Izaak Mendoza, Associate Brand Manager – Schwan's Food Company

I am a driven first-generation student fresh out of my dual-degree master's program -- with career goals as a Foreign Service Officer. I recently graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Master of Public Policy (focusing on U.S. Foreign & National Security Policy), a Master of Business Administration (concentrating in Strategic Management) and a graduate minor in Restorative Justice practices. Wanting to make significant contributions to U.S. foreign policy one day, I am currently leveraging my strategic management skills in the brand management space, where I continue to grow in my ability to lead cross-functional teams across large organizations, while I prepare to take the FSOT in the near future. My journey has encompassed a wide variety of roles -- in law enforcement, elementary education, banking, media production, policy analysis, strategic marketing, and within state/federal government. On the side, I’ve pursued my love of music performance, tea, and video production, achieving status as a Certified Tea Specialist and recently getting to perform alongside Justin Timberlake in the Super Bowl LII halftime show. My background has allowed me to draw upon diverse perspectives and connect with others through intercultural, policy, and business lenses -- whether I was chatting with ranchers in my home state of Wyoming or escorting visitors across the Capitol complex in Washington. I’m all about building connections with others and seeking to respond to life’s challenges instead of merely reacting to them.