What’s A Challenge You Faced Early On?

Early on, I struggled with imposter syndrome. 

I was 19 years old and one of the youngest interns in my program at Amazon. It was my first time living in a city, flying by myself, and not knowing anyone at all in Seattle.

Leading up to the internship, I had moments of doubt over whether I was qualified to be there, but once I arrived, I saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from some of the best engineers in the world.

I put myself out there in every way possible: asking questions, setting up 1:1s, helping peers, and putting full effort into my work, asking for more work, and hosting large social events.

Over time, I realized that everyone, no matter how experienced, is still learning. Once I viewed challenges as opportunities to grow instead of tests to pass, I really found my confidence.

By the end of the summer, I had excelled in my project and even passed a difficult AWS certification. That experience was a turning point for me — it showed me what I was capable of. From then on, I realized my ambitions were within reach. I recruited hard and pushed myself to land roles at Salesforce and eventually Apple, and that same go-getter mindset has stayed with me ever since.