Welcome Danna!

I’m happy to welcome Danna Sherif as our summer intern!?She’s expecting to graduate from George Mason University (GMU) with a major in business administration and a concentration in management this fall. She’ll stay at GMU for her Master’s degree in Global Affairs.

This summer she’ll be working on our newsletters, launches of new virtual courses for managers, and supporting in-person and virtual events.

I recently asked Danna a few questions to mine for highlights and I’d love to share them with you:

1) What are your interests as you move on to graduate school later this year?

I believe I can utilize my business background when learning about complex issues such as global inequality, health, and environmental issues. I try not to stay in my own little bubble and learn about what's going on in my own environment, as well as what's around me. I'm super excited to be getting a formal education in this topic.

2) What achievements or accomplishments are you particularly proud of?

??????????? I’ve been working on a team project with GMU classmates that I’m thrilled to say might just turn into something amazing! We submitted a project to the IGNITE Student Start-Up Competition, sponsored by Prince William County Schools and GMU. The project goal is to design a solar-powered, handheld water salinization product that is small enough for use by hikers, campers, and even in global community development. We recently pitched the idea to a group of county staff for evaluation and won 2nd place. This means they will fund our product so we can develop a prototype later this fall.

3)??What do you like to do outside of work?

I’ve always been a reader. My favorite pastime when I have some free time is to go to Barnes and Noble and, with a Starbucks coffee in hand, browse through the novels in hopes of finding something that catches my eye. I have an overactive imagination, so when other people go to the movies, I am at home, playing out the scenes in my head.

??????????? Another hobby I enjoy is baking. I like that it’s more of a science than cooking, whereas cooking doesn’t need such precise measurements. I find it satisfying to finally get a recipe right after many failed attempts. If you were to ask me what my perfect day would be, it would be having my sisters with me cooking while I’m baking.

4)???What initially sparked your interest in Cognitive Agility?

At my previous job, Fyzical Therapy and Balance Center, we would have a big annual meeting, where we would go over the year. In a meeting earlier this year, they brought in one of my coworker’s dad to work with us on a team building exercise. It was so interesting seeing how with a simple activity, I learned more about my coworkers and superiors in an hour than I did working with them for two years. I always regretted not reaching out to my coworker’s dad, to ask if I could at the very least shadow him around. That experience itself sparked my interest in wanting to work on the human side of the business world. I’m very excited to learn more about Cognitive Agility, how it operates and helps people to continue working on themselves in a personal or business setting.

5)??What are your short-term and long-term career goals?

In the short-term, I hope my team’s IGNITE project prototype takes off and we can at least make a couple of sales for it. In the long-term, I hope to start my own business. Whether or not this IGNITE project works out, I’m happy to have this experience. Although I don’t plan on starting it soon, I do want to dabble in all sides of the business world and get a feel for everything.

6)??What motivates and inspires you in your work?

I want to learn. I want new experiences. I’m happy to go into fields I’m not too knowledgeable about and learn how things operate. That’s what got me into working at a physical therapy clinic for the past two years. I was given the opportunity and although I had no intention of working as a physical therapist, I got to learn how they finance and operate their whole clinic. When I finally felt as though I learned everything I could from them, I started looking for new opportunities. New experiences are what motivates me in my work.?

?We look forward to working with you this summer Danna!