{"683027":{"#nid":"683027","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Could a Simple Thank You Change Your Career? How Gratitude Launched a MentIE Mentor\u0027s Career","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe MentIE program, hosted by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/case.isye.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EThe Center for Academics, Success, and Equity (CASE),\u003C\/a\u003E connects world-class alumni with students, offering more than guidance \u2014 it builds life changing relationships that open doors to new career opportunities.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the recent semester kickoff event, students and alumni shared inspiring stories of how mentorship influenced their journeys.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Andrew Fong (IE \u002710), Senior Director of Engineering at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.databricks.com\u0022\u003EDataBricks\u003C\/a\u003E, the power of mentorship was set in motion by an uncommon gesture: a personal note.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Career Sparked by Gratitude\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt all started with a handwritten thank-you note during the holidays,\u201d Fong recalled.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYears before he became a mentor himself, Andrew was a student with big dreams but uncertain means.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA Publix grocery bagger through high school, he\u2019d saved what he could, piecing together his future one shift at a time. Georgia Tech\u2019s top-ranked ISyE program felt like the perfect place to realize those dreams, but even with the HOPE scholarship, he still faced a financial gap.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen Andrew was awarded the Michael Tenenbaum Graduate Fellowship, he received not just funding but the final piece he needed to become a successful student.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was a gift that transformed his path\u2014and he knew he had to reach out to thank the person who\u2019d made it possible.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo during the holidays, Andrew took the time to write a personal, handwritten note to Michael Tenenbaum (IE \u002758, HON Ph.D. \u002716), the fund\u2019s namesake. The gesture wasn\u2019t just a formality; it was an earnest expression of the gratitude he felt for this opportunity.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat one heartfelt note set off a life-changing chain of events.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETenenbaum replied and soon invited Andrew to intern at his firm, a summer opportunity that grew beyond his imagination.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy the end of that internship, Tenenbaum\u2019s words made an indelible impact: \u201cYou are part of the family. Call me anytime.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShortly after Tenenbaum extended another invitation, asking Andrew to join him as a co-founder of Caribbean Capital \u0026amp; Consultancy Corp in Puerto Rico, a venture that launched Andrew\u2019s career to new heights.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFong\u2019s experience demonstrates how mentorship and expressions of gratitude can contribute to the development of professional relationships.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003EToday, Andrew has come full circle, giving back through the MentIE program to offer students the same support that once shaped his own path.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese relationships go beyond professional guidance \u2014 they\u2019re about feeling seen and valued,\u201d Fong emphasizes, capturing the heart of mentorship.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJoin the MentIE Program\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe MentIE program thrives on the reciprocal exchange of guidance, growth, and camaraderie, empowering both mentors and mentees to reach their full potential.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhether you\u0027re looking to gain industry insights, build lasting relationships, or give back by mentoring future leaders, the MentIE program offers a gateway to personal and professional growth.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDon\u2019t miss the opportunity to make an impact, join the MentIE community today.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information, contact Nicoly Myles, Director of the Center for Academics, Success, and Equity (CASE): \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:nicoly.myles@gatech.edu\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Enicoly.myles@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn the ISyE MentIE program, even the smallest gestures can have a profound impact. Andrew Fong, Senior Director of Engineering at DataBricks, shares how a simple thank-you note to a mentor turned into a career-defining moment, leading to internships, partnerships, and lasting success.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"How one gesture led to life-changing opportunities for a Georgia Tech ISyE alumnus"}],"uid":"36284","created_gmt":"2025-07-07 17:55:31","changed_gmt":"2025-07-07 17:58:11","author":"chenriquez8","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-09-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-09-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677346":{"id":"677346","type":"image","title":"Andrew-Fong-Group.png","body":null,"created":"1751910967","gmt_created":"2025-07-07 17:56:07","changed":"1751910967","gmt_changed":"2025-07-07 17:56:07","alt":"Andrew Fong (Back Left), with ISyE Student Mentees","file":{"fid":"261239","name":"Andrew-Fong-Group.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/07\/Andrew-Fong-Group.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/07\/Andrew-Fong-Group.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1501837,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/07\/Andrew-Fong-Group.png?itok=O-SpZZOE"}}},"media_ids":["677346"],"groups":[{"id":"660354","name":"Center for Academics, Success, and Equity"},{"id":"1242","name":"School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISYE)"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENat Esparza, Communications Officer II\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECamille Carpenter, Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}