Wingspans

We're so proud to be a finalist in the U.S. Department of Education’s Challenge, a $1 million challenge to reimagine tools for . We recently sat down to talk about how we're reshaping our tool to better support adult learners as they launch and advance their .

Read more about it here!
https://www.futurefinderchallenge.com/wingspans-profile/?utm_source=finalist&utm_medium=social-long&utm_campaign=finalist-profiles

How Wingspans is helping adult learners see themselves in quality careers - Future Finder Challenge Lindsay Kuhn first started Wingspans while pursuing her doctorate in engineering. Working in a Providence, Rhode Island, classroom while on a National Science Foundation (NSF) fellowship, she saw students struggle to connect their learning to the larger world of work. Understanding the power of repr...

(2/2) Adrienne King, Director of External Manufacturing Operations, knows the importance of the three magic words, "I don't know.”

She says, “The goal is to learn how to utilize my team and not feel like I always have to have the answer.”

To see Adrienne's full story, go here: https://lnkd.in/exTYrFVU

(story by Lela Casey)

(1/2) Growing up, Adrienne King, Director of External Manufacturing Operations at Merck, had a dream to be the first person in her family to be a corporate salaried employee at Merck.

She said, "It was always a dream of mine to work at Merck. I had a lot of family members who worked at Merck growing up, but all of them worked as hourly union employees. They were janitors, they were administrative workers, operators on the manufacturing floor, and things like that. But I didn't have any family members that were salaried, corporate employees. And so that was always my goal. I told myself, “When I graduate, I'm going to be the first in my family to be a corporate salaried employee at Merck.”
..which is exactly what she did.
To see Adrienne's full story, go here: https://www.wingspans.com/story/adrienne-king

(story by Lela Casey)

We are thrilled to be one of five finalists in the U.S. Department of Education Future Finder Challenge to reimagine career navigation for

The University of Rhode Island is ! We can't wait to work with you to model what is possible through storytelling

Usman Khan, Career Design Counselor at Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology, and a lifelong learner has advice for his younger self and for others.

He says, "It’s okay not to be perfect because perfect is an illusion."

To see Usman's full story, go to: https://www.wingspans.com/story/usman-khan

When Usman Khan, Career Design Counselor at Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology, emigrated from Pakistan in 4th grade, post 9/11, he struggled with discrimination and bullying. And it was this experience that ultimately inspired him to go into career counseling.

"Over time, I came to understand that I have a unique background, that I can trust in myself and my abilities, and that I can encourage other students...I also saw that I wanted to help other students from different cultural backgrounds who might have emigrated from different countries."

As a career counselor, Usman emphasizes the importance of exploration.

To see Usman's full story, go to: https://www.wingspans.com/story/usman-khan

When Usman Khan, Career Design Counselor at Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology, emigrated from Pakistan in 4th grade, post 9/11, he struggled with discrimination and bullying. And it was this experience that ultimately led him to career counseling.

"Over time, I came to understand that I have a unique background, that I can trust in myself and my abilities, and that I can encourage other students...I also saw that I wanted to help other students from different cultural backgrounds who might have emigrated from different countries."

As a career counselor, Usman emphasizes the importance of exploration.

To see Usman's full story, go to: https://www.wingspans.com/story/usman-khan

(2/2) Seek inspiration from the world around you! That's what Addie McFadden, a video game designer for Schell Games, does. She says, "...I'm on a new project and we're coming up with ideas. At every meeting I find myself saying things like, “In this other game, they do it this way, or that way.” I definitely find myself referencing different games and movies and books."

Addie got into video game design by studying Multimedia Programming, Simulation, and Gaming at the Community College of Allegheny County.

To see her full story, go to: https://www.wingspans.com/story/addie-mcfadden

Interested in the inner workings of video game design? Addie McFadden, a video game designer at Schell Games, says "the way we come up with concepts for games is by thinking of a cool mechanic, which is a verb or action in a game, like a sword slashing, or picking up an object. A lot of times you come up with a mechanic that drives the game development and story. You can also start with a story idea first and then create the mechanic. But usually, it's the mechanic that people start with. You might say, “I have this idea that I think is a little different. It might be a mix of something I've seen in this game and in that game, and I want to put those things together.””

Addie got into video game design by studying Multimedia Programming, Simulation, and Gaming at the Community College of Allegheny County. To see her full story, go to: https://www.wingspans.com/story/addie-mcfadden

(2/2) As an expert in cyber security, Sean Smith helps companies recover from a ransomware attack, which happens when a virus locks up a computer's data and leaves a text document detailing payment instructions on the computer.

