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Alumni Focus - Loren Kosloske ('10)

Loren Kosloske (‘10)

In just ten years, Loren Kosloske has gone from learning in the classrooms of SCLA to working as a a Senior Strategy and Operations Manager at Uber in Seattle. The pandemic has called on everyone to adapt, including Loren’s work at the ride-share company. Loren answered some questions for us about what he’s been up to and shares his hopes for more SCLA alumni to mentor current students.

What is your favorite St. Croix memory?

I recall a number of fond memories related to playing soccer, building friendships with individuals around the world, and cheering on my fellow schoolmates at football and basketball games. However, my favorite memory comes from our senior class trip to a resort in northern Minnesota. This trip provided an opportunity to celebrate all our class had accomplished and formally say goodbye to each other before heading off to college. More importantly, this was an experience that nearly no other high school provided and resulted in a unique opportunity that I continue to tell my coworkers and peers about today.

Did any SCLA teachers make an impact on you?

The teacher that had the greatest impact on me was my junior year chemistry teacher, Jeff Strehlow. His ability to explain complex concepts in relatable ways through conversation and demonstration cultivated a deep curiosity for understanding how the world worked and interacted. This curiosity led me to majoring in chemical engineering, obtaining my MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and stepping out into the business world as a management consultant. 

Mentorship programs played a critical role in defining my graduate school selection and career decisions. Going forward, I plan to participate in St. Croix’s mentorship program with the intention of helping students understand careers in tech, business, and management.

What is your current work?

At Uber, I am a Senior Strategy and Operations Manager. I am based out of our Seattle office and lead a $400M+ portfolio of Uber’s rideshare business in the United States. Within this role, I focus on two key areas: running the business and expanding platform growth. 

In terms of running the business, I focus on providing the best experience for our riders, drivers, and various partners across the country. During the pandemic, this has been even more critical as we have helped move essential workers and PPE around local communities and provided earnings opportunities to hundreds of millions of individuals that were laid off or looking for ways to earn additional income during this difficult time. Most importantly, we have focused on reimagining the Uber experience to ensure everyone remains safe and healthy while utilizing the Uber platform for transportation and/or food delivery.

Outside of running the business, I lead the development of new products on the Uber Platform that help drive growth. The global pandemic has significantly accelerated mobile adoption for food and item delivery resulting in Uber now delivering prescriptions, groceries, and various other items from the store to your front door. As the vaccines obtain approval and become more widely available, I am excited for what Uber will become and the products that we will be announcing. Keep an eye out for upcoming press releases on the exciting work that the Uber team is doing.

What advice do you have for alumni or recent grads regarding working during a pandemic?

My advice is two-fold. First, take time to invest in your mental and physical health. Personally, I have found that working with a behavioral health specialist has helped me in further understanding myself and regulating the stresses of work and life. I would encourage you to do the same. In terms of physical health, take time to get outside and practice socially-distanced walking, running, hiking, or biking. Being in nature has a way of grounding you to the moment, which is important in a time when we are disconnected physically from one another yet always “plugged in” with our devices, email, etc. It is also important to remember that we are all experiencing this pandemic in different ways, but at the same time. Therefore, it is important to be there for others as much as you can - even a simple text to a friend or loved one can make a difference in the routine of someone's day. 

What benefits do you see for alumni to mentor current SCLA students?

A mentorship program provides students with the opportunity to hear the perspectives and opinions of those who have achieved what that student is looking to do. For mentors, this is an opportunity to give back and play a critical role in shaping the future of an individual's career and college choices. Through these conversations, the mentor often provides a comprehensive look at their career path, what success looks like, and what pitfalls to avoid along the way. Additionally, mentorship programs enable mentors to share information that can be challenging to understand through basic career research like work-life balance, workplace culture, and trends that could impact future career opportunities. 

Mentorship programs played a critical role in defining my graduate school selection and career decisions. Going forward, I plan to participate in St. Croix’s mentorship program with the intention of helping students understand careers in tech, business, and management. I hope you will consider joining me in this endeavor as a mentor for current and future St. Croix students.

 

Alumni interested in mentoring are invited to fill out this form: https://forms.gle/bHu8ibSxQLRc77ASA