CPC Collaborates with IBM for Career Panel Event

On August 8th, CPC partnered with the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) to host a CPC & IBM SkillsBuild Program event featuring a Career Panel with tech professionals. Three accomplished IBM employees shared their career journeys and professional skills, and provided impactful advice to 26 youths from Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan who are currently exploring potential majors and careers in tech. Students were able to engage in a Q&A session and expand their network.

We were honored to have three highly experienced professionals Erik Dykes, Global Internship Program Leader at IBM; Holly Groder, North America Learning & Knowledge Program Manager; and Kirk Palmer, Learning Facilitator and Consultant for Sales Training – who generously shared their time and insights with our youth participants. This opportunity to engage with experts was highly valued by the participants and program staff. 

The panel discussion began with the speakers introducing themselves and sharing their backgrounds and early professional journeys, highlighting key milestones in both their professional and personal lives. Erik kicked off the conversation by explaining his extensive involvement working with young people, particularly in his role aligning internship programs across the globe. His insights sparked interests among program youths in mentorship and internship opportunities, opening new doors of possibilities for their professional development. Some students later on reached out to CPC staff to request seeking guidance on connecting to opportunities. Holly shared her career journey, which evolved in unexpected ways. She placed an emphasis on the importance of seizing different opportunities as they arise. Kirk recounted his own career path and its surprising turns, transitioning from being a high school math teacher to then joining IBM. We hope that the stories voiced by the three speakers offered reassurance for youths still navigating their passions, choices, and future aspirations. 

Will Chan, our CPC staff member, served as the event moderator. He guided a meaningful conversation with the panelists through questions submitted by the youths prior to the event. Some of the questions collected and asked included: "What does a typical day look like in your role at IBM? What responsibilities do you take on in your role?" and "What are some common mistakes that you see in early-career professionals and how do you think they may be avoided?" The youths were encouraged to submit questions throughout the event, making the discussion more interactive and tailored to their interests and wonderings. 

The panel shed light on various topics, from professional development and the importance of taking risks to discovering one's calling through different avenues of career exploration. The students particularly appreciated the speakers' analogy of the butterfly journey, which illustrated the different stages of growth and learning.

One student shared with us, "I liked the laser-butterfly analogy that Holly used. Everyone's career will look different but all the experiences building up are still very important to have." The panelists shared valuable perspectives on the idea that no matter where an individual starts, as long as they keep on moving forward, they will land where they need to be. Each panelist's unique career path led them to IBM, demonstrating this idea. 

Following the event, one student reflected, "I felt as though the meeting brought a lot of clarity on how us as the future generation could continue persevering through challenges. I was able to learn a lot about the representatives of IBM, and how they became the people they are, giving us a better understanding of their position and experiences leading to them working in IBM." It is our hope that the panel inspired youths not only hear the stories but also to envision and create stories of their own. 

The panelists also discussed the importance of soft skills for success in the tech industry and workforce in general. They offered advice on practicing and developing skills in leadership, communication, and interpersonal relationships. When youths asked for resources on communication skills, the speakers recommended several reading materials to help explore some of these practices further. 

CPC first connected with Lucy Chan, Sales Coach, IBM Global Sales School, formerly Vice President at IBM; Catalina Caro, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager; and Warren Zhou, AI Product Manager, back in May 2024. The CPC & IBM SkillsBuild pilot program officially launched in July 2024. The program includes three cohorts of youths from Queens (led by CPC staff Will Chan), Brooklyn (led by CPC staff Calvin Au), and Manhattan (led by Kaiyun Chen). Program participants engage with modules and coursework through the IBM SkillsBuild virtual platform, work at their own pace, attend weekly check-ins with staff, and participate in events like the career panel and the capstone project presentation during the graduation ceremony at the end of August. 

IBM SkillsBuild is a free education program focused on underrepresented communities in tech, that helps adult learners, and high school and university students and faculty, develop valuable new skills and access career opportunities. The program includes an online platform that is complemented by customized practical learning experiences delivered in collaboration with a global network of partners, including CPC.

If you are interested to learning more about the CPC & IBM SkillsBuild program or joining future cohorts, please email kchen7@cpc-nyc.org.