By the Bay
By Ali Burleson
“We are all capable of reaching our potential as individuals, better helping those who come after us,” said KarMiya Little (center), a first-generation student at The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business.
Last fall, Little and a select group of fellow first-generation business students embarked on an experiential learning trip to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Hannah Wells (second from left), another first-generation student and a management information systems major, explained the rationale for the trip, “We were eager to explore tech opportunities. Our overarching goal, encapsulated by our group motto, ‘Business X Tech’, was to broaden our understanding of technology and its intersection with business.”
Quoc Hoang, director of experiential learning at Culverhouse, organized the trip, connecting Culverhouse’s first-generation students with UA alumni working throughout the Bay Area.
“San Francisco has always been a place that advances big ideas enabled by technology — I wanted our students to really experience that and discover how their academic studies can lead them towards unique career pathways,” Hoang said.
The group — six students in total — started their meetings at the downtown San Francisco office of Goldman Sachs to meet with Corinne Johnson (2016, center). A graduate of the College’s bachelor’s in finance and applied economics master’s programs, and member of the College’s Associate Board of Visitors, Johnson is vice president in the firm’s Global Investment Research division. Johnson gave the students a rundown of careers in investment banking and introduced them to her colleagues. She remarked, “I was very impressed by their drive and professionalism – they came prepared with excellent questions, even though my career isn’t necessarily one they have been actively pursuing.”
The experience was an opportunity to give back. Johnson, who was a member of the Culverhouse Investment Management Group and Investment Banking Academy organizations during her time as a student, said, “It is very safe to say that I would not have my current career without the alumni of Culverhouse […] There is something very special, in my opinion, about a college and university that fosters the spirit of engagement between alumni and the students on campus that was so formative to my early career, and I aspire to live up to the models set by those who helped me as I progress through my own career.”
After their meetings at Goldman Sachs concluded, the students headed just a few blocks away to the offices of Quince, an e-commerce clothing and lifestyle startup. Matt Salmonson (right), a 1991 graduate of Culverhouse’s marketing and management program, is head of inventory operations at the company and oversees its forecasting, ordering, and customer service functions. Heavily involved with Culverhouse as a member of its Board of Visitors, Salmonson attributes a large part of his professional achievements to his academic experiences: “The learning, the engagement from my professors, the success I had in classes like GBA 490 gave me the confidence that I could be successful in my career.”
“The school truly supported me as a student, challenged me academically and always in my best interests, and [just] as important to me has really engaged me as a former student and an experienced professional to share my wisdom,” he continued.
Salmonson gave the students a rundown on running a startup, showing some of the behind-the-scenes operations at Quince. “They were very excited to be in San Francisco and really leaned into the opportunity to be there. They really listened and were highly engaged and asked very good questions of me and the others they interacted with," he said.
During their stop at Adobe on the San Francisco Peninsula, the students met with Noelle Fall (center), UX content strategist on the company’s Product Equity team and a 2022 graduate of the College’s bachelor’s in marketing program as well as holder of a self-designed degree in diversity, equity, and inclusion from UA’s New College. She talked to the students about her job, gave them a tour of their Founder’s Tower facility in San Jose, and introduced them to some of her colleagues.
“From the conversations we had, I could immediately tell the students were bright and inquisitive. They asked such thoughtful questions and were genuinely interested in learning about my role at Adobe and everything that came with that. It was also evident that they were heavily involved, standout students, which made our connection greater,” said Fall.
She added, “Being able to engage directly with students at my place of work was incredibly fulfilling and brought my education at Culverhouse full circle[...]. As a former student, I participated in several short-term experiences, such as office visits, which were incredibly valuable.”
“It was amazing to know I was giving that same experience to others.”
(Clockwise from center): Noelle Fall, Hannah Wells, Shaliyah Johnson, Tyler Le, Uyen Truong, KarMiya Little, Jaiden Malcom, Quoc Hoang
(Clockwise from center): Noelle Fall, Hannah Wells, Shaliyah Johnson, Tyler Le, Uyen Truong, KarMiya Little, Jaiden Malcom, Quoc Hoang
The Bay Area experience left the participants inspired to continue their educational journey, hopeful to one day rise to high-level positions like those within their newly expanded network of professionals.
Little (left) expressed that she was captivated by the dynamic city, seemingly filled with endless opportunities to innovate or start businesses. Moreover, the insightful discussions held with the alumni brought about a wide array of advice, from what studies students would benefit most from to focusing on how to build confidence in an entry-level position.
“This trip [was] formative in the way I think about what a career means to me. Being exposed to life on the opposite coast broadened my perspective immensely,” Little said. “It introduced to me a different way of looking at what kind of impact I’m making through my work.”
For Wells, who graduated this past spring as a member of the Culverhouse Class of 2024 and is now a Solutions Architect at Huntsville-based PeopleTec, Inc., “Stepping into the offices of many of the companies evoked a mix of excitement and curiosity.”
“I remember thinking how different the companies were compared to any I have seen in Alabama or any place I have been to. Overall, the experience was both powerful and insightful, leaving a lasting impression on my journey in the technology and business realm. I am very grateful for the opportunity that The University of Alabama allowed me to be a part of!”
Other Culverhouse alumni and friends who shared their time and knowledge to help students explore the intersection of business and technology included K.C. Kulprathipanja (Twitch), Michael Mader (Tonic), Craig McLean (Goldman Sachs), Arp Patel (Apple), Wil Torres (Stanford), and Cat Wright (Gemmer Asset Management).
Get Involved
You can support Culverhouse’s first-generation students with your financial gift or the gift of your time.