Meet Satish Alluri, the Deputy Program Manager for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grants Management Modernization initiative. He recently graduated from the selective ACT-IAC Voyagers Professional Development fellowship. A longtime Karsun team member, he has held several positions including Senior Business Analyst and Scrum Master serving both our DHS FEMA and GSA programs.
We sat down with Satish Alluri to hear his advice on advancing your product, delivery, and program career. Learn about his tenure at Karsun plus his secrets for growing as an enterprise modernization expert.
Life as Program Manager at Karsun Solutions
How would you describe your role at Karsun?
I am currently serving as the Deputy Program Manager for our FEMA GMM modernization contract and assist in the overall program management. My key responsibilities include employee engagement, motivating the team towards successful and continuous Product Delivery and also provide operational oversight for the Process and Product Management disciplines within our program.
How did you end up at Karsun?
Over the past several years, I had worked in various consultant opportunities and one of those stints gave me a chance to work with some of the now seasoned Karsun employees. This past relationship paved the path for me to join Karsun in 2015. I joined as a Senior Business Analyst and gradually progressed in my career. During my current tenure, I supported the GSA program in different roles as a Senior Business Analyst, Scrum Master, and now supporting the FEMA program.
What is your main goal or focus?
Given my background, I have always been aligned with Product Strategy and Delivery. My career goals have been getting into Program Management, Product Management, seeking an opportunity to lead, collaborate, and oversee a big team and eventually run a successful program.
What gets you excited to come to work here?
Coming to the office gives me the opportunity to talk and collaborate with my peers. That’s pretty much what excites me. The kind of work that we do, the things that we deliver, it’s an evolutionary process. The key aspects are meeting people, talking to people, and helping things get delivered for the federal government.
What do you love most about the culture at Karsun Solutions?
I think there’s a certain openness within the company. I can openly collaborate with my peers on different ideas at Karsun. Whether it is my supervisor, colleagues, or the CEO, I can walk around and find somebody to share that idea. Even if it doesn’t get implemented, the conversation that happens is engaging enough for me to go back and think through it and come back with more food for thought. The openness of these conversations and the support structure around us employees is personally the favorite part of the culture here.
Do you have any unique traditions that you feel embody Karsun’s culture?
When I was supporting our GSA program, we used to follow the national day program and that pretty much set the mood for that day. Another of my favorite traditions are the Plank challenges in our FEMA program and also the potlucks at the office. Our last Thanksgiving Potluck was very successful and gave us an opportunity to be relaxed and work in a casual environment. Although the recent situation has disrupted some of these traditions, I am looking forward to getting back into the office and engaging more in-person fun activities with my colleagues.
Envisioning a Future at Karsun
What are you most excited about for the future of the company?
When I joined Karsun, it was a small business and while I was supporting the GSA program, we were awarded the FAA contract and now the FEMA contract. As we are turning towards becoming a large organization, the prospects that I see for myself within this growth is what excites me the most.
What is your experience with professional development at Karsun?
For myself, when I approached my supervisor regarding certain certifications, it was welcomed. Actually, after joining Karsun, I went through a couple of certifications: Certified Scrum Product Owner, Certified Agile Leadership, Certified Scrum Professional, and the Voyagers Program. This states what the company gives its employees. If an employee can speak up, there are always opportunities here.
What is your relationship like with your manager?
It is a great relationship. Some of the things I have done at Karsun would not be possible without his cooperation. His openness and upfront attitude towards giving timely feedback helped me improve certain things. When there were aspects I did not do what had to be done, he was quick and upfront about it. He gave constructive feedback and gave me guidance on how I could fix it.
What can you tell us about Mentorship with Karsun?
It’s the relationship that you have with your supervisor. It’s your career. Tell them what you want to further enhance your career. There was a dialogue with all my supervisors across the different programs. They tell me what I could do, and I ask them questions. I think it comes back to employee openness and finding a way to connect with your supervisor and senior colleagues.
Advice to Future Team Members: Be Open, Be Honest
What is one quality people need to be successful at Karsun?
At a company like Karsun, you have to be open, communicative, and responsive. If you are somebody who just sits at your cubicle, you might find it tough to be successful at this company. You need to open up and say this is what I can do and how I can contribute towards company success. The reason I say that is because it is a growing company and as we are growing from a small to a large organization every employee will have a way they can contribute to that growth.
