Cohort Stories: Meet Luke
vol. 5, no. 55 — guest post by Luke Garcia
My journey in tech started in college. I began working at the school’s computer labs and quickly developed a passion for technology. After college, I landed my first full-time role in IT. A pivotal moment came when I began working as a technical coordinator. In that role, I learned to innovate from within a large organization and take calculated risks to improve our business. This led me to learn to code and an enthusiasm for data and analytics. I became known for having a knack for data and eventually began working on data projects full-time. Now, I’m helping multiple organizations design and implement their data strategies. I’m at a point now where I’m ready to take the next leap in my career. Being accepted into Hack.Diversity’s 2021 Cohort couldn’t have been timed better. I have a proven track record of providing value, and I’m excited to share with the Hack.Diversity community. Let’s get after it!
I’m excited about the innovation industry because it’s somewhat of a level playing field. It’s open to anyone who’s curious enough to get started.
It doesn’t matter where you come from or your background, innovation is open to all. Whether you’re building a company or simply launching an idea at work, the excitement lies in the process of execution.
It’s all about exploring what works and what doesn’t work, and iterating along the way until it shows that you’re heading in the right direction. The endless curiosity and constant moving forward is what gets me out of bed in the morning. Also knowing that I could potentially help others or improve their lives, makes for a great motivator. Not only do I enjoy the process, knowing that others might benefit is something I strive towards. The process of innovation is all the fun!
I like to live in the moment, but the future is what really motivates me. I’m preparing for the long term. And by that, I mean, I’m thinking about what my life will be like in 5, 10, and 20+ years. However, this isn’t always easy. It’s not always easy deciding between short-term and long-term gains, especially if it breaks conventional wisdom. There are always those willing to offer advice, and those who put up barriers. Having a long-term plan requires an intense focus and dedication. However, it’s easy to stay motivated as I see folks striving in their golden years, and I very much want to do so as well.
I’m aiming to build a sustainable future. One that is built on value and relationships that will carry into later years. I certainly don’t want to go at this alone, so I’m always looking to be part of a team and supporting others along the way.
