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Week 7: The Countdown is Real!: Google Cloud Regional Leadership Symposium

by: Mardline Prevot

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Via Professor TEWODROSS MELCHISHUA WILLIAMS. Happy Birthday


This semester is flying by! It’s Week 7 already, and I’m hitting the home stretch for my undergraduate academic career—I graduate this December! The well wishes are already pouring in, and honestly, y'all are making me cry. Being at Bowie State University (BSU) truly changed my life, and I’m already feeling ready to take on the world. But before I head out, let me tell you about an incredible day I had this week. (Also, yes, I'm still smiling when I think of my crush, playing Luther Vandross's "So Amazing" in my head. Stay on track, though!)

Monday, October 6th, 2025, was all about leadership. The Regional Leadership Symposium, sponsored by Google Cloud, took place in the MLK Auditorium from 8 AM to 7 PM. Right in the preface, we got an amazing prelude from the Mighty Sound of Maryland band from the University of Maryland. They played one of my favorite '80s tracks, "Take on Me" by a-ha, which was the perfect high-energy start before the program officially kicked off. Even the little things—like catching an ice-cream-themed Google Pixel 10 commercial—had me thinking about creativity and character right at 9:09 AM.

The Keynote Opening Session was a heavy hitter: "Real Talk: Leading from the Front." The panel discussion was stacked, featuring the incredible hostess, Marissa Mitchell (Anchor, Fox 5 DC), alongside panelists Lisa Sun (Founder & CEO, Gravitas), Deryl McKissack (Founder, President & CEO, McKissack & McKissack), Dr. Angel Johnson (Global Head of Tech, AI Ed Org Development, Google), and Nate Mook (Former CEO, World Central Kitchen). We even had Marshall Davis Jones, a spoken word artist and author of "Tonal Influence", share his powerful words. Following remarks from Dr. Aminta Breaux, the connection between Google and BSU was highlighted as a pivotal moment for BSU's 160th Anniversary. This partnership, driven by a village of Google Cloud, is truly preparing me to "degree me" and "Google me"—as in, invest in me.

The core of the discussion was a "compare and contrast chart" of Real Talk, Real Action, and Real Connection. When discussing Real Talk: Leading from the Front, the panelists dropped some serious wisdom. Lisa Sun stressed chasing purpose and embracing failure, reminding us that "Life doesn’t get easier, you get stronger," and that we need to "knock the negativity off its head." Deryl McKissack emphasized that it all "starts with yourself": be humble with strong confidence, and have a vision for where you're going. Dr. Angel Johnson spoke about domain expertise and surrounding yourself with people of different strengths, noting that a leader sometimes needs to be in the KIA seat. Nate Mook talked about having grounding through failures and how stepping up can sometimes mean stepping back to be equal, with the first step being to "SHOWING UP" and demonstrating your dedication.

I was completely captivated by the "middle of the fire" moments the panelists shared. Deryl McKissack, in the male-dominated construction industry decades ago, described herself as a "dinosaur" working in steel without email or the internet—a powerful example of having to step up. Dr. Angel Johnson spoke about leading with permission in corporate at places like Facebook and Google, urging us not to wait but to figure out our goals and impact, always showing your value as a "walking poster in marketing." The theme of uncertainty came up, too, with Nate Mook sharing the decision to go to Ukraine with World Central Kitchen to serve food in a war zone, guided by a feeling that it was the right choice. Finally, I have to end on a high note: I found out I am an Honoree of the Arts, Media, Culture category for the HBCUniverse 30 Under 30! I'm so grateful to HBCU Universe. I am "Zoe built," and I know that storytelling is a strong skill set. The symposium was a 10/10 experience, reminding me that investing in myself is the best path forward. I'm truly ready to graduate!



Happy Birthday to my Chairman of the Fine and Performing Arts Center and Happy International Lesbian Day!




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