What advice would you have for a candidate coming to interview?
The one piece of advice I would give is to be honest. As I said, Karsun is a growing company. It is important that the people we are hiring are as they present themselves in the interview. There’s a decent opportunity for growth based on the skillset you present in the interview. Being honest in the interview, saying what you have done in the past and what you can do is very critical. Just keep it straight.
Karsun Solutions celebrated the graduation of Satish Alluri from the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) Voyagers Program. Alluri is the firm’s tenth graduate from an ACT-IAC professional development fellowship. With just a decade in business, this is a notable milestone for the fast-growing enterprise modernization company. Graduates were recognized at ACT-IAC’s Vision 2020: Voyager Graduation and Fellows Reunion.
Comprising 32 industry and government professionals, program participants were nominated by their respective government agency or company sponsor and evaluated by a panel of senior government and industry executives. One of three professional development tracks from ACT-IAC, industry participants are first matched with their government counterparts. They then work on shared projects together leading up to capstone events or panels. At the same time, the program pairs participants with an industry leader who mentors them throughout the program.
Satish Alluri, represented Karsun as a member of ACT-IAC’s 2020 Voyagers Class. He is currently serving as the Deputy Program Manager on an $80 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grants Management Modernization initiative. A motivated and recognized leader, he has 14+ years of experience in implementing a wide variety of IT solutions and modernization. His efforts extend across public sector industries and different federal agencies including the General Services Administration (GSA). He also has experience in the financial industry. He actively pursued industry-standard certifications including Scrum Master (CSM), Product Owner (CSPO), Scrum Professional (CSP), and Certified Agile Leader (CAL). An advocate of continuous learning, he engages in multiple Communities of Interest. This will be the tenth class with a Karsun Solutions team member.
Celebrating its tenth year in operations, Karsun Solutions’ development is closely intertwined with the growth of ACT-IAC’s professional development fellowships. Karsun team members frequently engage in these programs as both participants and mentors. Juan Robles, Senior Director of Business Development and Voyagers Program graduate, served as an Industry Vice Chairs for the current Voyagers class. Terry Miller, Karsun COO and Partners Program graduate, supported the program as a mentor. He was also the Industry Chair for the Partners Program in 2019, ACT-IAC’s professional development program for executives and senior leadership.
This year the graduates and their mentors celebrated virtually. The August 17 event titled Vision 2020 explored leadership challenges and the evolving landscape as a result of Covid19. The Voyager candidates assembled a panel that shared their insights on the future of leadership post Covid19. Talks included a panel with past Voyagers on “Where are they now”, “Where are we headed”, and “Leading thru Crisis”.
Karsun Solutions, the enterprise modernization experts, announced Data and Analytics Director Shaunak Ashtaputre graduated from the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) Partners Program. Graduates were recognized at ACT-IAC’s annual conference, Imagine Nation ELC 2019. Held at the Philadelphia Convention Center October 20th-23rd, the conference featured more than 150 speakers. Included among talks on Cybersecurity, Emerging Technology and Healthcare were speakers from the recent graduates of ACT-IAC’s Partner Program.
National Treasures in a 5G World
Speakers formed one of three challenge teams. These collaborative teams include both industry and government leaders in the Partners Program. Shaunak’s team spoke on National Treasures in a 5G World. In this one hour session, the ten-member challenge team explored a use case where the nation’s historical records, artifacts, and public spaces are experienced and managed in a 5G optimized environment. Their talk addressed areas required for agency 5G readiness and implementation including stakeholder education, acquisition, and infrastructure requirements.
Karsun’s ACT-IAC Fellows Legacy
Karsun Solutions supports ACT-IAC’s professional development programs. Each of the not-for-profit organization’s programs builds relationships between government and industry across varying levels of experience. Upon graduation, program members are named ACT-IAC Fellows. Karsun Solutions participates in these programs as both a member and a mentor. Senior Director of Business Development Juan Robles is an Industry Vice Chair for the Voyagers Program and Business Analysis Lead Satish Alluri is a member of the Voyagers 2020 class. With Shaunak’s graduation nine Karsun Solutions leaders are ACT-IAC fellows.
