Hello! My name is Giancarlo, and I am a new Analyst here at Blue Garnet (BG). I want to tell you a bit about myself, how I got to Blue Garnet, and what I’ve learned since joining the team in July.
Southern California holds a special place in my heart—it’s home. My family settled in Escondido, CA, where I grew up alongside my four brothers. My parents instilled in me the values of generosity, learning oneself, and the importance of laughter in life. I spent time in both Escondido and my mother’s hometown of Tijuana, which exposed me to the challenges under-resourced communities on both sides of the border face. These experiences gave me a deep perspective of the complex social problems and intersectionality around poverty, food accessibility, homelessness, and criminality.
I had to grow up fast, whether I liked it or not. I started working early, initially for my mom at age 6, helping her clean and provide customer service for the beauty salon that she has run for 30 years and counting. Since a young age, I saw my mom’s discipline and resiliency in her work. Now, I’m inspired to emulate her as best as I can. The long hours and sweat she poured into her business, as a single mother and a business owner, showed me what hard work and devotion look like.
Driven by her example, I set out to apply this passion, learn more about the world, and find a place I could positively change. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend my dream school, the University of Southern California (Fight On!) where I grappled with how to better understand and solve social sector issues. Studying Psychology and Management Consulting, I wanted to understand how people work, how communities can improve, and how to solve complex problems. I like to understand what role I can play to help people across my professional and personal life, and always aim to keep things simple. One of my favorite roles in college was guiding trips to the beautiful California wilderness with groups of 50+ people! Getting outside in fresh mountain air is a great way to remind you of the simplicity and beauty of life. (If you have any questions about camping gear or cooking over a fire, I’m your guy!)
Now as an Analyst at Blue Garnet, my goal is to use my passion, lived experience, and education to help clients and their teams improve the lives of Southern Californians. By storytelling with data, we can find key insights for actionable solutions. In my past internships at a community health clinic and a major financial services company, I compiled organizational data into statistical portfolios, streamlined operational processes to eliminate client pain points, and focused on user experience with software implementation. At Blue Garnet, I am excited to grow my strategic and data storytelling skills, all in the effort to help people and communities.
As for what I have learned so far (it’s been so much!), here are a few takeaways from my past nine weeks:
- How we analyze and share information is very important at BG. Before even diving into research, we need to agree on our learning questions and research methodology to guide our process.
- Customized consulting is just that — customized! Whether it’s strategic planning, coaching, or business development, BG tailors the process and content exactly to each client’s needs.
- Time management is everything. We “start with the end in mind” and make sure we deliver on our project objectives on time.
- Blue Garnet invests a lot in its team members both professionally and personally. From Blue Garnet University “BGU” sessions, Excel and time management training, to our monthly “personal wellness fund,” and onboarding mentoring, there are plenty of resources and support to grow.
Two months in, I can confidently say Blue Garnet is the perfect fit for me. I wanted a place to grow my strategic and communication skills in consulting, and getting to do this while contributing to Southern California is a dream!
If you have any questions or want to say hello, please do not hesitate to reach out to giancarlo@bluegarnet.net.