My name is Tareq Alotaibi and I am an international student currently studying at the University of South Carolina, Columbia. As a major in integrated information technology (iIT), I grasp the power and significance of systems. This systems-thinking perspective is applicable to all areas of life and has helped me see how my contribution impacts the whole. My iIT education has pushed me to take greater initiative and responsibility as an agent for positive change. I moved from my home country of Saudi Arabia to the U.S. in 2009 to pursue my higher education goals and have found my experiences to be completely rewarding, as well as challenging. In bridging seas and cultures, I have been challenged to stretch myself, open my mind, and learn to collaborate. My anticipated graduation date from USC is August of 2015. However, the learning does not stop there. I am proud of my achievements at USC and grateful for the tools, encouragement, and guidance the staff has provided me over the years. It is my intention to use this knowledge as the foundation for my continued personal and professional growth.
Areas of Interest:
In terms of iIT development, my core areas of interest include database management, visual data dissemination tactics, networking, web design, and programming optimization. iIT is a dynamic field of study that is always (and rapidly) changing. In order to keep pace, the iIT professional must also adapt this constant evolution philosophy. Even more, the iIT professional must comprehend and actualize one key word: INTEGRATION. In learning, integration refers to transforming information to usable, working knowledge. In iIT, integration refers to synergizing the parts of the system whole to maximize efficiency and efficacy to empower data-driven decision-making and streamlined data flows. In acting as a global citizen, integration refers to inclusion and using scarce resources to best serve all stakeholders.
Tracking Progress:
My primary career goal is to work in the corporate sector in the corporate sector as an Information Systems Project Manager (PM). The international business community is skyrocketing iIT innovation and I am excited to be part of this revolution. iIT has the capacity to profoundly change how our local, national, and global leaders use resources and generate value. My personal goal is to eventually use these skills in service to the public sector in developing and underdeveloped nations.
Organization & Intention: Portfolio
The purpose of this portfolio is to (1) snapshot my learning experiences in moving from classrooms to boardrooms in garnering real world iIT competencies and to (2) highlight how I can leverage this learning to my future endeavors in this discipline. The portfolio consists of three primary headings, each of which can be easily navigated to illuminate my key learning insight, analysis of experiences, and application of these outcome to my personal ethical leadership strategy. Work examples are provided to demonstrate success.