About Shaunak Ashtaputre
Shaunak Ashtaputre serves as the Director of the Data Analytics Practice. He is an accomplished Data and Solutions Architect, with over 27 years in developing and delivering solutions to modernize enterprise data platforms helping customers maximize the value of their data. Shaunak holds a Master’s degree in Manufacturing Systems and has international experience in leading business intelligence and data practices. He brings sharp focus and drive in enhancing capabilities and creating innovative solutions for streaming data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
Shaunak is a recognized data warehousing, big data, and analytics expert. In July 2018 Karsun Solutions formed the Karsun Innovation Center Data & Analytics Practice. Shaunak leads this data innovation-oriented extension of the firm. He also regularly speaks at industry events including the recently launched DataOps NoVa Meetup hosted at Karsun Solutions.
About Karsun Solutions
The federal IT modernization experts, Karsun Solutions enables enterprise transformation for its government customers including Modern Software Development, Cloud, and Advanced Analytics solutions. The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration, and General Services Administration are among the firm’s current customers. They are an established firm, with a DCAA Approved Accounting System, AWS Government Competency, and CMMI Level 5 – DEV appraisal, as well as ISO 9001, ISO 20000, and ISO 27001 certifications.
As part of their journey at Karsun Solutions employees participate in industry led professional development programs. Among these are the leadership programs, working groups and events sponsored by the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC). ACT-IAC recently selected Karsun team members to both participate, and serve as leaders, in the highly-selective 2020 Voyagers Program. The purpose of this program is to prepare mid-level managers for their future roles in industry and Government.
Satish Alluri, a Business Analysis Lead at Karsun Solutions, will join as a member of ACT-IAC’s 2020 Voyagers Class. This year’s class of 32 is comprised of both industry and government professionals. Participants were nominated by their respective government agency or company sponsor and evaluated by a panel of senior government and industry executives. Participants spend the year building a relationship with their government counterparts. Karsun Solutions employees frequently participate in these mentorship programs. This will be the tenth class with a Karsun Solutions team member.
Mr. Alluri is a highly engaged, innovative individual managing overall analysis operations for a team of 20+ analysts on a 5-year $80 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) initiative. A motivated and recognized leader, he has 14 years of experience in implementing a wide variety of IT solutions and modernization. His efforts extend across public sector industries and different federal agencies including the General Services Administration (GSA). He also has experience in the financial industry. He actively pursued industry standard certifications including Scrum Master (CSM), Product Owner (CSPO), Scrum Professional (CSP) and Certified Agile Leader (CAL). An advocate of continuous learning, he engages in multiple Communities of Interest.
The organization also named Juan Robles, Senior Director of Business Development at Karsun Solutions, one of the Industry Vice Chairs for the current Voyagers class. Robles graduated from the ACT-IAC Voyagers program in 2017. He previously served as the Treasurer of the Young AFCEA Bethesda board of officers for which he received the 2015-2016 Distinguished Service Award.
At Karsun Solutions he leads business development, capture, and pricing and is responsible for driving sustained growth in the Federal sector. Prior to joining Karsun, he served as a Federal BD Manager at VIP, Unisys, Harris and CSC (Now part of GDIT).
Beyond the 2020 Voyagers Program, Karsun Solutions engages in other ACT-IAC fellowship opportunities, both as member and mentor. Chief Operating Officer Terry Miller is the Industry Chair for the Partners Program, which is ACT-IAC’s fellowship program for executives and senior leadership. Shaunak Ashtaputre, a Director at Karsun Solutions, is a member of the 2019 Partners Class. This fellowship cohort will be recognized at ACT-IAC’s Imagine Nation – ELC Conference October 20th-23rd in Philadelphia.
Karsun Solutions proudly announces the graduation of Sudhir Duggineni from the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council’s (ACT-IAC) Voyagers Program. This program is one of the top two professional development programs offered yearly by ACT-IAC. In this competitive program, industry leaders are partnered with counterparts from the federal government. Only 32 participants were accepted this year.
Program graduates hosted a half-day event, “EPIC: Exploration, People, Inspiration, Collaboration – The Future of Information Technology”. The Voyagers class held interactive panels focused on the characteristics needed for IT leadership. At the conclusion of the event the graduates, including Mr. Duggineni, were recognized and welcomed as newly minted ACT-IAC Fellows.
