My journey with NobleReach began at the 2024 GeoTech Forum, an annual conference for undergraduate students interested in the intersection of technology and geopolitics. Their CEO, Arun Gupta, delivered a keynote that fundamentally reshaped how I think about careers. He spoke about nonlinear career paths and how professional journeys rarely make sense when you look forward, but often weave into a clear story when you look back.

That perspective changed my approach to career planning, moving me from linear thinking to embracing the power of interconnected experiences across academia, government, and industry.  Rather than viewing my mechanical engineering degree with physics and aerospace minors as locking me into a purely technical track, I began seeing it as a foundation for something bigger. My degree could be a launchpad for addressing challenges I have always been drawn to, like how space and energy infrastructure can be built out to address urgent challenges.

Soon after the Forum, I read Venture Meets Mission. The book helped connect the dots between meaning, impact, and money and solidified my understanding of the movement NobleReach is building. It also became a valuable guide as I applied to the NobleReach Scholars program, helping me frame my application and prepare for interviews. For anyone considering the program, I can’t recommend reading Venture Meets Mission enough.

Through my experiences with NobleReach, from the Forum to the Scholars Bootcamp, I’ve been exposed to how many of the big challenges facing our country are not purely technical; they require innovative policy and effective implementation to advance.

This fall, I’ll begin my journey as a launch infrastructure engineer at SpaceX, designing, building, and operating launch mount components for the most powerful rocket ever built. With the lessons I’ve learned through NobleReach, I’m excited to contribute not just as an engineer, but as someone who sees the broader landscape of technology, policy, and impact.