish in the future?
In the meantime, I want to earn my Mechanical Engineering Master’s of Engineering focused on design. My goal is to either become a consumer product designer to create products that have positive influence and impact or to have my own company that bridges gaps between mass manufacturers and companies.
How did you hear about Manos Accelerator?
As a Kessler Fellow, I had a fully funded opportunity through Cornell University to work with any startup in the country, so I began my search for startups. I searched Latino Entrepreneurs on Google, and Manos popped up! The rest was history.
What was your role at Manos?
As Hana (Managing Partner) would always say, I was the jack of all trades because of all the different tasks I had to accomplish. Some tasks/positions were sourcing for the 4th cohort startups, helping write grants, social media marketing, photographer, Manos Representative, daily operations, and logistics for Demo Days.
How has Manos helped your grow personally and professionally?
I have definitely grown as a professional and entrepreneur due to all the exposure I got through immersing myself in the Silicon Valley and Manos Accelerator events. I feel more confident networking at large events and I definitely know how to make a pitch deck now (thanks to all the past startups’ pitch practices).
What did you take away from your experience at Manos?
Exposure to the startup/entrepreneur lifestyle and also life-long friends and mentors.
How has your internship with Manos prepared you for a future career?
Email writing for sure. But more importantly, teamwork, communication, autonomy / self-motivation, networking and more experiences that I will definitely use in my future career.
What was one thing that you were exposed to at Manos that you would not have experienced anywhere else?
The network of trailblazing Latino tech employees and entrepreneurs in the Silicon Valley!
Share a memorable experience.
Doing the Insanity workout with my boss and the CEO of one of the participating startups at a nearby park after work. Also visiting Google’s campus for the first time and attending the Congressional Hispanic Caucus at Facebook’s Headquarters.
How did you change during your internship from your first day to your last day?
I came out knowing I had what it takes to work and thrive in the Silicon Valley tech / entrepreneurial industry.
What was your favorite part about being an intern?
Mainly being surrounded with such ambitious and visionary people.
Describe your relationship with your bosses and the startups.
They were awesome! It’s not everyday that you get to spend time with self-motivating people who are successfully building their dream. It was really nice knowing that someone with a very similar upbringing (Sylvia who was born and raised in San Jose) was such a successful entrepreneur. I was especially close to Hana Yang who was my mentor and friend. Reflecting back, Hana was almost like my older sister, always looking out and guiding me to make sure I was heading in the right path.
Where are you now? What are you doing now?
I am finishing up my Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University in Ithaca, New york. I am packing up on my credits in order to earn a Master of Engineering in only 1 semester (to save $$$ and to propel myself into the mechanical design industry).