Karsun Solutions is highly engaged with the fellowship programs from ACT-IAC. Terry Miller, Chief Operating Officer at Karsun Solutions, is the Industry Chair for the Partners Program. Shaunak Ashtaputre, the Director of the Data Analytics Practice at Karsun Solutions, is a member of the current Partners class. Mr. Duggineni is the eighth member of Karsun leadership to now join a prestigious group of ACT-IAC Fellows.
About Sudhir Duggineni
Sudhir Duggineni is a highly motivated, goal-oriented Project Manager at Karsun Solutions. He successfully delivered a $10 million modernization project for the General Services Administration Federal Acquisition Service (FAS). He is currently leading a Federal Aviation Administration initiative. A recognized leader, he has 15 years of experience in supporting and managing a number of IT solutions and services to clients across the acquisition, financial, and public sector industries. He has actively pursued industry standard certifications including Project Management Professional, ITIL, Scrum Master, Product Owner (CSPO) and Process Manager (CSPM) and engaged in groups like ACT-IAC for continuous learning opportunities.
About Karsun Solutions
Karsun Solutions is a premier IT modernization firm delivering a portfolio of services to its federal and commercial customers. Its core competencies include Modern Software Development, Cloud Solutions, and Advanced Analytics. The organization’s quality, development, and information security practices include CMMI Level 5 DEV, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 20000:2011 and ISO 27001:2013 certifications.
The American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) announced Karsun Solutions Director Shaunak Ashtaputre will join their 2019 Partners Program. The Partners and Voyagers programs connect industry leadership with their public sector counterparts. Beginning in 2010 Karsun Solutions leadership prioritized participation in these professional development programs. Director Chae Song (2018) is the most recent graduate, with six additional leadership members counting themselves among the ACT-IAC fellowship program alumni. Sudhir Duggineni is currently a member of the 2019 Voyagers Class.
About Shaunak Ashtaputre
Shaunak Ashtaputre serves as the Director of the Data Analytics Practice. He is an accomplished Data and Solutions Architect, with over 27 years in developing and delivering solutions to modernize enterprise data platforms helping customers maximize the value of their data. Shaunak holds a Master’s degree in Manufacturing Systems and has international experience in leading business intelligence and data practices. He brings sharp focus and drive in enhancing capabilities and creating innovative solutions for streaming data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Shaunak is a recognized data warehousing, big data, and analytics expert. In July 2018 Karsun Solutions announced the launch of the organization’s Karsun Innovation Center Data & Analytics Practice and Shaunak was selected to lead this innovation oriented extension of the firm. He also regularly speaks at industry events.
About Karsun Solutions
The federal IT modernization experts, Karsun Solutions enables enterprise transformation for its government customers including Modern Software Development, Cloud, and Advanced Analytics solutions. The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration, and General Services Administration are among the firm’s current customers. They are an established firm, with a DCAA Approved Accounting System and CMMI Level 5 – DEV appraisal, as well as ISO 9001, ISO 20000 and ISO 27001 certifications.
HERNDON, VA – As the 2019 government shutdown continues, Karsun Solutions LLC, an IT modernization contractor for the government, encouraged its employees to hit the books. Offering class as an alternative to absences, employees strengthened their skills supporting Karsun Solutions’ software development, cloud solutions, and advanced analytics practices. The option to pursue professional development and continuing education classes was offered through the company’s Karsun Academy program.
Karsun Academy, initially created to ensure team members earned industry certifications in emerging technology, has grown alongside Karsun Solutions. With a growing headcount, the company was already adding partner-led training to its catalog of classes. During the shutdown, academy participants accessed the extensive menu of certification programs and partner-led training sessions. The company also expanded their offerings adding classes in topics including Angular, Java, C#, PowerShell and Azure. New competencies were reinforced with coursework on Microservices, Domain Driven Design, Web Application Security and Testing Automation.
“Karsun Solutions hires employees for the journey, not the program.” said Karsun Solutions Chief Architect Kartik Mecheri adding “We consider ourselves the Enterprise Modernization Experts. Using this opportunity to deepen employee expertise is part of our commitment to establishing an enterprise-wide culture of innovation.”
