University: University of Texas at Austin, Class of 2009 (BBA) and 2011 (MPA)
Major: Bachelor’s in Business Management and Master of Public Affairs
Career Field: Technology and Public Policy
Current Role: AI Product Program Manager, Meta
From a young age, Larry knew earning a college degree would play a critical role in achieving his goals. While his career has taken him in many directions, his ambitions have always been guided by a desire to add unique value and contribute to the greater good. He has put those principles into practice in a range of roles, from state and local government consulting to the forefront of today’s emerging technologies.
After finishing a master’s degree in public affairs, he spent several years consulting for state and local governments and nonprofits across the US. Today, Larry works as an AI program product manager for Meta, helping combat online abuse and making social media platforms safer for users of all ages.
Gaining New Direction as a College Intern
Gaining real-world experience was a top priority for Larry during college, and his internships played a meaningful and oftentimes unexpected role in steering his professional trajectory. While he initially planned to pursue a career in business, internships with the City of Austin and the nonprofit Mission Capital demonstrated how he could apply his skills in another context.
Larry began his career as a state and local government consultant at Deloitte: “You can have the best ideas out there, but the best policies are really a function of how well they get implemented at the granular level. I really valued in consulting that it showed me how to bring policy to action.”
In this role, Larry worked on health care policy implementation, disaster recovery work in Louisiana, and state and local government efforts in the Northeast and Midwest. After five years at Deloitte, his journey came full circle and he returned to Mission Capital as a senior nonprofit consultant.
Looking back on the insights and connections he gained as an intern, he encourages Dell Scholars to be open to shifting course as they gain new perspective.
Staying Values-Aligned While Exploring New Paths
After accepting a role with Meta in 2018 and embarking on a new path in artificial intelligence, Larry describes, “it was like a new industry emerged right before me.” He was still able to contribute to the greater good but at a new frontier of online safety. “What keeps me in the space is making sure that online platforms are safe and people are able to see content that they enjoy.”
Larry points to a quote by Albert Einstein that has been influential throughout his personal and professional life: “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” He adds, “My personal fulfillment comes out of this concept of adding value, whether it be in the work that I do professionally or adding value to society in some way. If I can feel good about that, then I can do anything.”
Larry’s Advice to Dell Scholars
- Finish your degree. Larry says, “A college degree is your ticket into a lot of rooms and conversations. It symbolizes your ability to persevere through challenges, learn and retain knowledge, and make connections.”
- Don’t feel pressured to stick to a certain trajectory. It’s okay to adjust the path you’re on and change direction as you gather new information and reflect.
- Be genuine in how you connect with people and earnest about what you want to learn from them. Don’t meet someone with the first thought being, “What can this person do for me?” Approach people with genuine curiosity and you’ll build more meaningful and sustainable relationships.
- Gain real-world experience during your college years, via internships or finding a mentor, to help identify your future path. Stay open and flexible to the opportunities that come your way.
- Remember that how you show up in a room matters. How well you can talk about your experience and ability to add value matters more than a history of working for well-known organizations or attending a prestigious college.