"These experiences operate at an exhausting pace but there is no better teacher than real-life experience," he says.

To see Sean's full story, go to: https://www.wingspans.com/story/sean-smith

Be careful what you believe! Sean Smith, Deputy Cyber Team Chief for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard says "a cybersecurity expert, or hacker, is nothing like what you see on TV. It is rarely a lone wolf in a basement typing away on a keyboard at lightning speed as the green matrix text streams down the display like a waterfall. Rather, the process is slow and methodical, akin to solving a puzzle, and generally performed in collaboration with a team."

To see Sean's full story, go to: https://www.wingspans.com/story/sean-smith

(2/2) Carmen Vasquez, a high school advisor at the College Crusade, works on career readiness and college preparation with low-income, urban students. When she sits down with them for the first time she asks, "what's your story?" and helps them understand that where they come from doesn’t define them.”

See her full story here: https://www.wingspans.com/story/carmen-vazquez

(1/2) Carmen Vasquez grew up in a rough neighborhood in Providence, RI surrounded by gang violence, narcotics, and street violence, but she did not let her circumstance define her:

"Education had always been a value in our family, but college wasn't necessarily mandatory. It was like, as long as you have a job and you can make money, it’s fine. But I knew from a very young age that I wanted to get away from the neighborhood I grew up in. I wanted to do better for myself.”

After graduating from high school, Carmen continued her education at Rhode Island College, becoming the first one in her family to go to college. She now works at the College Crusade, a college access program for students, particularly low-income, urban students.

See her full story here: https://www.wingspans.com/story/carmen-vazquez

(2/2) Jamal Davis, a multi-skilled HVAC technician now working as a machine operator for a large textile company, has advice that can be applied to any job:

"For people who are interested in being a machine operator, my advice would be, don’t just be a button pusher, someone who just knows this button does this, and this button does that. Take the time to learn how to operate a machine, to understand what the machine is actually producing. Know its true purpose."

To see Jamal's full story, go to: https://www.wingspans.com/story/jamal-davis

(1/1) Jamal Davis, a Machine Operator, takes pride in his work. Here is what he has to say about quality versus quantity:

"I’ve been doing this job for four years, and according to the plant manager, I’m the best at what I do. I have always upheld quality—I’m a stickler for quality. I sometimes produce fewer pounds overall of the fiber, but that’s because I’m more focused on the quality of the product, and in the end, that is what really matters. If there’s an issue with the quality, then the material has to go on hold, and if they find the defect to be true, they then have to label it “misprocessed.” This sort of thing can be a mark against you, and the product can sit around in the warehouse waiting for them to do something about it."

To see Jamal's full story, go to: https://www.wingspans.com/story/jamal-davis

(2/2) When David Henriquez, the lead engineer for NASA's Psyche mission, was young, he sold himself short in a lot of ways. His parents, from El Salvador, didn't understand the system here, so he was on his own when he applied to colleges.

"I didn’t dare to dream big, even when I got into all the colleges I applied to. I felt I wasn’t deserving or smart enough, even though I knew I was built for this line of work," he said.

David ended up at USC, where he got a great education, but said if he could do it all over again, he'd tell his younger self to take greater risks and aim higher.

To see David's full story, go to https://www.wingspans.com/story/david-henriquez

(1/2) Growing up, David Henriquez played "space traveler" with his sister in the ficus tree in their backyard. They'd climb the tree with a box of crayons and draw all sorts of things on its white bark, pretending it was a rocket. Fast forward to today, and he's the lead engineer for NASA's Psyche mission, assembling teams to develop and test the flight computer, or the brain of the spacecraft.

"I am currently working on the Psyche mission, which is a NASA mission that will explore an asteroid called 16 Psyche. It is a unique and intriguing body in the asteroid belt that, unlike most other asteroids, but similar to Earth’s core, is mostly made of metal."

To see David's full story, go to https://www.wingspans.com/story/david-henriquez

Pictured: David with the Mars Exploration Rover airbag

(2/2) Who knew???? Lauren, a prospect researcher, also known as a research analyst, at the Philadelphia Art Museum, describes her job as "high-level Facebooking."

In her job, she researches potential new donors so they know they're asking them for the right amount of money and for the right thing, and part of that research happens on Facebook.

"I once thought fundraising was just about making phone calls to people. I swore up and down that I would never do that! But behind all the people who are making phone calls and asking for money, there are a lot of things that have to happen behind the scenes. And that's my world."