David Eden, a Karsun Solutions employee participating in training in Oklahoma City added, “Despite the shutdown, we are making the most of our time away from our normal duties by training on technologies that will help us better serve the Federal government and the American public once we return to our work. Examples are web application security, cloud technologies, and automating the build and deploy processes so we can provide secure, stable, and scalable solutions more quickly, securely and reliably than ever before.”
Team members have access to company thought leaders throughout the year. The organization encourages employee knowledge sharing through its weekly brown bag program. The Karsun Innovation Center, an in-house research and development unit established early in the company’s founding, offers numerous opportunities for employee advancement. Team members may cycle in, receive additional training through one of the organization’s centers of excellence or challenge teams, then return to their teams as embedded experts.
Karsun Solutions is also preparing for more growth in the coming year. Even as the shutdown continues, the talent team is actively hiring. They are prepared to hire in the Greater Washington D.C. and Oklahoma City regions. Bolstered by Karsun Academy, the team feels confident in their ability to rapidly onboard the next generation of team members.
For more information on joining the Karsun Solutions team visit the Karsun Careers Page at karsun-llc.com/careers.
About Karsun Solutions
Karsun Solutions is a fast-growing, innovative enterprise modernization firm. Recently awarded Best Company Culture by Comparably.com, its teams deliver modern software development, cloud, and data solutions to customers at government agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration and General Services Administration. Leveraging GoLean, Karsun teams drive digital transformation and help its government customers Do Extraordinary. Learn more at Karsun-LLC.com.
Terry Miller, Chief Operating Officer at Karsun Solutions, will serve as Industry Chair of the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council’s (ACT-IAC) 2019 Partners Program. ACT-IAC is a non-profit educational organization created to encourage collaboration between industry and government. In its 22nd year, the Partners Program pairs leaders from both government and industry. Participants are selected among rising senior executives. The program is one of three fellowship programs from ACT-IAC.
Support for ACT-IAC’s professional development programs has long been a component of Karsun Solution’s support for the federal IT contracting community. Terry is a graduate of the 2010 Partners Program and was the Chair of ACT-IAC’s Management of Change (MOC) event in 2013. Graduates of the program automatically become ACT-IAC Fellows. Additional Karsun Solutions ACT-IAC Fellows include CEO Sundar Vaidyanathan (2010), Badri Sriraman (2015), Rajaji Bellamkonda (2016), Juan Robles (2017), Jay Kondapalli (2017) and Chae Song (2018). Sudhir Duggineni is a current member of the 2019 ACT-IAC Voyagers Program.
About Terry Miller
Terry is the Chief Operating Officer of Karsun Solutions. Terry works with the operations, business development, and technology teams to prepare Karsun for customer delivery excellence. Prior to joining Karsun, Terry served as the Public Sector COO for Visionary Integration Professionals. He also held various leadership positions at CSC and Harris Corporation. Prior to joining private industry, Terry served as the Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at The White House. In this capacity, he was the liaison between the President and state and local government elected officials.
About Karsun Solutions
The federal IT modernization experts, Karsun Solutions enables enterprise transformation for its government customers. Premier customers include the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration, and General Services Administration. An innovation-based and performance-driven culture, Karsun Solutions delivers extraordinary outcomes for their customers. Team members are empowered by Autonomy, Accountability, and Advancement. Karsun Solutions is an established firm, with a DCAA Approved Accounting System, CMMI Level 3 – DEV appraisal, and ISO 9001, ISO 20000 and ISO 27001 certifications. Partnering with Karsun Solutions ensures the nimbleness, agility, and access to decision makers of a small business without sacrificing the scalability, capabilities, and experience in modern software development, cloud solutions and advanced analytics of a large firm.
BE GREATER is the challenge we give to all employees at Karsun Solutions. Professional development is one of our core values. We offer the Karsun Academy program as part of our commitment to nurturing enterprise modernization expertise among team members. Karsun offers multiple avenues for in-demand IT skills development through this program.
