News

Blair, an industrial designer and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program as a mentor. Blair runs two businesses: Crafted by, a product development consultancy, and BAIR, a tech accessories brand. With experience across consumer electronics, soft goods, retail displays, and tech products, Blair has worked with clients from startups to Fortune 100 companies. As a mentor in the Sparks program, Blair will share expertise in bringing physical products from early concepts to production with aspiring designers and entrepreneurs.

Vincent, a freshman at Virginia Tech majoring in Finance, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program! We’re excited to welcome him to our community and support his journey as he begins exploring opportunities in the world of finance. With the guidance of a mentor, Vincent will have the chance to expand his professional network, gain valuable industry insights, and build a strong foundation for future success.

Callum, a sophomore at the University of North Carolina Charlotte majoring in Accounting with a minor in Data Science, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program! We’re excited to support Callum as he builds his foundation in both finance and data-driven decision-making. With the guidance of a mentor, he’ll have the opportunity to deepen his academic knowledge, explore the intersection of accounting and analytics, and develop valuable professional connections to help prepare for future internships and career opportunities.

Vanessa, a junior at Kennesaw State University majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Biomedical Engineering, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program! With her strong interest in biomedical engineering, we’re excited to connect Vanessa with a mentor who can help her explore the intersection of mechanical design and medical innovation. Through this mentorship, she will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights, build professional connections, and prepare for a career that blends engineering with advancements in healthcare technology.

Nathaniel, a junior at the University of California - Santa Barbara majoring in Pre-Economics, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program! With his interest in business consulting, we’re excited to support Nathaniel as he explores the field, learns from an experienced mentor, and begins developing the skills and connections that will help shape his academic and career journey.

Sarah Danford has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program as a mentor, bringing expertise from both investment banking and direct lending sectors. Currently serving as an Associate in the Diversified Direct Lending group at Blue Owl Capital (NYSE: OWL), Sarah's finance career began at Bank of America, where she completed internships during her sophomore and junior years before advancing to an Investment Banking Analyst role in the leveraged finance group. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, Sarah's background spans both traditional investment banking advisory services and the growing direct lending market. Through the Sparks Mentorship Program, she will share insights about breaking into competitive finance roles, understanding different sectors within institutional finance, and building the analytical and relationship skills essential for success in capital markets.

Brian Roosa has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program as a mentor, bringing 20 years of expertise across various supply chain and operations roles. His extensive background includes demand planning, supply planning, customized co-pack operations, and project management roles in manufacturing, lean operations, and innovation, along with customer-facing experience and recent expertise in procurement. Throughout his career, Roosa has been recognized for his problem-solving abilities, with leaders frequently bringing him into highly complex challenges to break them down into simple components and develop sustainable solutions. His diverse experience across multiple functions positions him to offer valuable guidance to mentees in the Sparks Mentorship Program.

Aishat, a freshman at Georgia State University majoring in Nursing, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program! We're excited to support Aishat as she begins her academic journey in the healthcare field. With the guidance of a mentor, she'll have the opportunity to build meaningful connections, gain valuable insights into the nursing profession, and develop the skills that will help shape her future career in healthcare.

Nate, a senior at American University majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Data Science, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program! With his strong interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning, we’re excited to connect Nate with a mentor who can provide insights into cutting-edge technologies, research opportunities, and career paths in the tech industry. Through this mentorship, Nate will have the chance to expand his professional network, deepen his expertise in AI and data science, and gain valuable guidance as he prepares for his transition into the professional world.

Sarah Bozarth has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program as a mentor, bringing over 12 years of nursing experience and a passion for advancing nursing practice. A BSN prepared Registered Nurse with clinical experience in both the Cardiovascular ICU and Cardiac Cath Lab, Sarah is currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner through Indiana University. Through the Sparks Mentorship Program, Sarah will support the new generation of nurses as they grow in their careers, sharing insights from her extensive critical care background and her journey toward advanced practice nursing. Her experience in high-acuity cardiovascular care positions her to guide nursing students and early-career nurses through the challenges of specialized clinical practice and continued professional development.

Patrick, a junior at the University of California–Berkeley majoring in Economics, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program! With his strong interest in economic policy and data-driven decision making, Patrick is eager to learn from his mentor’s professional experience and explore the many career paths in economics and finance. Through this mentorship, he’ll have the opportunity to expand his professional network, sharpen his analytical skills, and gain valuable guidance to help him prepare for internships and future career opportunities.

Azariah, a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Health and Societies with a concentration in Health Care Policy & Law on the Pre-Med Track and minoring in Urban Studies, has joined the Sparks Mentorship Program! We're excited to support Azariah as she explores her passion for health care policy, law, and medicine. With the guidance of a mentor, she'll have the opportunity to gain valuable insights into the intersections of health systems and community impact, build meaningful professional connections, and prepare for a future career at the crossroads of medicine, policy, and social change.