When four successful Honors College alumni—leaders at Google, Meta, and NVIDIA—returned to Las Vegas on their own dime, their mission was clear: give back to the community that helped launch their careers. During the exclusive “Alumni in Tech: Career Journeys and Insights” event, the alumni shared their experiences, challenges, and career insights with Honors College students. But beyond advice, they offered something more valuable—their time, energy and commitment to mentoring the next generation of Honors College graduates.

For Maui Orozco '14, public policy manager at Meta, returning to UNLV was not just about sharing career insights but also about giving back to the community that shaped her path.

"It’s important to me to give back to my community and help prepare and lift up the next generation of leaders," Orozco said. "Community and mentorship were key to helping me get to where I am today, so I was happy to participate at my own expense and give back."

Ting Ku '92, senior engineering director at NVIDIA, said returning to campus was about both supporting students and seeing how the Honors College had evolved over the past 30 years.

Focus on Adaptability

During the event, the panelists emphasized adaptability as a key to success in the tech industry.

Sean Kau '11, a software engineer at Google, began his studies as a finance major before switching to computer science. Kau said his path to Google was anything but linear. "Your journey might not be straightforward, but the skills you pick up along the way are what make you valuable." 

Orozco encouraged students to embrace uncertainty. "In college, I always wanted to know the answer," she said. "But in my career, I’ve learned to embrace the unknown. Tech is always changing, and that’s what makes it exciting."

Ku echoed the importance of adaptability, saying, "Expect changes. The skills you have now aren’t all you’ll need, and learning on the job is key." Both he and Avnish Bhatnagar '89, manager of the Google Maps Platform support team, credited their Honors College courses with teaching them how to approach problems from different angles.

Ku added, "there are no wasted classes."

The Power of Internships and Networking

The panelists also stressed the importance of internships and networking as essential steps to building a career.

Avnish Bhatnagar '89, who serves as the manager of the Google Maps Platform support team at Google, credited a UNLV professor with helping him secure an internship at an aerospace company, which led to roles at NASA and eventually Google. "The real-world experience and networking that happen in a good internship are invaluable," he said.

Orozco agreed, noting that her internship at the Las Vegas Economic Development Authority introduced her to Uber, which set the stage for her career in tech policy.

Ku added, "Internships are more important than a perfect GPA. They give you hands-on experience and help you stand out."

Embracing Emerging Technologies

A major topic of discussion was the need to stay informed about emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR).

"AI is advancing quickly, and everyone—whether you’re an engineer or an artist—needs to find ways to use it," Ku said. "The world is changing too fast to stay still. If you don’t take those risks, you’ll get left behind."

Bhatnagar suggested that AI literacy should be a requirement for all students. "There ought to be an AI 101 course for every student—focused on understanding machine algorithms, ethics and biases," he said.

Value of the Honors College Experience

As the discussion came to a close, Kau reflected on how his Honors College education shaped his career as a software engineer.

"You might say, ‘Sean, you’re a software engineer—why does it matter that you went to the Honors College?’ The fact is, I could still be a software engineer without having gone to Honors. But I am a better software engineer because I learned to think deeply and critically," Kau said.

Bhatnagar echoed Kau’s sentiment. "Critical thinking, problem-solving, reasoning and communication: these skills have been essential in my career, and unlike some technical skills, you can't really learn them on the job," Bhatnagar said.

"Employers really value such core skills, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have developed them at UNLV."

The Alumni in Tech panel wasn’t just a one-time event—it reflected the ongoing commitment Honors College alumni have to the community that helped shape their futures. As Kau, Orozco, Bhatnagar, and Ku continue to advance in their careers, their dedication to giving back ensures that future Honors College students will have the support and guidance they need to succeed.