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    Spark and Shine

    The EXPLO Alumni Network: Building Foundations + Making Connections

    Communications Staff
       December 02, 2016

    Ask any of our alums and they will tell you that when you come to EXPLO, you immediately become part of an extended family of curious individuals that you can call on throughout your life’s explorations. We are a vast network, in many ways more connected and expansive than any other school or organization you encounter.

    EXPLO is known for being an unstuffy and unpretentious place. It’s a community where students are made to feel outstanding and that they have extraordinary potential — because we truly believe that they do. The culture on each of our campuses is warm and welcoming, and everyone is on equal footing. At EXPLO, students recognize and celebrate each other’s talents; this is not a place where you’ll find students comparing grade point averages, test scores, or IQs.


    7.21_Robotics_-_13_of_17-1.jpgIn many cases, alumni attribute the seeds of their academic explorations and career paths to EXPLO. At a recent Women in STEM event at the Boston Museum of Science, multiple graduate students from area universities — including MIT and Harvard — regaled EXPLO Executive Director Moira Kelly with stories that their first biology, epidemiology, or computer science courses were during their summers at EXPLO.

    It’s the informality and nurturing environment we create at EXPLO that allows students to thrive and pursue their passions and strengths with confidence — all the while making friendships and connections that support them far past the summer. Who knows what you, your roommate, or your classmates may go on to do? Whatever you choose to pursue, as an EXPLO alum you’ll be in good company. Here are just a few former EXPLO students who have gone on to become real world game changers.

    Noam Angrist, Rhodes Scholar
    Alexia Armstrong, Cole Cooper, Amber Yidizel, Co-Founders,
    Young Diplomacy
    Greg Becker, Songwriter, Southern Crossroads Music
    Sara Gilbert, Actress + Co-host/Creator of The Talk
    Alex Koren, Entrepreneur + Thiel Fellowship Winner
    Doug Liman, Producer + Director, Jason Bourne film franchise,
    Mr. & Mrs. Smith
    Jonathan London, Director/Screenwriter/Producer/Host, Geekscape
    Andrew Marantz, Contributor + Editorial Staff, The New Yorker
    Seth Priebatsch, Creator + CEO, SCVNGR and Level Up
    Gideon Rose, Editor of Foreign Affairs + Council on Foreign
    Relations Member
    Ned Sahin, Neuroscientist + CEO of Brainpower; Harvard University Dissertation of  the Year Winner
    Ellen Siminoff, Entrepreneur + Investor; Forbes Master of Information
    Kevin Systrom, Co-founder + CEO, Instagram
    George Whitesides, CEO,Virgin Galactic + The Spaceship Company
    Marissa Wu (and other Explo alums), Co-founders, LIME
    Magazine for Girls

     

    "Developing problem solving skills, being able to think and speak on your feet — these are some of the things that I experienced at EXPLO and they are the things that will make you nimble and adaptable."

    — Amanda Gutterman, Journalist + Entrepreneur, 
Forbes "30 Under 30" Winner

     
    Influencers: The Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ Winners

    Few organizations can say that their alumni are consistently named to the Forbes magazine 30 Under 30 list. In just the past few years, more than 20 EXPLO alumni have earned the honor for their work as researchers, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and more. These innovative individuals are developing vaccines to end HIV/AIDS; creating technology to optimize the oil and gas industry; reducing cyber threats; and bringing light solutions to devastated areas, enhancing the safety of displaced residents. Among them are:

    Adam Belanich, Co-founder, Joyride Coffee
    Ian Cinnamon, Director of Strategy, The Immunity Project
    Gayatri Datar, Social Entrepreneur + Earth Enable Co-founder
    Kendall Debaghi, Co-founder, A Plus
    Caitlin Donovan, Associate Vice President, Christie’s
    Jessica Gartner, Founder + CEO, Allovue
    Mark Gurman, Senior Editor, 9to5Mac
    Amanda Gutterman, Co-founder, Slant
    Eran Hodis, Harvard/MIT Cancer Researcher
    Jay Kaplan, Co-founder, Synack
    Isabelle Kenyon, Burch Creative Capital
    Dan Kimerling, Co-founder, Standard Treasury
    Sarah Law, Founder + CEO, KARA Handbags
    Max Mankin, Co-founder, Modern Electron
    Candace Mitchell, Co-founder, Techturized, Inc.
    Eli Nagler, Blackstone Group
    Joan Payson, Wall Street Consumer/Retail Analyst
    Kate Wheatcroft, Co-owner, Bien Cuit Bakery
    Dakin Sloss, Founder, Tachyus Gas + Oil Technologies
    Gemma Sole, Co-founder, Nineteenth Amendment
    Anna Stork, Social Entrepreneur +LuminAid Co-founder

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