Student Spotlight: Tyreke White
May 20, 2018
Meet Tyreke White (MS '18), MS&E graduating Master's student.
Tyreke will be heading to Microsoft's Dallas Office to start as a Consultant within their Customer Facing Technology Group. He'll be working with the product and business sides to assist Microsoft's clients with their technology needs.
"Being able to choose between a wide array of courses from accounting to machine learning is one of the hallmarks of this program that I would have missed out on if I'd chosen another program."
Why did you choose Stanford MS&E?
I chose Stanford's MS&E program for my master's because I wanted a discipline that would allow me to combine my interest in business with my experiences and undergraduate coursework in engineering. Being able to choose between a wide array of courses from accounting to machine learning is one of the hallmarks of this program that I would have missed out on if I'd chosen another program.
How did you become interested in your research area?
During my undergraduate program, I studied Applied Mathematics with a focus in Earth and Planetary Sciences, so I've always been interested in energy and the environment (my current discipline within MS&E). Over the past few quarters, I was working on a project focused on modeling behind-the-meter solar by applying different machine learning algorithms. However, this quarter I've been able to diversify my endeavors and explore the world of organization behavior research with Melissa Valentine. This opportunity came about because I was a Course Assistant for MS&E 184 with Melissa and genuinely became interested in the awesome work she's doing!
What are your career plans and how did you decide on them?
After graduation in June, I'll be heading to Microsoft's Dallas Office to start as a Consultant within their Customer Facing Technology Group. This opportunity came about as I was interviewing for a PM role within Microsoft—this opening presented itself, I interviewed, and here we are! I'm excited about this role because I'll be able to put my MS&E degree straight to work. I'll be working product-side and the business-side to assist Microsoft's clients with their technology needs and propel Microsoft forward.
What advice do you have for students?
The biggest advice I can give to current or prospective students is to take courses you're genuinely interested in. Don't feel compelled to take a course because everyone else is doing it—decide what you want your career to be, and take courses that cater to this. Everything else will work out, I promise.
What other activities are you involved with on and off campus?
Over the past year, I worked as the Financial Officer for the MS&E Graduate Student Association to plan our annual winter formal, networking mixers, happy hours, etc. I also do a lot of photography, so you can always find me with a camera (or iPhone) in hand shooting landscapes or portraits!