Alumni Spotlight: Success Stories

COOP is proud to recognize the success of our alumni. We know that the over 6,300 folks who have completed our program are prepared to make a difference for themselves and their families through impactful careers.

November 13, 2024

Anne Vanessa Kabengele completed the data analytics track in the spring of 2024. She is a proud member of cohort 412 in Chicago. Prior to completing the COOP Careers Fellowship Anne was working as a payroll assistant while finishing her degree at DePaul University.

Anne has this to say about her COOP experience, “the supportive community at COOP, including mentors and peers, provided me with guidance and inspiration, helping me navigate my career path with confidence. Their emphasis on both technical and soft skills, such as communication and teamwork, has been instrumental in my growth. Thanks to COOP, I feel well-equipped to tackle challenges, lead projects, and contribute meaningfully to any organization. Their impact on my professional development is immeasurable, and I'm grateful for the experiences and connections I've made through this amazing program.”

Anne found full-time employment with two months left in the COOP program. “I loved being able to implement my studies in the workplace. COOP contributed to my being able to get the pay I deserve and it heightened the confidence my employer has in me.”

October 16, 2024

Jenny Dhoumo completed digital marketing track in the spring of 2024 in New York City as a member of cohort 382. Jenny is a first-generation college graduate who attended three different colleges before earning her degree in Media, Culture, and Communication from NYU Steinhardt.

After graduation, she struggled to find my career path until discovering COOP while interning at a wine magazine. During the fellowship, she was fortunate to land a job, an achievement she is immensely proud of.

“This success would not have been possible without the support of my captains and classmates from C382. I aspire to give back by offering the same support and confidence to future students, whether as a mentor or a future captain,” said Jenny. The connections I made through COOP have had a profound impact on my career journey. From my classmates and captains to professionals I met at COOP-hosted networking events, each relationship has been invaluable.”

Jenny went on to share, “these connections have opened doors to opportunities I might not have encountered otherwise and have provided a strong network of mentors and peers who continue to influence and inspire my professional growth.”

September 17, 2024

Justin Gad was a member of C329 completing the digital marketing track in New York City in the fall of 2023. He started the fellowship soon after graduating with a marketing degree from Baruch College. He had this to say about his COOP experience, “My cohort was filled with some of the most motivated people I've ever seen, both captains and fellows. To this date, they are still striving to be better every day. Being close with such driven professionals in the advertising space has allowed me to develop my skills rapidly, and ultimately reach new heights!”

Prior to COOP, Justin was an intern at Progressive Insurance. He leveraged the skills and network he gained through his fellowship to land his first-ever full time role. “My first contact with Kepler came through meeting a recruiter at Google Talent Match in December 2023. I was contacted about amonth later inviting me to apply for a role, to which I was accepted!”

August 15, 2024

Shatai Melvin was a member of cohort 38 in the spring of 2018. She completed the Digital Marketing track in New York. Prior to starting and completing COOP she was a cashier at a supermarket and an social media assistant at a community college. Within a short time of finishing the fellowship Shatai landed a job at Microsoft as a Premium Account Specialist.

“Through COOP’s help on my LinkedIn profile and resume, all my past jobs minus the first I was able to get via LinkedIn. My first role in the industry was from COOP’s job opportunities Slack channel. Since I captained I have a network of alumni and captains I am able to keep in touch with.”

Since her tenure at Microsoft, Shatai has been employed at other big name companies like Amazon. She is currently a Paid Search Manager at T&P𝑚 where she has been for more than two years.

July 17, 2024

Ashley Blacher was a member of cohort 221 in the spring of 2022. She completed the Digital Marketing track in Los Angeles. She had just completed her undergrad degree and was coming out of a period of burnout from a combination of finishing college and the pandemic. For the first time ever, she felt uncertain about the next steps in life.

“I began my job search at the start of 2022 with a weak resume, no interview skills, or knowledge of how to land a job in marketing. I definitely bombed a few interviews not knowing how to answer the questions. Before COOP, interviews would give me immense anxiety, but during the program I felt supported and well-prepared,” said Ashley.

COOP Careers Fellowship helped increase Ashley’s skills and confidence, which led to her landing a contract and then a full-time position. “COOP played a crucial role in preparing me for this position. The program not only enhanced my confidence in interview situations but also provided me with valuable insights in digital marketing. Overall, COOP was instrumental in bridging the gap between academic learning and practical application, paving the way for my success in securing my current position,” Ashley added.

June 18, 2024

Nafisa Chowdhury completed the Data Analytics track in New York City as part of C244. Prior to completing the COOP Careers Fellowship, Nafisa was working at the Department of Education as an assistant teacher. Since her time as a fellow, she has gone on to start her career journey as a Management and Planning Analyst at New York City Department of Probations.

