Twenty-three-year-old Jessie Chen, a graphic design major at the New York City College of Technology, is driven by sheer curiosity. She has found interest in nearly every subject area, from math, science, and finance to psychology, music, and art.
“I love challenges – whenever a problem is presented, I am excited to roll up my sleeves and sit there working until the best solution is found,” says Chen. “After exploring different subject areas, I’ve found [that] I am logical but also more artistic and sensational on the inside.”
It is no wonder then that her initiative has led her to a number of different ventures over the years, most recently, to a summer design stint at a startup in the Brooklyn Tech Triangle that led to her full-time employment.
Chen was a participant of the inaugural cohort of the Brooklyn Tech Triangle Internship Program, which matched 28 students City Tech college students with tech and creative companies in Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Chen’s design skills led to a placement with CommonBond, a Downtown Brooklyn-based company that lends to MBA students at a lower interest rate and refinances existing debt. Chen’s time as an intern was complemented by professional development training provided by the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, which managed the program in partnership with NYC Department of Small Business Services.
“In the first week’s boot camp, I learned lots of techniques, including job searching, résumé writing, personal pitching, and interviewing,” says Chen. “The most memorable experience was the first day of the entrepreneurship series, when we had to, as a team, come up with a business plan for a company in less than eight hours.”
For this self-learner, whose hobbies comprise personal projects she calls “experiments” that she pursues through online articles and tutorials, bringing her on board full-time was an “easy choice,” according to CommonBond CEO and Co-Founder, David Klein.
Among staff members, the same sentiment about Chen’s commitment and work resonated.
“Jessie helps bring our product to life each and every day,” said Molly Dince, Director of Communications. “When we come under a tight deadline, Jessie has always stepped up to the plate, putting in extra hours and producing a great end product.”
“I’ve learned a lot from her,” said Sireesha Katragadda, Head of Marketing. “She’s changed my perspective and educated me on a number of design concepts.
Chen’s direct supervisor, Mark Hanna, who is Head of Product, was equally impressed by her nimble work ethic and personal growth.
“She is an incredibly fast and efficient worker with an amazing eye for design,” said Hanna. “It’s been a pleasure working with her and seeing her skills grow and get stronger with every project we launch, from building out our site to designing our newsletter and creating offline materials like postcards and banners.”
With the addition of Chen, the startup is now 11-members strong and has reached more than 1,000 borrowers since its launch at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 2012.
“I love working in a startup because I can grow with the company, have opportunities to work on various types of projects, and learn new things as I move on,” said Chen. “I love what our company is doing – we are actually helping students to save money, and I am part of making the process smoother and more efficient.”
Most importantly, Chen shares mutual admiration for her colleagues, whom she describes as friendly and inspiring, attributing them as a top reason she loves working for CommonBond.
For more about opportunities like this, check out the Brooklyn Tech Triangle Job Board.