Workshops from the Karsun Innovation Center
Participation in innovation is a pillar of Karsun culture. The Karsun Innovation Center (KIC) is Karsun’s in-house research and development team. KIC team members act as expert resources for teams at Karsun. As part of that mission, team members establish industry partnerships. Innovation partners include AWS, Appian, Microsoft, and Red Hat. KIC also brings in partner experts to host workshops on topics like DevSecOps and data streams in Internet of Things implementations.
Employee Knowledge Sharing
Knowledge sharing is an extension of our continuous learning culture and GoLean methodology. As part of that philosophy, Karsun also hosts a recurring brown bag series. Teams share insights and learning with their peers across the enterprise. Karsun employees are encouraged to participate in local industry groups. Employees are also encouraged to share their findings through outside organizations. Recent presenters are also invited to present internally at Karsun. Employees were recently treated to talks on microservices and serverless architecture.
Certification Programs
Karsun Solutions’ AWS certification classes are one of the earliest manifestations of the Karsun Academy program. Today Karsun employees have the opportunity to receive training and support for either their AWS Associate or Professional Certifications. They may also work with their supervisor to seek out IT skills certification opportunities in any of our three practice areas: Modern Software Development, Cloud Solutions, or Advanced Analytics.
We are rapidly growing and looking for team members excited to grow with us. Apply through our careers page to join us in Oklahoma, Virginia or Washington, DC. To learn more about professional development at Karsun, speak directly with one of our recruiters during our weekly Talent Thursdays chats. For the latest job openings and Karsun news follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or YouTube.
2025 Update: This blog post was originally published in 2018. Ready to start your journey with the Enterprise Modernization Experts? Find Your Next and learn how you can grow with our professional development programs. If you are a Karsun employee seeking Karsun Academy resources please visit our Employee Resources Page.
Jason Marceau is a Director at Karsun Solutions. He holds a Master’s of Science in Business Analytics and Management Science from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom. Recently he returned to the University of Southampton to share his summer project experience with aspiring students and reveals how the program continues to inspire his work within Karsun’s Advanced Analytics practice. This post first appeared on LinkedIn.
Graduate summer projects are an excellent opportunity to work directly with practitioners in students’ chosen field of study. Programs pair advanced students with employers, where they research real-world challenges and prototype solutions. Summer projects act as an extension of coursework building toward students’ capstones or dissertations. Karsun Solutions engages with students locally on such projects and as part of my dissertation at the University of Southampton I participated in such a project, an experience that informs my work today.
Below I share my summer project journey for those that were not able to attend the CORMSIS (Center for Operations Research, Management Science, & Information Systems) lecture at The University of Southampton, UK. These are helpful insights for any student that may have the opportunity to participate in an in-depth summer project with their advanced or graduate studies. I summarize the high points related to leveraging the value of these projects. Though to hear my stories of the great adventure and experience you’ll have to find me at my next engagement at the University of Southampton.
While my lecture focused on CORMIS and its analytics projects, a summer project supporting any advanced studies or dissertation allows you to apply academic knowledge, build your network, prepares you for progressive hiring processes, and builds your personal story.
Apply Academic Knowledge
A summer project brings the academic knowledge to life and allows for an understanding of the practical application. However, the value goes much deeper. Embrace every moment you have within the project and company to learn. You will learn far beyond the academic application here if you seek it out. Also, many will encounter challenges along the way. If in fact those that do will be better served by the experience. It will force you to learn to adapt, have alternatives, and overcome obstacles for success. This is a key element that you can speak to when interviewing with companies. This will make you stand out as a problem solver and someone who can overcome adversity.
Build your Network
Building your network can perhaps be one of the most powerful things you do during the summer project. You see I am not really that smart, I just know a lot of smart people. The point being no one has all the answers, but the power of a network often does and it can open many doors not seen by others.
Prepare for Interviews
Many progressive companies have changed their hiring process from interviews to technical challenges first. This weeds out those that only understand the academic. In fact, the company I work for Karsun Solutions does exactly this in many cases. It takes the risk out of knowing if someone can interview well but can’t do the job.
Build your Personal Story
Seek out the greatest experience and if it scares you then it is the probably the right answer. The culmination of academic, practical, relationships, experiences, challenges, failures, and successes all develop your personal story. A good story will often make your stand out when seeking an opportunity, it will keep you hungry for more, and it is fun to tell.