We asked our Scholars what led them to pursue mission-driven careers. Here’s what they shared:

Gregory Mitchell, NobleReach Scholar ’25

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to pursue a career in mission-driven work. There are so many injustices, inequities, and issues harming people across the world that it never felt right for me to spend my career doing anything but working to address these issues and to improve lives. Being a NobleReach Scholar has offered me a pathway to use my technical skills to do important, public-serving work among a talented community of like-minded professionals.

Keerthy Reddy, NobleReach Scholar ’25

I wanted to become a NobleReach Scholar because I believe technology should strengthen community and advance equity rather than deepen polarization. As a recent graduate, it was important to me that the start of my career reflect those values and allow me to see the impact of my work firsthand. My experiences working in civic tech and journalism tech throughout college reinforced that commitment, and this fellowship is the natural next step to apply my skills to local government services that directly support communities. 

Ben Claflin, NobleReach Scholar ’25

Participating in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) high school program opened my eyes to the world of international relations. In addition to my engineering coursework, I pursued my newfound passion with the University of Texas’ Intelligence Studies Project and Clements Center for National Security. Both programs connected me with national security experts and showed me the impact you can have in the public sector. After I interned with the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), I fell in love and have tried to make a difference wherever I can.  

Rohan Kachru, NobleReach Scholar ’25

In a sense, I have always been a NobleReach Scholar, I just didn’t know it yet. I’ve always looked at my community and wondered how innovation could address inequity. Pursuing a mission-driven career feels like the natural path to turn those questions into solutions. 

Melissa Lopez-Barbosa, NobleReach Scholar ’25

I wanted to become a NobleReach Scholar because it would provide me with the opportunity to pursue the mission-driven career I had envisioned. Before I learned about NobleReach, I knew that I wanted my career to have meaning—everywhere I work, I want it to have a larger purpose than myself. I knew that, as a NobleReach Scholar, I would have the support I needed at the beginning of my career to pursue that mission-driven path I had envisioned. 

Shawn Chao, NobleReach Scholar ’25

Becoming a NobleReach Scholar appealed to me because it offers the chance to align my skills with mission-driven work in the public sector. I want to contribute to difficult problems where purpose, not profit, is the guiding force. Coming from the private sector, I often found that the mission of my work was diluted by market forces and short-term demands. Across my experiences in technology and finance, I realized what truly motivated me: pursuing work with tangible impact.  

 During the interview process, I was struck by how NobleReach valued adventurous people with interdisciplinary interests and careers, which strongly aligned with my career aspirations. In conversations with the NobleReach team, I was inspired by their thoughtfulness, nuance, and commitment to considering multiple perspectives. It confirmed that I had found the right community to grow with.