To see Lauren’s full story, go to https://www.wingspans.com/story/lauren-woodring

(1/2) Lauren works in the fundraising department as a prospect researcher at the Philadelphia Art Museum. She studied history and political science in college and even though she ended up in this field "very accidentally" she is here to stay. This is what she likes most about her job:

"Liking your colleagues can make any workplace better. I like my colleagues. I also like that I can look at the art anytime I want, and I can make friends and family to see the exhibits anytime I want. It’s also pretty cool to see an exhibit or an educational program at the museum, knowing that you played a little part in finding the money for it. Without the funding, it wouldn't have happened. I also really like it when I go to the main building and see groups of elementary school kids wandering around. It's a giant building, you know. Knowing that, in my little way, I've helped to fund their program to come here, some of them for the first time. That’s pretty cool.

Every day, too, I'm researching different people. It’s not monotonous for me because you know, one lawyer at a law firm might be very different than another lawyer at the same firm. Learning that can keep it interesting."

To see Lauren’s full story, go here https://www.wingspans.com/story/lauren-woodring

As a Community Organizer, Kufa knows this first hand.

"You come across people with all these degrees and it can be a bit intimidating at first. But the truth is that everyone who occupies space in a city has a voice that is really important to be on the table. Because if not, whatever money that comes into the city, through projects or investments, is going to go to people who don’t live in your community."

To see Kufa’s full story, go here https://www.wingspans.com/story/leandro-kufa-castro

If you love working with people and want to make a difference then the job Community Organizer might for you! Here is how Leandro "Kufa" Castro, a Community Organizer for GroundWork RI, describes his work:

"Community organizing is about creating a team: building community with the people who work with you and with the neighbors. Getting them together, helping them organize themselves so they can make a change in their community. Depending on what their concerns are—whether it’s environmental or to do with education—you help them gather resources so they can make a change in their community."

To see his full story, go here https://www.wingspans.com/story/leandro-kufa-castro

Life’s too short not to! Delia Burroughs, analyst at RAND Corporation, gets it. She says:

"On the hard days at RAND when I have to detangle a difficult problem– a head-banging kind of day– I still feel like I’m doing it for a reason that makes a lot of sense to me. I really believe in what the organization is doing."

To see her full story, go here https://www.wingspans.com/story/delia-burroughs

You know that gratifying 'aha' moment, the one that happens when you're poring over a crossword puzzle, spot the connection, and realize you finally figured it out? Delia Burroughs, a data analyst at RAND Corporation, says her job is satisfying in the way that completing a puzzle is satisfying.

To see her full story, go here https://www.wingspans.com/story/delia-burroughs

Ben Wright, the Interim campaign manager for Bob Massey for Governor Campaign, grew up going to political events with his dad and listening to the news on public radio, which inspired him to make a career in political advocacy.

“You have to have a certain amount of ego to run for anything, particularly governor. I just don’t have it. But when there is a good candidate who has that set of traits, I want to work hard to get them elected...”

To see his full story, go to https://www.wingspans.com/story/ben-wright

Sonia Ortega's career path from research scientist to science diplomat says it all. To see her full story, go here https://www.wingspans.com/story/sonia-ortega

Sonia Ortega was a research scientist studying coastal biology when she got a call from an old mentor telling her a temporary position opened up at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Her initial response was “You want me to become a government bureaucrat? No way, Jose.” After some persuasion Sonia applied for the position and soon found herself working for the NSF on programs related to women and minorities in science. “This is pretty cool,” she thought. In this job she had the opportunity to directly make a difference in people’s lives. The work was so fulfilling, instead of returning to North Carolina to resume research, she stepped into a permanent role and never looked back. Sonia has been at the NSF for 32 years.

To see her full story, go to https://www.wingspans.com/story/sonia-ortega

If you have an idea, you don't have to be 200% sold on it to take action. As Yuri Tomikawa says, “there is no harm in trying.”

To see her full story, go to https://www.wingspans.com/story/yuri-tomikawa

Yuri Tomikawa loves helping people! She is the founder and CEO of Zencare, a website that connects people to their ideal talk therapist

“I started Zencare when I had a hard time looking for a therapist myself,” she said

To see her full story, go to https://www.wingspans.com/story/yuri-tomikawa

We encourage you to take action! As entrepreneur Yuri Tomikawa says, “there is no harm in trying.”
To see her full story, go to https://www.wingspans.com/story/yuri-tomikawa