“COOP played a significant role in shaping my unique career journey,” said Nafisa. “Overall, the networking skills I learned during COOP have been a driving force behind my career growth. The connections I made have provided me with support, guidance, and access to opportunities that have contributed to shaping my professional path positively. As I continue to nurture these relationships and seek new ones throughout my career, my network will remain an invaluable asset for my ongoing success and development.”

We look forward to seeing how Nafisa continues her COOP legacy!

May 20, 2024

Angelica Brooks was member of C358 in the digital marketing track in Chicago in the fall of 2023. Prior to completing COOP, she was working as both a freelancer and a cashier at a grocery store. Through her experience with our fellowship, Angelica was able to gain the skills and connections she needed to pivot into a career as a paid social specialist.

April 19, 2024

Nouchka Apostol was a fellow in the data analytics track in Los Angeles in cohort C324 completing the program in June of 2023. She also came back to serve as a captain for the fall 2023 cohort!

As a student in community college, she started as a computer science major due to her interest in the tech industry. However, she eventually switched to double major in sociology and psychology. By the time she graduated, she was not really aligned with the idea of becoming a therapist despite being passionate about the study of people, culture, and behavior. So she was really lost in in her post-grad job search.

Since she still had an interest in tech, Nouchka wondered if she could bring that together with her passion for the mental health field. She found COOP and learned more about what the organization had to offer for people with bachelor's degrees who were struggling to find a job just like she was.

COOP's data analytics track brought her so much “new found knowledge of not only the tools and skills needed to be a successful candidate, but also about myself. With the help of COOP, I gained so much more confidence in job interviews, taking leadership in projects, and putting myself out there in general.”

Before COOP, Nouchka was an intern and through a referral from a COOP alum she was able to pivot to a data analyst position at Wellnest; a mental health services non-profit organization. Her career journey proved that marrying two loves into a career is possible especially when you have the skills and network you need, and that COOP provides, to find the career you deserve.

March 19, 2024

Alexia Iman Burquez completed COOP’s Data Analytics track as part of C258 in the Bay Area in the fall of 2022. She went on to serve as a captain in the spring of 2023 and continues to pay it forward in this role.

Alexia said that COOP played a pivotal role in shaping her career in several significant ways including providing a strong foundation in skills and knowledge, “the program's emphasis on skill development, mentorship, and networking opportunities allowed me to acquire valuable competencies and insights that have been instrumental throughout my career. This foundation gave me the confidence to pursue my goals and explore different career paths.”

In addition to the above, Alexia was lifted by the “diverse and supportive community of individuals who shared similar backgrounds and aspirations. This sense of belonging and connection was invaluable, as it provided a network of peers and mentors who understood the unique challenges and opportunities that individuals from underrepresented communities often face. These relationships have been a continuous source of encouragement, advice, and inspiration.”

At COOP, we know the network you build will stay with you throughout your life. These folks will help in your career path as it did for Alexia as she applied for her current role at Google. “I was already networking independently, which is strongly encouraged by COOP. Through this networking, I was able to secure a referral from a current Google employee. This coincided with the time when COOP hosted a guest speaker named David Dominguez, who also works at Google. He played a pivotal role in my hiring process by providing in-depth insights on how to best prepare for the Google interview process.”

February 23, 2024

Eric Martinez from C113 was having trouble landing a full time role which led him to join COOP after graduation. About two weeks after the program finished he landed his first post-grad role with a startup in the northern Bay Area as an Implementation Project Manager. He had this to say about his experience in the Data Analytics track in the Bay Area.

“COOP played a big part in my career journey. Things started off when I was placed in a cohort with similar minded individuals that wanted to jumpstart their careers. Throughout, I was able to network with peers and immerse myself in hands-on workshops and technical training.

I have met a handful of people through COOP. Their enthusiasm to help others and make a name for themselves has been inspiring to say the least. What stands out to me is seeing other COOPers in the tech industry and that is a nod to the grit and determination we carry since breaking into the tech industry is a challenge in itself.

Currently, Eric is the Partner & Alliances Inside Channel Manager at Okta. Sarah Wessel, COOP’s Managing Director of Partnerships actually alerted him of the opportunity to join Okta through their inaugural equity accelerator fellowship. The contract role turned into full-time employment!

January 11, 2024

Diana Garcia completed the Data Analytics track in spring 2022 as a proud member of C218. She had this, and more, to say about her COOP experience: "I knew I wanted to break into tech and COOP made this possible by providing the skill set and network that I needed. I was ready to pivot into a new field and I knew COOP was where I had to start. I wish I would have known about (COOP) sooner. It’s such an amazing program. I am where I am because of the confidence and community that COOP provided.”

Since completing the COOP program, Diana has worked at Intuit in the companies engineering department. She started out as an apprentice, a position her captain shared the application with her for. After seven months, she moved into the role of software engineer.

