Hannah Chen

Hi, I’m Hannah! I’m a Brand Technical Specialist at IBM where I sell Data and Artificial Intelligence Applications to help clients improve customer care and uncover data insights. I started my career at Deloitte as a data analytics consultant where I analyzed data to discover business insights to drive strategic change for human capital. I graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering with a concentration in Quality and Statistics and it was during college where I received the mentorship and guidance that helped me get to where I am today. I am passionate about giving back and I hope to make an impact through this IBM and WSU mentorship program.

 

What motivated you to start mentoring?

I am excited to mentor college students because I was just in your shoes a few years ago! I understand that there’s so much to navigate personally, academically, and professionally, and it would be a rewarding experience to share the lessons I’ve learned to help my mentees to grow.

What advice you do you have for students planning to work in your field?

You need to learn to ask the right questions to the right people. The IT world is constantly evolving, so even if you did well in school, you won’t be the expert about everything in the real world. So it’s good to admit from the start that you don’t know everything, have a willing attitude to learn the material diligently, and to be open to learning from others. Especially in the early-career stage, there will be hundreds and thousands of other employees who are way more experienced than you. But no need to be intimated—look at them as resources that you can reach out to and learn from their experiences as the connections that you build now will benefit you in the future.

What do you hope to get out of mentoring?

The world has changed so much within just a few years, and I’m sure that it’s not easy going through college during the pandemic. So more than ever, we need people who know how to listen and understand others to help meet their needs. As a technical sales specialist, I shouldn’t attend customer meetings to just talk about the products that I want to talk about, but instead, I need carefully listen to the customer to understand what their real need is, so when I give presentations, I can incorporate the points that they need so that I can actually solve their problem and help them to achieve their business goals.

Christopher Rose

My name is Christopher Rose. I recently joined IBM as a Cloud Platform Specialist here in the NW where I sell Cloud Services to help Enterprise Customers improve operational efficiency, gain competitive advantage, and delight their customers experiences in the digital town square. I started my career as an Account Executive at Allied Telesyn International selling Data Networking hardware for Local and Wide Area Networks into the State, Local and Education markets. I’ve always been curious how technology improves efficiency and fosters communications. I graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Business Administration and minors International Relations and Southeast Asian Studies. I was blessed to be an exchange student at Prince of Songkla University in Thailand and study a Semester abroad at the University of Bonn in Germany. Todd Hall on the WSU campus was a sanctuary for me during my time in Pullman. I spent most of my time in Todd Hall learning about Economics, International Business and Collaboration with others from across the Globe. I am passionate about giving back and I hope I have the chance to make an impact through this IBM and WSU mentorship program. 

What motivated you to start mentoring?

I’ve been blessed with having mentors in all aspects of my business life and personal life. Being connected to Mentors is crucial to success.

What advice you do you have for students planning to work in your field?

Digital Transformation for organizations is moving at lightning speed. In your education get a baseline of learning the fundamentals in analytics and how to collaborate effectively in teams with your colleagues.

What do you hope to get out of mentoring?

To learn from the next generation, keep my skills sharp, and help a fellow Coug achieve their dreams and goals!