Hear QB Alumni Cody Coleman (MIT '13) and Will Gaviria Rojas (MIT '13) with Ana Rowena Mallari, as they share what entrepreneurship means to them, the role their backgrounds and identities played in their successes, the challenges of launching a new business, and the future of AI and other technology.

Join this session to: 

• Gain professional insights from QuestBridge Alumni on navigating career opportunities, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
• Get inspired by real stories of overcoming challenges, taking risks, and building successful ventures.
• Explore the future of AI and its impact on industries, with a discussion on emerging trends and opportunities.

Meet the speakers

Cody Coleman is the co-founder and CEO of Coactive AI. He is also a co-creator of DAWNBench and MLPerf, a founding member of MLCommons, and his work spans developing standards and benchmarks for high-performance deep learning to data-centric AI. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Stanford and MEng and BS degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT.

Will Gaviria Rojas is the co-founder of Coactive AI. A former Data Scientist at eBay, Will has also previously held various roles as a visiting researcher. His academic work spans from IoT electronics to design and performance benchmarking of deep learning in neuromorphic systems. Will holds a PhD in Materials Science from Northwestern University and a BS from MIT.

Ana Rowena Mallari is co-founder and Board Chair of the Quest Scholars Program (QuestBridge), and CEO of QuestBridge. While an undergraduate at Stanford, she co-founded Quest with Michael McCullough. For this, she received the Dinkelspiel Award for outstanding contributions to education at Stanford. She holds a B.A. from Stanford in Human Biology and a J.D. from Stanford Law School, where she focused on environmental and youth law.

Join us for an engaging discussion on money and financial literacy, led by QuestBridge Alumni Kimberly Rosa-Perez (Swarthmore '18, Yale SOM '24) and Daniel Flores (Northwestern '14). This session will host two Alumni who interview each other on important topics, followed by audience Q&A and group conversation.

Join this session to: 

• Gain practical insights on financial literacy. 
• Engage in meaningful discussions with QuestBridge Alumni who have navigated similar challenges.
• Connect with the QB community and explore perspectives that can help shape your own journey.

Meet the speakers

Daniel Flores was raised in San Antonio, Texas. He holds a B.A. from Northwestern University and an MS from the Kellogg School of Management.  After graduation, he worked in Pricing/Revenue Mgmt at United Airlines, Management Consulting at KPMG, and currently serves as a Data Compliance Lead for Chicago Public Schools.  Outside of work, his musical endeavors (@trumpetpapi) have been featured on Univision, The Los Angeles Times, and Druski. Proud QuestBridge volunteer since 17, he co-founded the NU QSN Chapter, and served as a founding member of the National Alumni Board and inaugural Chicago Regional Chair.

Kimberly Rosa-Perez is a Senior Manager in SMB Product Commercialization at Fiserv, a global company that helps businesses move money securely and efficiently through payment technology and financial services. She earned her MBA from the Yale School of Management and holds a B.A. in Economics and Spanish from Swarthmore College. Before business school, Kim worked at Accenture, where she led projects as a technical program manager and digital strategy consultant for clients in financial services and tech. Kim grew up helping her family navigate the healthcare and financial systems — experiences that inspired her passion for financial literacy and economic empowerment. Today, she loves breaking down complex financial topics and supporting others in making informed decisions about their money. She’s excited to connect with the QuestBridge community at QB Convene — be sure to say hi!. Read Kim's story. 

Join us for an engaging discussion on relationships and identity, led by QuestBridge Alumni Natalia Delery (UChicago '17) and Kyle Wickham (UChicago '18). This session will host two Alumni who interview each other on important topics, followed by audience Q&A and group conversation.

Join to:

• Gain valuable insights on navigating relationships, identity, and personal growth in different life and career stages.
• Explore how identity shapes personal and professional relationships and the ways it influences our interactions and sense of belonging.
• Engage in authentic conversations about challenges, growth, and building meaningful connections within different communities.

Meet the speakers

Natalia Delery received her B.A. in Comparative Human Development from the University of Chicago in 2017, and then served as a College Advising Corps Member and Postsecondary Coach on the South Side of Chicago, helping students apply to their dream schools and jobs. To further her capacity for social impact and innovation, she later pursued her M.S. in Social Work with a specialization in Social Enterprise Administration at Columbia University in New York and graduated in 2020. This inspired her to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector as a Grants Manager, where she is able to direct resources from large, private entities - such as corporations and foundations — toward community and youth initiatives. She currently works full-time at Boxing Out Negativity in Chicago, spearheading grants and partnerships and combining her passions for youth development, violence prevention, and sports. In both her professional and personal life, Natalia is committed to using her lived and learned experience to amplify individual voices and stories, empower youth, connect people to opportunities, and advocate for historically divested communities in the fight for racial and economic justice and community safety. In her free time, she teaches dance classes, and you can find her exploring thrift shops and cafés across the city.

