The Aspire Mentors

  • KJ Hardrict

    Sr. Software Engineer, Entrepreneur, B.S. Aerospace Engineering

  • Rod Bayliss III

    PhD Candidate in Electrical Engineering, B.S and M.Eng in Electrical Engineering

  • Alexandra Sanchez

    MIT Computer Science and Engineering Undergrad, Varsity Soccer

  • Michelle Sanchez

    Senior Specialist in Lifecycle Project Management, B.S. Bioengineering

  • Sebastian Esquivel

    Senior Chemical Engineer, B.S. Chemical Engineering

  • Naomi Dereje

    Group Product Manager, Consultant, B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Rod Bayliss III

PhD Candidate, Electrical Engineering

Rod is a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley in electrical engineering. He received his B.S. and M.Eng. degrees in electrical engineering from the MIT in 2020 and 2021. During summers at MIT, he interned at Apple, Tesla Inc., and SpaceX. Rod was a recipient of the UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Fellowship and the Hertz Fellowship.

Rod was accepted to MIT, Harvard, Georgia Tech, Cornell, Auburn, and the University of Georgia for his undergraduate studies. Rod was accepted to the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford, the University of Texas at Austin, and MIT for his doctoral studies.

As both a member of the MIT motorsports team and undergraduate researcher, Rod gained lifelong friends and many formative experiences. The engineering skills, connections to industry and the academy, and personal growth have proven to be invaluable over the years. Rod is passionate about helping and guiding others to pursue similar extracurricular activities.

In his free time, Rod enjoys running and cycling, learning the violin, and playing video games with his friends. He can’t wait to meet you and help you achieve your goals!

Alexandra Sanchez

MIT Computer Science and Engineering Undergrad w/ minor in Business Finance, Women’s Varsity Soccer

Alexandra Sanchez is a second-year undergraduate student at MIT, where she is pursuing a major in Computer Science and Engineering with a minor in Business Finance. She spent her summer in New York City, at Quantitative Trading Firm Jane Street, as one of fourteen nationally selected software engineering fellows. Throughout the summer, Alexandra became proficient in Jane Street's favored programming language, OCaml, as well as developing several projects, such as an ETC Bot capable of stock trading and conversions given dynamic market information.

In addition to her coursework, Alexandra is a SERC Scholar for MIT Schwartzman College of Computing, where she is contributing to progressive computational research under postdoctoral associate Dr. Karim Nader, working on the intersection of information and technology to study how internet discourse changes political and social narratives. Alexandra is also an executive board member for MIT Code for Good, a student club providing pro-bono technical consulting service to local non profit organizations, such as Partners for Youth with Disabilities and Global Smile Foundation.

Alexandra is also a student athlete, playing on the Varsity Women's Soccer team at MIT. She is involved in MIT's Sloan Business Club, where she participates in networking events and workshops designed to enhance her business acumen. Previously, Alexandra conducted cutting-edge research at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, where she was exploring alternative, low-cost methods of diagnosis for sickle cell disease.

Alexandra is a driven and dedicated student who is passionate about using technology to make a positive impact on society.

Michelle Sanchez

Senior Specialist in Lifecycle Project Management, Bioengineer

Michelle Sanchez is a 25-year-old Sr. Specialist in Lifecycle Project Management at Moderna, a biotech company focused on developing and manufacturing mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics. Michelle graduated from MIT in 2020 with a degree in bioengineering and gained experience in leadership and project management through Johnson & Johnson's Global Operations Leadership Development Program.

As a Sr. Specialist in Lifecycle Project Management at Moderna, Michelle is responsible for managing key projects throughout their lifecycle, ensuring successful delivery and completion. Her work is critical to ensuring that people around the world receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which is essential in the fight against the pandemic. Michelle is known for her attention to detail, effective communication skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities. She has been recognized for her contributions to Moderna's success.

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys cycling, weight lifting, solving puzzles, and listening to wellness podcasts. She is committed to advancing global health and improving access to healthcare for all. Michelle aspires to continue growing in her role at Moderna and making a positive impact in the world.

Sebastian Esquivel

Senior Chemical Engineer

Sebastian is a highly motivated and skilled Senior Chemical Engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has a diverse background in both industry and academic research, having worked as an Associate Scientist at Unilever, a Senior Chemical Engineer at Amogy Inc., and a Research & Development Intern at SageGlass Electrochromics.

Sebastian’s experience in the field of chemical engineering has been marked by his ability to drive results and deliver multi-million-dollar savings through his work. He has demonstrated his technical skills in lab experiments, data collection, analysis, and has presented his results to R&D directors. Sebastian has also shown a strong passion for clean energy, working on the reactor design and scale up of fuel cell battery technology to convert ammonia to hydrogen as a form of zero carbon emission clean energy.

In addition to his technical skills, Sebastian has also shown exceptional leadership qualities. He has served as President of MAES: Latinos in Science and Engineering, where he planned community outreach events to empower the MIT Latinx community, and as Facilities Chair of MIT's American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE).

Naomi Dereje

Group Product Manager, Consultant, Mechanical Engineer

Naomi Dereje is a dynamic group product manager who got her career start in technology consulting working with Fortune 100 companies. She has a passion for understanding user needs and uses her skills to bridge the gap between technology and design to serve those around us. With experience at both a large corporation and startups, Naomi brings a unique skillset of design expertise, strategic thinking, and business acumen to her work. In under two years at her current job, Naomi was promoted twice from product manager to senior product manager, and finally to group product manager. Outside of her full-time job, Naomi also ran her own brand consulting agency and ventured into real estate investing.

As the first person from her high school to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Naomi is a true trailblazer who knows what it takes to overcome challenges and achieve great things despite ambiguity. During her time at MIT, she earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering and served as a leader of many organizations on campus, as well as worked in the admissions office.

If you’re stuck wondering what’s next for you or need guidance getting there, Naomi can serve as a valuable mentor and resource to help you gain valuable insights and develop the skills you need to succeed in both your professional and personal life.