ESIA alumna Avonda Fogan, BA ‘16, discusses her early career in international relations and how her transferable skills lead to an exciting opportunity as a Learning Program Manager at Capital One.
Where did you grow up and how has your background influenced you today?
I grew up in Northeast Washington DC. Growing up in one of the most politically active cities, and having all of my family members work for either federal or local government, encouraged me to be politically active and pursue a career in international relations.
Did you receive a scholarship at GW? How did your scholarship help you succeed?
Yes, I received the Stephen Joel Trachtenberg scholarship which funded my entire four years at GW (tuition and room & board). This allowed me to focus on my studies and study abroad without worrying about any financial burden.
Tell us about your current professional role and how it excites you.
Currently, I’m a learning program manager at Capital One where I manage programs that upskill software engineers. The programs I manage teach them key skills within cybersecurity, Gen AI, and risks in production environments. This excites me because I get to work at the forefront of technology and identify opportunities to ensure our technologists have the latest skills and knowledge in the industry.
What accomplishment are you most proud of personally or professionally and why?
My background is international relations and China, and although I’m no longer professionally in that space, I along with some colleagues started a nonprofit called Black China Caucus (BCC) . The mission of Black China Caucus is to uplift and enhance the voices of Black professionals who work on China. We’ve connected with over 200 Black professionals internationally and provided them with life-changing opportunities to further their careers. As a Black woman who studied Chinese, I wish I had access to resources to accelerate my career and a community of like-minded folks. BCC has created this space for Black professionals to convene with each other and also diversify rhetoric on China.
What is your only-at-GW moment? In other words, what is an experience/opportunity you believe GW provided you access to?
My only at GW moment occurred when my Chinese professor recommended me for an internship at US-China Strong Foundation my senior year. I interned there for both semesters and was offered a full-time job before I graduated. I was able to use my degree in international relations and Chinese literature & language to land me my dream job at US-China Strong Foundation working on grassroots efforts to enhance the US-China relationship. My four years at GW prepared me for the world of work, and I’m so grateful for my experience there and all the incredible professors and friends I met along the way.
What is a fun fact about you that you'd like to share?
I love fitness and am a certified yoga instructor. I’ve been practicing for almost 2 decades and teaching for the past four years.
Was there a standout course, professor, or organization from your time as a student that inspired your career path?
The East Asian languages department set me up to have a successful career in the China space. I learned and became proficient in Chinese during my short four years at GW and I couldn’t have done that without them.
What is a piece of advice you would offer to students seeking to pursue your field of work?
I have changed industries many times in the past eight years. So my advice for students who are like-minded and like to learn a lot of different things is to work on building transferable skills like learning a language (and studying abroad to solidify those language skills). Learning research and project management skills can also set you up for success in many different roles across industries.
How do you give back to the GW community?
I’m starting to become more involved in the alumni community. Specifically, I’ve been attending networking events and have connected alumni to my professional network for career opportunities.