From Failure to Launch

In this episode of From Failure to Launch, Leo Huynh, Code2College Software Engineering Intern at Cirrus Logic, shares how his curiosity for computer science—and passion for building personal game projects—evolved into real-world impact. Joined by his manager, Will O’Donnell, Senior Staff Validation Engineer at Cirrus Logic, they reflect on Leo’s journey from exploring tech to developing an AI-driven cost prediction model now used across teams.
Leo dives into his experience working on data cleaning, analysis, and machine learning, and how he quickly adapted to a professional environment with the support of a strong team. Will shares how Leo’s performance challenged his expectations and highlighted the high level of preparation Code2College students bring compared to traditional pathways.
Together, they explore the importance of curiosity, problem-solving, and code readability, along with practical advice on networking, note-taking, and building structure in your day-to-day life. This episode is a reminder that no single test or project defines you—growth comes from learning how to rise to the challenge.

In this episode of From Failure to Launch, Jooheon Lee, Electrical Engineering student at Rice University and H-E-B intern, shares his experience taking a project from concept to deployment. Joined by his mentor, Engineering Manager Michael Regert, they dive into the challenges, learning moments, and teamwork that turn uncertainty into mastery.
Jooheon reflects on how guidance from mentors, collaboration with peers, and hands-on experience helped him build confidence, strengthen technical skills, and navigate real-world engineering projects. Michael offers insight into how mentorship and a supportive team culture empower interns to tackle ambitious projects and grow as future engineers.
Together, they explore how curiosity, preparation, and collaboration make internships not just a learning experience, but a launchpad for a successful career in STEM.

In this episode of From Failure to Launch, Ashrita Mahadevu shares how her journey with Code2College helped transform an early passion for STEM into real-world experience as a Data Engineering Intern at H-E-B.
Joined by her mentor Blake Byerly, the conversation explores how internships can shape confidence, technical skills, and career direction. Ashrita talks about overcoming nerves, meeting expectations, and learning how strong communication and preparation can unlock opportunities. Through her work on location services and data design, she built core computer science skills while discovering the importance of team collaboration and workplace culture.
Blake shares his perspective mentoring Code2College students and why supportive environments help young technologists grow. Together, they highlight how curiosity, mentorship, and culture turn internships into launchpads for future careers.

In this episode of From Failure to Launch, Bereket Laki shares how his first internship at Texas Mutual became an opportunity to build real-world solutions, including developing an AI chatbot trained on internal company knowledge. Joined by his supervisor, Jason Chan, the conversation dives into what makes interns thrive: ownership, curiosity, and the confidence to ask good questions.
Jason explains why investing in early talent pays off, while Bereket reflects on the communication, collaboration, and feedback skills that proved just as critical as the code itself. It’s a story about growth, trust, and turning technical learning into meaningful impact.

In Season 3, Episode 6 of From Failure to Launch, host Keira Johnson sits down with Alexandra Hoffpauir, Data Warehouse and Marketing Technology Manager at YETI, and Code2College intern Dagem Abraham. Together, they unpack what it truly means to own a project, not just complete assigned tasks. Dagem shares how sourcing data, collaborating across multiple teams, and ultimately building his own project pushed him to develop strong prioritization skills while balancing curiosity and exploration with real business needs. Alexandra offers insight into YETI’s collaborative culture, what it looks like to fully integrate interns into the team, and why trusting early-career talent leads to meaningful results. The episode highlights how hands-on experience, mentorship, and ownership can transform an internship into a launchpad for long-term success.

In Season 3, Episode 5 of From Failure to Launch, host Keira Johnson sits down with Code2College intern Krish Patel and his summer manager Mark Berry, Director of Cybersecurity at Crosslake Technologies. They reflect on a summer that exceeded expectations for everyone involved. Krish shares how the internship sparked a genuine interest in cybersecurity and reshaped his career goals, while Mark highlights how Krish and his fellow interns quickly made meaningful contributions. The episode closes with the interns’ final presentation, earning a standing ovation and proving what’s possible when early-career talent is trusted with real responsibility.

In Season 3, Episode 4 of From Failure to Launch, host Keira Johnson sits down with Code2College intern Jawaad Merali and his summer manager, Mark Berry, Director of Cybersecurity at Crosslake Technologies. Together, they share how a summer of rapid learning, hands-on projects, and strong mentorship helped Jawaad, now a college freshman, grow confidently into the world of cybersecurity. Jawaad describes arriving eager but unsure, quickly diving into intensive security training and AI development. Mark highlights how Jawaad and fellow intern Krish exceeded expectations from day one by bringing curiosity, strong technical foundations, and fresh ideas to a complex challenge: automating parts of Crosslake’s cybersecurity maturity assessment process. Their work streamlined evidence validation for portfolio companies and showed how early-career interns, when supported and encouraged, can make a meaningful impact on real-world cybersecurity and AI initiatives.

In this episode of From Failure to Launch, host Keira Johnson sits down with Veda Rabishankar, a Code2College high school summer intern who worked in IT Digital Communications at Texas Mutual, and her summer manager, Mike Vuong, Senior Engineering Manager at Texas Mutual. Together, they explore Veda’s journey from classroom programming to contributing to real-world projects, what it’s like applying new skills in a professional setting, and how she tackled early nerves with Mike’s support. They dive into the power of thoughtful mentorship, stepping into unfamiliar environments, and the experiences that build confidence and spark a future in tech before a career even begins.

In this episode of From Failure to Launch, host Keira Johnson sits down with Olivia Cruz, a Code2College high school summer intern at YETI, and Chris Chafin, Web Developer II at YETI and Olivia’s summer manager. Together, they share what it’s like navigating new environments, building confidence, and learning through real-world projects. They dive into what makes great mentorship, how to grow beyond your comfort zone, and the lessons that can shape a career before it even begins.

Season 3 of From Failure to Launch kicks off with a special spotlight on our summer interns!
In this episode, host Keira sits down with high school intern Zephan Ofori, who just completed his Code2College internship at Indeed, along with his summer manager Laurie. Together, they reflect on the projects they tackled, the lessons learned along the way, and how programs like Code2College open doors for young talent. Zephan also shares his big-picture goals for the future, giving us a glimpse into the next generation of tech innovators.