Current Position(s): Vice President of Operations at Revolabs (Yamaha)

Past Jobs: Home repairs, garments store clerk, shipping clerk, bicycle assembler, tow truck operator, gas station attendant, auto repair technician, facilities maintenance, fitness instructor, home repair, landscaper, snow remover, radio repair technician, picture frame assembler, shoe salesman, car salesman, product design engineer, senior manufacturing engineer, operations program manager, software engineer, ERP consultant, consultancy business owner, member of board of directors, manufacturing engineering manager, director technical operations, director of global supply chain, vice president of operations, vice president of manufacturing, executive director of supply chain and quality.

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now? Do not hesitate to reach out to and leverage your industry connections and contacts / available resources, do not try to be a hero and do things alone, especially when you have the means.

Favorite App: Google & Apple Maps

Connect with Jack: LinkedIn

Current Position(s): Clinical Practice Leader of the Cancer Center at Hallmark Health.

Past Jobs: Bone marrow transplant RN at Cedar Sinai Medical Center; home care RN for Cedar Sinai Home Care; infusion nurse at Tower Hematology Oncology Group (California). Staff nurse on oncology floor at St. Elizabeth's. Intake nurse at Boston VNA. Infusion nurse at Winchester Hospital outpatient hem/onc and infusion/charge nurse at Hallmark Health Cancer Center.

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now? Believe in yourself. You are smarter than you think you are.

Favorite App: UpToDate

Connect with Tamar: LinkedIn

Current Position(s): CEO at Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Past Jobs:  President at Wolters Kluwer Financial Services; Co-Founder, Principal and CEO at PCI Corporation; Financial Analyst at Kellett Ventures Management. 

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now? Don't assume anything. Do all kind of work to figure out what you don't want to do.

Favorite App: Seat Guru, Uber

Connect with Raffi: LinkedIn

Current Position(s): Director Of External Alliances at Tetragenetics

Past Jobs: Volunteer as a Research Assistant, Research Technician I, Research Technician II, Research Technician III/Lab Manager, Scientist I, Scientist II, Senior Scientist. 

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now? The best way to predict your future is to create it. Never underestimate your ability to do so.

Favorite App: any app that makes my life easier

Connect with Yelena: LinkedIn

Current Position(s): Senior Manager at EY's Transaction Advisory Services.

Past Jobs: Vice President with The BVA Group; Armenia's Department of Finance, Tax Policy Group.

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now?

1. Set ambitious goals. Try and don't be afraid to fail.
2. Develop genuine relationships with people, seek mentors and different perspectives.
3. Stay real and personal. Enjoy the ride!

Favorite App: Paper

Connect with Mayis: LinkedIn

Current Position(s): Architectural Designer at Payette Associates

Past Jobs: Architectural Intern, Professor Assistant, Waitress, Sales Representative, Project Coordinator, Architectural Designer/ Job Captain, Architectural Consultant.

What advice would you have given to your 20-yo self now? Evaluate the range of career options with an architecture background. Be more proactive in finding ways to alter your college and internship programs to cultivate the range of experience that you are looking for.

Favorite App: Pinterest

Connect with Elen: LinkedIn

Current Position(s): Advisor to multiple early-stage biotech companies

Past Jobs: Ice cream scooper; restaurant waiter; UPS package handler; CEO at Sarepta; VP of Corporate Strategy at Celgene; VP of Corporate Development at Gilead; various roles in biopharma (marketing, medical affairs, strategic planning, etc)

What advice would you have given to your 20-yo self now? Trust that the doors that close or never open will lead you to a better opportunity.

Favorite App: Twitter, Starbucks mobile

Connect with Chris: LinkedIn

Current Position(s): Entrepreneur. Dance teacher.

