Participating in the INROADS internship program was a pivotal leadership experience for Eric Rodriguez, helping him understand the impact he could make within a company and his community.

Through his internship, Eric formed lifelong connections with mentors, managers, and his INROADS program leader, who were instrumental in his development as a professional
"As a first-generation college student, internships in Corporate America were a new thing for my family," said Eric. "After I graduated and began working full-time, I was able to mentor the next generation of students and interns with the experience I gained. Today, I am regularly engaged in helping develop the next generation of leaders, and the INROADS experience cultivated that mindset in me."

Today, as Eric is building his own company, he focuses on empowering employees, students, and organizations. "I am grateful to have learned how best to do this during my INROADS internship experiences."
Eric's commitment to mentorship and empowerment also stems from early exposure to his roots in Ecuador. "I had the opportunity at an early age to move to Ecuador and see where my parents and grandparents came from," said Eric. "I learned at an early age the importance of community and the responsibility we have to serve it. Understanding where my parents came from gave me a different perspective of the world and my role in shaping it.
One of the superpowers I learned about our heritage is that we are resilient, optimistic and open to reinventing ourselves to move across worlds. In this era of constant change and disruption, we are uniquely positioned to tap into these superpowers to build a more human-centric future."

In this time of exponential transformation, Eric believes in the world's unlimited potential. "The 21st century will be shaped by individuals who see that humanity has more in common than it has different. It will be shaped by passionate problem solvers who see disruption as an opportunity to grow. And it will be shaped by leaders who engage in their communities and lead the change, not just follow it."

Personally, Eric is committed to showing the leaders of today and tomorrow what is possible in this human-centered digital future.