IBIT Mentoring Program
The IBIT Mentoring Program paired me with Chris Kearns, VP of internal IT Solutions at Corning. The program assisted me in three distinct ways. First, it allowed me to gain insights into opportunities an MIS degree offers students. I learned about the different kinds of positions Chris held throughout his career and what kind of technical skills he possessed to be able to succeed in those roles. He informed me about the different soft skills he utilized to advance in his career, such as presentation and interviewing tips. Next, I had the opportunity to learn about how information technology is used at the corporate level. For example, Chris and I spoke about notable cyber attacks, like the Colonial Pipeline attack. We discussed the protocol for after a breach occurs as well as how to implement cyber-protection measures. Chris informed me about some of the day-to-day tasks of an IT professional working in cyber security. Lastly, I had the opportunity to learn about how Corning is using cloud computing technology. I learned that Corning has opted to use multi-cloud approach to host some of their IT operations. Chris informed me about some of the advantages of using more than one cloud provider. All in all, this was a great experience that allowed me to advance my knowledge in career development, cyber security and cloud computing.