Past Jobs: Co-Founder and CEO at ZOOS Greek Iced Teas; Brand Manager at Welch’s; Strategist Collective Brands (Sperry Top Sider, Keds, Saucony, Stride Rite Brands); Co-chair 10th anniversary of Babson Entrepreneurship Forum; Exec Committee Member of Sayat Nova Dance Company; Various roles in operations, finance, strategic development at Staples.

What advice would you have given to your 20-yo self now? You can accomplish anything that you put your mind to. The sky is the limit. Reach big, dream big, work hard, play harder and don’t ever give up on your goals.

Favorite App: Instagram

Connect with Niari: LinkedIn

Current Position(s): Photographer, Senior Lecturer

Past Jobs: Toy store, grocery store clerk, Camp Haiastan counselor, Armenian Weekly photographer, staff Photographer, freelance and agency photographer, senior lecturer in photography and photojournalism

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now? Choose a career, stick with it and plan ahead!

Favorite App: Light Meter

Connect with Kenneth:

• LinkedIn

• See Me

• Stock Photos

• ZenFolio

• Suffolk University Magazine

Current Position(s): Professor (Theoretical and Computational Chemistry and Biophysics)

Past Jobs: Student, Graduate Student, Postdoctoral Researcher, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor.

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now? I would not have changed what I was doing at 20. Later, around 30, I would have advised to live more in the moment, and not worry to much about the future.

Favorite App: Changes every few months. Currently, Evernote.

Connect with Garegin:

• LinkedIn

• Website

• Website

Current Position(s): Senior Director New Markets, Executive Education at Harvard Business School

Past Jobs: Summer Volunteer at Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary, General Clinic during high school ( confirmed medicine was not my future path). Most Fun Job – selling home computers on commission at Sears. Most Challenging Adult Assignment – bring Harvard Business School Executive Education to China in 2000.

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now? Take more risks, be more bold, take on the assignments even if you do not have all the skills, just having 1/3 of the core skills in a job description are enough to step in to a new role.

Favorite App: FitBit

Connect with Ani:

LinkedIn

Website

Current Position(s): Structural Engineer at SIMPSON GUMPERTZ & HEGER.

Past Jobs: Art auction house intern; factory worker; retail cashier; steel fabricator; structural engineer, lecturer at MIT and Harvard-GSD; Associate Principal.

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now? Stop learning how it should be and start thinking how it could be.

Favorite App: Paper, Google Maps, Vimeo, Structures: a visual exploration. 

Connect with Paul:

LinkedIn

Website

Current Position(s): Professor of Practice of Political Science at UMass Amherst. Director of Administration at the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).

Past Jobs: For almost six years, worked for the United Nations in capacity of Senior Adviser to the UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia (2008-2013). Developed and coordinated UNDP “Global Armenia” program aimed at facilitating the Armenian Diaspora’s engagement in the country’s development projects. Concurrently, taught at the EU founded Center for European Studies at Yerevan State University. Served twice as Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia (1997-2000 and 2004-2008) and was the Chief Negotiator with the European Union (2005-2006). Co-chaired the Security Dialogue with the United States (1998-1999). Served as the first Armenian Ambassador to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Indonesia (2000-2004) as well as the first Consul General in Los Angeles (1995-1997). In 1993-1995, held the position of the Deputy Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations in New York. Served as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the Speaker of the newly independent Armenia’s Parliament (1991-1992).

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now? a) be persistent and pursue your goals and plans until they are accomplished. b) learn to plan smartly c) absorb as much knowledge as possible.

Favorite App: Yelp, Skype, Ted

Connect with Armen:

Article 1

Article 2

LinkedIn

Current Position(s): Associate Director of Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives. The Koutoujian Committee

PAST JOBS: Campaign for Peter Koutoujian - fundraising and field operations. State Representative, Sheriff and Congressional campaigns; Kaswell Flooring Systems; Global Partnership for Afghanistan; Armenia Tree Project; Brookstone (for the cool gadgets); Intern at Conflict Management Group; Intern at Armenian Embassy.