”My captain shared with me her journey breaking into tech and I was able to follow in her footsteps. We work for the same company now. I love connecting with other COOPers because they are driven, determined, and have great energy. I love how diverse the community is too.”

December 14, 2023

Shawn Robinson completed the Digital Marketing track in New York City as part of C189 in June of 2022. Before joining COOP, he was an administrative assistant at the University at Albany. He had this to say about his COOP experience:

“COOP allowed me to make a pivotal step in my career from education to the news media industry by equipping me with practical skills, experience and a clearer sense of direction, all of which are essential for long-term professional success. It helped me learn the importance of professionalism and workplace etiquette, both of which are also crucial aspects of a successful career. Immersed in a real-world environment, I was able to understand the challenges and intricacies of our society. This exposure opened my eyes to different viewpoints and backgrounds, helping to foster creativity and innovation in any field of work.”

Shawn is currently a Special Projects Producer at WRGB CBS 6 News in Albany, New York.

November 16, 2023

Nydia Piao completed the Digital Marketing track in the fall of 2019 as a proud member of C71. She had this to say about her COOP experience:

“Through COOP, I learned the fundamentals of digital marketing which helped me land my first agency job with VaynerMedia. From there, I worked at another agency under GroupM, called Essence at the time. Following this, I pivoted careers to work platform side at TikTok. The connections I made during COOP made me feel supported and encouraged during the job application process. It was reassuring to have my cohort cheer each other on along the way.”

Nydia is currently the Client Solutions Manager for TikTok's Global Gaming team. COOP indirectly helped her get her first position in the digital marketing field by providing her with the skills she needed and connections to VaynerMedia's recruiters during our job fair.

October 12, 2023

Kristian Orozco Mejia completed the Digital Marketing track in fall 2020 as a part of C96 and now works as the E-Commerce Associate Manager at OMD. Kristian is also paying it forward to the organization and our COOPers serving as a captain, senior captain and now as an executive captain.

He had this to say about his COOP experience, “COOP gave me the foundation and confidence to land my first professional role in a competitive industry. It gave me the opportunity to connect and talk to industry professionals directly at their open houses which before was very difficult to do without those opportunities.”

Kristian is an Associate Manager for E-Commerce at OMD.

September 12, 2023

Calvin Saveur is our September featured alum! He had this to say about his experience, "COOP NYC exposed me to opportunities, which I didn't know existed whether it was an internship opportunity with GroupM, a course with Coursera X Google or even certifications, which built up my skill-set up. Joining COOP was an enriching experience." Since completing the data analytics track in 2019, Calvin has gone on to serve as a captain as he continues to grow his career and found professional success in the field!

August 16, 2023

Jada Rivera was a member of C279 in the spring of 2023. She completed the digital marketing track in New York. Here is what Jada had to say about her COOP experience and the impact it has had on her career trajectory:

“COOP gave me exposure to different career opportunities and expanded my knowledge in areas of digital marketing such as SEO, SEM, paid social, and many more. I am leaving COOP with substantial knowledge and skills that have undoubtedly prepared me for an entry-level role in marketing. My network has expanded immensely, and I am now part of a supportive and caring community.

COOP has introduced me to industry professionals that have mentored and taught me about the digital marketing ecosystem. COOP also allowed me to make meaningful connections with fellow COOPers and alumni.

I recently accepted an offer as an Associate, Video at Hearts & Science, a subsidiary of Omnicom Media Group (OMG). I found the position myself on LinkedIn. I applied, landed a phone screen interview. I reconnected with the recruiter during the COOP Connect Week Brazen Job Fair and I believe our conversation solidified her interest in me as a candidate. I landed a second interview and have now been offered the job!”

July 26, 2023

Madeline Perez was a member of C183 in the fall of 2021. She completed the digital marketing track in Los Angeles and went on to be a two-time captain. Here is what Madeline had to say about her COOP experience and the impact it has had on her career trajectory:

“COOP helped me obtain my first role! Before I joined COOP, I was fresh out of university and had only been working in the retail and food industry. I didn't have any prior marketing experience and as much as I tried, I was never able to get an internship even with a bachelors degree in business administration and marketing from California State University, Dominguez Hills. COOP taught me the necessary skills I needed to jumpstart my digital marketing career and allowed me to network with people that ultimately helped me land my current role.”

Before doing the digital marketing track through COOP, Madeline was working at a FedEx office. She is currently employed at Neo Media World (GroupM) as a Senior Associate Planner, a position which her captain referred her for.

“The connections I've made through COOP have been wonderful. My captain is the one who helped me get my job and I'm still very connected to my cohort. I became a captain to give back to the community and I'm still close to some of my COOPers today. It's a very open and giving community which I really love and appreciate.”