An initiative of CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County (CLAOC)
An initiative of CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County (CLAOC)
UC San Diego student, BS, Mathematics-Computer Science
A sports enthusiast and UC San Diego sophomore majoring in mathematics and computer science, Jake Kondo knew an internship would be valuable but struggled to find one. Many internship programs accept only juniors and seniors, making it especially competitive. He was thrilled to land a spot in CLAOC’s 2023 Summer Career Exploration Experience.
Matched with Ingram Micro, Jake appreciated the opportunity to work in a corporate environment, learned how to effectively network and make connections, and honed skills through group projects. He especially valued hearing from executives from many different companies and learning about different career paths and industries.
Jake next applied for Ingram Micro’s Summer Internship Program. Landing a spot as an Ingram Micro Summer 2024 intern, he completed a 10+ week learning experience that included professional growth opportunities and networking events.
“Jake Kondo is a prime example of the positive impact career exploration can have for college students,” says Christina Higgins, Sr. Professional, Talent Acquisition, Early Career Programs at Ingram Micro. “Through his opportunity with CLAOC and Ingram Micro, Jake was introduced to our business and subsequently hired for our Summer Internship Program. His prior experience eased his transition into the internship and allowed him to contribute meaningfully from day one.”
Through this internship, Jake developed skills in database administration. Working with the
Infrastructure team, he created a new form that made it easier to request permission for Microsoft SQL Server. He did a financial analysis to identify how the company can cut costs around Cloud Services usage. He also acted as a service provider, resolving database-related tickets and creating SQL servers for stakeholders.
Jake was very impressed with Ingram Micro’s “Team First” culture.
“Everyone is very driven and motivated and working to drive projects forward. They also really care about our personal growth. The professionals I worked with offered me life and professional advice, gave me feedback on my resume, and showed that they want me to succeed.”
Jake’s summer experiences at Ingram Micro gave him the opportunity to:
Jake says he would like to work somewhere in the data realm, using his skills working with data to produce good things. He looks forward to managing and mentoring younger talent. He wants to see the world, but this Costa Mesa native plans to ultimately come back to OC.
“I would not trade this place. This is home.”