What advice would you have given to your 20-yo self now? Don't worry so much, it doesn't change anything. Be brave and have moments of fearlessness, they remain with you forever.

Favorite App: Twitter during debates and the bachelor/bachelorette, and award shows.

Connect with Tsoleen:

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

Current Position(s): President and CEO of EPM. An Engineering and consulting company serving nuclear power industry.

Past Jobs: Pumping Gas, Mechanic, Tow Truck Driver, Engineer, Senior Engineer, Division Manager, Director of Engineering, Chief Operating Officer (COO).

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now? Work hard and Stay focused.

Favorite App: Google Maps

Connect with Robert: LinkedIn

Current Position(s): Director of Enterprise Sales, Apperian, Inc.

Past Jobs: Apple picker (Honey Pot Hill Orchard); newspaper delivery boy (Boston Globe); ice cream server (Erickson Ice Cream); gas station attendant (Citgo); student dorm proctor (Northeastern University); proofreader (Meahl McNamara Accounting); technical report Coodinator (Cullinet Software); Bose Home Audio System Salesperson; product manager (MediaMap); major accounts manager (NEC Computer Systems); account manager (ACER Systems); territory sales manager (Overland Storage); territory manager (Quantum Storage); channel sales manager (Qlikview); channel sales manager (TIBCO); Director, Enterprise Sales (Apperian).

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now? Find something about which you are passionate, be willing to pay your dues, work hard while you're young for little money, filter out the noise, build relationships with peers and mentors, and focus on the prize, as long as you're honest and live by your principles, you will succeed.

Favorite App: Amazon

Connect with Todd: LinkedIn

Current Position(s): CEO of Infopay

Past Jobs: Since 2004 I've been the CEO of Infopay.

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now? Invent Google

Favorite App: Flipboard

Connect with Levon: LinkedIn

Current Position(s): Managing Member at SEE Real Estate

Past Jobs: Principal at Boston Homes Realty; Director - Real Estate Development at Fidelity Investments; Director - Sales & Use Tax Compliance at Fidelity Investments; Manager - Employment Tax Compliance at Fidelity Investments; Manager - Tax Compliance at American Stores.

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now?

Favorite App: 

Connect with George: LinkedIn

Current Position: Visiting professor at the University of Massachusetts

Past Jobs:  I retired a few years from Ithaca College where I was professor and chair of the Department of Writing. I then served as special assistant to the president at Hampshire College, retired from that job last June. My field is creative nonfiction, particularly the personal essay and memoir, and writing pedagogy, focusing on the relationship between writing and trauma recovery, that is, how writing can attenuate the effects of traumatic experiences. I have written three books and many essays, articles, and poems. My first two books focus on writing and healing from trauma and the third is a cross-genre narrative titled Sacred Justice: The Voices and Legacy of the Armenian Operation Nemesis that uses historical narrative, memoir, newly found original letters, and other primary and secondary sources to tell the story of a group of Armenian men who organized Operation Nemesis, a covert mission to assassinate the architects of the Armenian Genocide. We did not know until after his death when we found Nemesis correspondence in the files stored in my childhood bedroom that my grandfather was one of the three leaders of Nemesis. Sacred Justice looks at what these men did, why they did it, and the legacy they left for my family and for the Armenian community. I have also been a professional singer. Before I went to graduate school I sang both in groups and as a soprano soloist, performing everything from pop and show tunes to opera. After a few years singing in nightclubs and being on the road (travel is a constant in the performing arts) I decided that I wanted to concentrate on opera and chamber music and sing closer to home. It has been a busy career, writing, teaching, performing, not to mention having a family, but it was the right choice for me.

What advice would you have given to your 20-year-old self now? Hold true to what you think is right for you and don't sweat the small stuff, even when those ankle biters get close, and they will. Keep your eye on the big picture and enjoy the ride. It goes by quickly.

Favorite App: NPR, WAYZ

Connect with Marian:

• LinkedIn

•  Website