My ExpEriEncE of Silicon VallEy iMMErSion

By Mary Antonette Reyes ’23

As a college student, I’ve learned that education extends far beyond the walls of the classroom. Last fall, after my participation in the Academic Global Immersion program in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, Dean Mouwafac Sidaoui recommended me for the Silicon Valley Immersion class, which took my learning to a whole new level.

SVI was a unique experience as it was taught in the heart of Silicon Valley, and the Friday class sessions were structured in three ways: student research presentations, invited speakers, and company visits. We started our classes with presentations on given topics to research, and in one of our assignments, I thoroughly enjoyed presenting a consultation for a real startup company in front of a consultant. One speaker that stood out to me was Colin O’Malley, the founder of Lucid Privacy Group, who shared his experience of finding creative ways to kick off his career. He helped secure his seat at the table by dropping off cookies along with his resumé, becoming known in the Valley as “the guy who brought the cookies.” His advice was invaluable for me as a student about to enter the job market. Some of the speakers even became my mentors who are currently helping me achieve my goal of landing a consulting internship. The learning experience did not end in the classroom, as we also traveled to various companies from different industries such as Fintech, Real Estate, AI, and Tech. I had the chance to visit Colliers, a commercial real estate company, and big conglomerates such as Zoom and Google. During the visits, I met company employees and executives, learned about their products and services, their work culture, and how they landed their jobs. I gained valuable advice and connections, and this experience taught me not only about the ecosystem in Silicon Valley but also about myself.

What makes this course truly special is the confidence it gives to Menlo students like me. I am a first-generation immigrant who grew up on Oahu and never thought she would be sitting in a conference room filled with Google employees who look just like her, teaching her the real ins and outs of working in the tech industry. The connections and knowledge I gained through this course informed all my other endeavors as a Campus Resident Assistant, Women In Leadership Development, and student worker on the Menlo campus. The course teaches Menlo students to start seeing themselves as future innovators and industry leaders by mingling with real life entrepreneurs.

Mary Reyes is Vice President of the Women in Leadership Development club, Student Representative to the Menlo College Strategic Planning Committee, Chief Marketing Officer for the Business Analytics club, and a resident assistant.