From Failure to Launch

eaeix

Welcome to From Failure to Launch: The Code2College podcast where we dive into stories of leaders, innovators, and rising stars who turned their failures into stepping stones to success.

  1. 6D AGO

    S3E7: From Intern to Innovator: Cloud Infrastructure, AI, and the Power of Asking Questions

    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.

    21 min

  2. JAN 6

    S3E6: From Curiosity to Ownership: Turning Data Projects into Real 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.

    32 min

  3. 12/15/2025

    S3E5: Expectations Exceeded: Discovering Cybersecurity Talent from Day One

    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.

    21 min

  4. 11/20/2025

    S3E4: Raising the Bar: Cybersecurity, AI, and Early-Career Talent at Crosslake Technologies

    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.

    24 min

  5. 11/16/2025

    S3E3: Stepping In Strong: Real-World Coding, Support, and Growth at Texas Mutual

    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.

    23 min

  6. 10/14/2025

    S3E2: Breaking the Ice: Mentorship, Growth, and Finding Confidence at YETI

    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.

    31 min

  7. 09/30/2025

    S3E1: From Code2College to Career Dreams: Zephan Ofori’s Summer at Indeed

    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.

    25 min

  8. 08/26/2025

    S2E9: From Uncertainty to Impact: Building Community with Allegra Armas

    When Allegra Armas graduated from college, she didn’t have a clear path forward—and she felt like she was already falling behind. But over the past decade, she’s carved out a career rooted in community impact, from connecting fans through sports at the Oakland A’s to driving social impact initiatives at Roku. In this episode, Keira and Allegra talk about the messy reality of navigating those first jobs, why it’s okay not to have it all figured out at 22, and how to keep your passions alive while climbing the career ladder. Allegra shares her journey of finding purpose in the workplace, her proudest moments at Roku (including building their student app design challenge), and why everything really does happen for a reason. Whether you’re just starting out or rethinking your next step, this conversation is a reminder that “failure to launch” is just the beginning of the story.

    41 min
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About

Welcome to From Failure to Launch: The Code2College podcast where we dive into stories of leaders, innovators, and rising stars who turned their failures into stepping stones to success.

Information

  • Creator
    eaeix
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    From Failure to Launch