Academic Advisor Debbie Kingsbury’s help launches Jose Padin’s career
Jose Padin ’00 (management information systems), now vice president, majors and public sector solutions consulting at Zscaler, was packing his bags for a college internship when an unexpected phone call nearly derailed his career before it even began. The company was struggling financially, layoffs had hit, and his paid position was suddenly eliminated.
Facing an uncertain future with only days to spare, Padin walked into Saunders College of Business and spoke with academic advisor Debbie Kingsbury ’95 (applied arts and sciences), ’98 MS (career and human resource development). What followed was a masterclass in dedication, alumni connection, and the spirit of RIT.
I was packing my belongings and preparing to leave for an internship the following week when I received a call. The company where I was supposed to intern was struggling financially. They had just gone through layoffs, and the paid internship program was being eliminated.
I didn’t know what to do.
I went to the College of Business and talked to Debbie. There wasn’t much time to dwell on what had happened. She helped me get registered at the last minute for the upcoming semester so I could continue taking classes if the internship fell through.
But Debbie didn’t stop there.
She started working her network of RIT alumni, calling people and asking if anyone needed an intern.
The next day, I received a call from an alumnus looking for IT administration help. What started as a conversation to feel each other out quickly turned into a two-hour interview, including a technical screen with the CTO.
I wouldn’t recommend walking into an interview that unprepared, but opportunity is where preparation meets luck. RIT’s MIS program had prepared me well for that lucky opportunity.
That evening, I received an offer for a paid internship. Fortunately, I hadn’t completely unpacked my bags, because the following week I was heading to Washington, D.C. The company even put me up in a hotel for the first few weeks.
Once I arrived, I focused on making myself useful. I learned quickly, took on whatever needed to be done, stayed persistent, and looked for every opportunity to make an impact.
Two months later, that internship turned into a full-time job offer and launched my career.
I still think about how differently my life could have unfolded if Debbie hadn’t gone above and beyond, picked up the phone, and used the RIT network to create an opportunity for me.
Thank you, Debbie.
In recognition of this transformative experience, Padin has made a contribution to the recently established Debbie Kingsbury Endowed Scholarship.
Jose Padin and his family