Kyle Wickham, a Florida native, is a QuestBridge Alum and 2013 Match recipient to the University of Chicago. At UChicago, he held multiple leadership roles on the QSN Board, including President and Liaison. After earning his B.A. in Biological Sciences in 2018, he spent a year working in human resources at a healthcare technology nonprofit before matriculating to medical school. He went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Michigan, where he was actively involved in organizations dedicated to serving underserved patients, including his role as Director of the Student-Run Free Clinic. Currently, Kyle is a pediatric resident at Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center. After completing his training, he plans to pursue a career in pediatric primary care, advocating for improved healthcare access and health outcomes for children. Outside of work, Kyle enjoys spending time with his partner and their three cats — Bao, Momo, and Miso — attending workout classes, crocheting, and exploring new restaurants. Read Kyle's story. 

Join us for an engaging discussion on work and career, led by QuestBridge Alumni Emily Chan (Dartmouth '16) and Tracy Vu (Stanford '15). This session will host two Alumni who interview each other on important topics, followed by audience Q&A and group conversation.

Join to:

• Gain perspectives on work, career paths, and professional growth.
• Hear from Alumni about their experiences and lessons learned along the way.
• Engage in open conversations about challenges, opportunities, and navigating the professional world.

Meet the speakers

Emily Chan, originally from Miami, Florida, has had the chance to explore different career paths and geographies since graduating from Dartmouth. She was previously an investor in private equity at BlackRock in the greater NYC area before pivoting to tech in Chicago at Uber. Since then, she’s been able to explore consulting in Korea, founding a remote start-up, and has now led two business functions at her current company — a pre-IPO AI start-up (Scale AI) in San Francisco. 

Tracy Vu received her MBA from the Wharton School, then joined McKinsey in New York as a consultant, focusing on the wealth and asset management industry. Prior to Wharton, she worked at J.P. Morgan Private Bank as an investment specialist, advising hedge fund principals during her time in New York and venture capitalists and tech founders while in the Bay Area on their personal portfolios. She grew up in Orange County, California, and graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Anthropology and an MA in Media Studies. 

QuestBridge Connect is a dynamic, interactive session designed to help you forge meaningful connections with fellow Scholars and Alumni. Whether you're looking to expand your network, share experiences, or simply meet new people, this session offers a fun and engaging way to build community.

How does it work?

• Choose from one of two sessions: Alumni Connect and Scholar Connect will take place in separate virtual rooms.
• Engage in the interactive format: The session begins with a fun activity to break the ice.
• Join small group discussions: You'll be randomly matched into groups of 4–5 people for 10–15-minute conversations, giving you the chance to meet multiple new people throughout the session.

Join to:

• Build meaningful connections with fellow QuestBridge Scholars and Alumni in an engaging, supportive environment.
• Share experiences and insights through casual conversations with peers who understand your journey.
• Expand your network in a fun, low-pressure setting designed to foster community.

This event is open to all QuestBridge Scholars and Alumni. To register, sign up or log in to your QB Hub account. 

The QB Convene gatherings are open to all QuestBridge Scholars and Alumni who were Finalists in the National College Match and attended or graduated from a QuestBridge college partner. Current high school students are not eligible to attend the QB Convene gatherings.

Participation in the virtual QB Convene gatherings is free.

The 2025 QB Convene conference will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time. 

Yes! While we hope you will join us for each QB Convene gathering, and will stay for the entirety of each event, you are welcome to register for an event and participate in the sessions and activities as you wish.

Conferences are all about making connections with people, and we hope that QB Convene will provide you with ample opportunities to connect with people who share common backgrounds, experiences, and interests. It will also be a valuable way to reflect on your story and growth, and possibly network with others for a future opportunity, so be open to meeting new people – both in and outside of sessions.

1. Get your tech ready:

• For your best viewing experience, we suggest using a computer when possible.
• Ensure your device is fully charged or plugged in.
• Update Zoom to the latest version. See other technical requirements for Zoom events. 
• Use a virtual background if needed. Learn how to update your Zoom background. 
• Test your camera, microphone, and internet connection beforehand.

2. Engage actively:

• Keep your camera on when possible to enhance interaction.
• Use the chat and Q&A features to participate.
• React with emojis and polls when available.

3. Follow event etiquette:

• Mute your microphone when not speaking.
• Be respectful in discussions and the chat.
• Follow the QuestBridge Community Agreements.

4. Prepare to network:

• Update your QB Hub profile in case you want to share it with anyone you connect with.

We are excited that you’ll be joining us! We will be sending you emails with more information about QB Convene, including instructions on how to access the event.