Tinkering with OCE

Subscribe to OCE's weekly newsletter on tech, business and higher education...curated for the ambitious youth.

💥 All Your Questions Answered

Future Changemakers, I’m guessing you have questions about higher education, starting businesses, landing purposeful career paths. Before you decide to take the plunge, you want to really understand what it entails to work at the forefront of innovation, and to become a founder. Maybe you have some of the same kind of questions we had back when we were in school: How do I start my own business as a teen? Can you actually teach me how to do this? Will this be helpful for my future internship,...

6 days ago • 4 min read

❌ Never take on these internships

You know I’m all about learning through hands-on work. And the best way to do so is through an internship, then start your own project. But. Not all internships are created equal. One of my earlier “internships” was with a communications agency where I worked in a padded cubicle on a call center line. I’m pretty sure my first corporate experience was where dreams go to die. It was such a party that half of the team left within the first month- including myself. What’s so bad about it, you...

13 days ago • 4 min read

🚀 3 Ways to start your project without money

S So you want to start the project you’ve been thinking about. Something to build skills, to add to your portfolio and maybe even bringing in revenue is a dream for many teens. But the reality of starting anything is that it’s straight-up hard work. And it may seem out of reach because many ideas require large upfront capital. If you don’t have the funds or investors to back you, you’re out of luck. Or so the conventional wisdom goes. But did you know you don’t need to put down your own...

20 days ago • 3 min read

🛠️ Best tools for building your passion project

I don’t usually pimp out sites... BUT if I could go back in time, the tools listed below are what I’d tell young me to use to start “my thing,” to begin to leave my mark on the world. Each grouping has the steps you should take to ideate, prototype, get the word out, and operate. But FIRST If you are new, welcome to OCE’s weekly newsletter curated for the ambitious youth…here are some articles you missed from previous weeks: 📈 USE THIS: Land your dream (summer) opportunity Read More → 🎨 The...

27 days ago • 2 min read

🔍 The secret power of introverts

I’m not sure if you can relate but about 9 years ago, I was interning at this boutique brand consulting firm, chasing after society’s expectations. I was sitting at another company meeting, and a managing director came up to me afterwards and told me “You need to speak up more.” A little part of me died in that moment. Unless I have an insight or a good question to offer, I generally stay pretty quiet. Why is there a need for everyone to speak up when I’m not even presenting? Ugh. In a...

about 1 month ago • 4 min read

❗ USE THIS: Land your dream (summer) opportunity

Job hunting is absolutely the WORST… It is a soul crushing endeavor…like worse than being picked last on the school yard. Here’s Why: Prestigious company like Google typically receives 1000s of resumes for each job posting. Isn’t that wild?! And even with smaller companies, first resume is received within 200 seconds after a position is posted. Not to mention, LinkedIn members submit 140 job applications every second. Competition is tough, and submitting your resume online through corporate...

about 1 month ago • 4 min read

✨ Build your tribe find your vibe

So I’ve been told by alumni that one of the best parts of OCE is the network of influential leaders you get to tap into. There’s a magic that happens when someone influential recognizes your potential. They then share their resources with you, introduce you to their friends, opportunities, advice etc. After all, our world is about who we can connect, influence or build with. Don’t believe me? Check out Paypal Mafia. Paypal Mafia members and their ventures Arguably one of the most powerful...

about 2 months ago • 4 min read

Community Spotlight: Lucas Gil - Finance Guru

Today, we’re trying something new… Something I'm planning to do A LOT more in future newsletters. What is it? Telling the stories of purposeful youth working on their passion projects and businesses serving their community. (AKA, OCE alumni.) We’ll focus on their: Incredibly diverse backgrounds Strategies used to start (with $0) Critical wins and learning First up: Lucas Gil, who joined OCE back in 2021. Lucas is currently a student at the University of Waterloo paving an unique path by...

about 2 months ago • 4 min read

Weird Internship Interview Questions from Credit Karma, Google, Uber and Wayfair

Have you ever wondered what it takes to break into the elusive Big Tech? Well, I’m no stranger to the process. Back in 2016, I remember desperately wanting to land a strategy role in the Valley. I interviewed with 20+ people, flew to their HQ in Boston and San Francisco for final rounds, sent more follow-up emails, sketchy thank you notes in quasi-pleading tones than I care to admit. After a slew of case studies, take home assignments and presentations, they went “a different direction.” I...

2 months ago • 3 min read

Are you a victim of FOMO?

Have you ever felt like you are just less capable than your peers? Me too friend. But thankfully this is not a sob story but rather a wake-up call. This week, I want to talk to you about what it means to be investing in YOUR UNIQUE SELF and finding your superpower. But FIRST If you are new, welcome to OCE’s weekly newsletter curated for the ambitious youth…here are some articles you missed from previous weeks: 📈 5 lessons learned—so for your next internship, you don’t Read More → 🎨 Small...

2 months ago • 3 min read

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