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UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
LEADERSHIP PORTFOLIO
About Me.
Hi there, I'm Akash. I'm a current undergraduate student in my 5th year at the University of Washington pursuing a double-degree in Informatics and Political Science, and am a dedicated student who strives for leadership and excellence. I am homegrown right in the heart of Seattle, Washington and am of proud Nepalese and Korean descent.
Throughout my college career, I have had the opportunity to study and work in classes ranging from human-centered design to technology ethics within informatics, and political law to international conflict within political science. Getting to explore all these subjects in a wide variety of ways has helped push me to be passionate about the intersection of technology, data, politics, governance, and people.
I've had the privilege of working in many roles with different people all throughout my life, from teaching, coaching, mentoring, or learning. No matter where I find myself or what I end up doing, I aim to create a positive environment where people can come together and create meaningful experiences that drive change and inspire others.
What You'll Find Here.
In this portfolio website, I showcase my leadership journey through several different experiences that have taught me the most while also having a large and positive impact on others. With each experience, I share some information about it, some competencies I've learned or refined from it, how I think the experience has influenced my future, and an "artifact" which is a memorable and important connection for me to that specific experience.
Core Values.
Throughout people's lives, we develop "core values", which are beliefs that people hold close to them that guide and motivate their lives. Within leadership, core values are used to identify what beliefs leaders have that help influence the decisions they make, the relationships they have, and how they tackle challenges. Reflecting on my life so far, I have identified five core values that I think ring true for me and help create positive and impactful momentum in whatever role I may find myself in.
Realism
"Seeing things as they are, leading toward what they can be."
Passion
"Fueling every challenge with purpose and doggedness."
Organization
"Turning vision into action, one plan at a time. An ordered mind and space is a healthy mind and space!"
Resilience
"Bouncing back, pushing forward, and never backing down."
Enthusiasm
"Inspiring others with energy, emotion, and zeal in environments that’s impossible to ignore."
"When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier." - Roy E. Disney
What does Realism mean to me?
To approach situations and think in a way that isn’t constructed or fantasy. You must think and analyze things as we would. I have learned in my life that being overly confident or underestimating your abilities both have extreme downsides. Being able to find the midpoint on the scale and balance both the optimistic and pessimistic mindsets is a critical skill to have for dealing for all sorts of situations. This is important to me because throughout my life so far, I’ve learned some harsh and memorable lessons such as life isn’t fair, the world can be an amazing yet cruel place, and that you should never take anything for granted. Approaching these concepts with such a mindset has helped me tremendously in multiple areas of my life such as academics, my career, my passions, my relationships, and my overall trajectory of life.
What does Passion mean to me?
Having deep care, thoughtfulness, and a strong desire for something to the point where it can almost overtake you at some points in your life. It is important to me because I believe I am a very caring person who has always sought a life full of strong ambition, such as when it comes to my academics, career, or extracurriculars, and I want to learn more about how and what I can use my ambitions for whether looking towards a leadership position or not.
What does Organization mean to me?
Being neat, clean, and keeping things simple. This is important to me because I believe that to live a meaningful life of virtue and success, one must learn how to take care of their space, both in the the physical and mental areas. By knowing how to maintain a neat and clean environment, you can lower your stress, create more time for yourself, and increase your ambition for your passions and projects.
What does Resilience mean to me?
I always think of the Rocky quote when I see this word. “It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.” The feeling that life is closing in on you, that moment when you look around and things don’t seem to be okay, it is critical to never give up and to get up and keep moving forward no matter how hard something might be. This is significant for me personally because I have faced adversity in my life through academics and my career, and there were many points where I could have given up. However, being able to take a hit or bad news, reflecting on it for a moment, and then getting back up to keep learning, growing, and getting better, is one of the most importance lessons I have learned in my life thus far.
What does Enthusiasm mean to me?
To maintain happiness, energy, and to express joy whenever possible. Naturally, I am a friendly and happy person, and maintaining these emotions contributes to my reputation among my friends, classmates, collogues, mentors, and so forth. Life is all about having a little fun and approaching every situation with a dark and pessimistic view or emotions is something that no one wants and is never how a leader should act. That is why it is important for me to be energetic, uplifting, and friendly whenever possible because life is already hard enough and there are so many situations where we can choose to be better.
What is my why?
I lead because I believe in lifting others up, building strong communities, and continuously growing into a leader who can make an impact. My motivation comes from a desire to help my fellow students succeed academically and professionally, ensuring that they have the resources, guidance, and confidence to reach their goals.
Beyond the classroom, I am committed to creating more equity and community in the South End of Seattle (known as the "Soufend" down here), a place that has shaped my values and aspirations. I want to contribute to meaningful change—whether through mentorship, advocacy, or leadership—so that opportunities are more accessible to everyone.
At the core of everything I do are the values of resilience, organization, and enthusiasm. Resilience keeps me pushing forward in the face of challenges, organization allows me to turn ideas into action, and enthusiasm fuels my ability to inspire those around me.
But perhaps the biggest reason I do what I do is because of the people who have believed in me. I am driven by a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility to make them proud—whether it’s the mentors who opened doors for me, the friends who supported me, or the family who worked hard to give me opportunities. Their investment in me pushes me to work harder, lead with integrity, and create opportunities for others.
Looking towards the future.
As I continue my journey, my goal is to grow as a leader who bridges technology, policy, and community impact. I plan to apply my experiences in informatics and political science to create solutions that drive innovation, equity, and meaningful change.
In the near future, I aim to expand my leadership skills in both the tech and government sectors, gaining hands-on experience in product management, data-driven decision-making, and public policy. I want to work on projects that empower communities, improve accessibility, and create long-term impact.
Beyond my professional aspirations, I plan to continue mentoring, supporting students, and building stronger networks for collaboration and growth. Whether through coaching, advising, or leading initiatives, I hope to pay forward the support and guidance I’ve received by helping others succeed.
Ultimately, my future is about leading with purpose, learning continuously, and making a difference wherever I go.
A picture taken by a classmate of me observing an art installation in a student-organized exhibit attached to Vrije University (VU) in Amsterdam, The Netherlands as part of my study abroad program.
Me and some fellow colleagues volunteering at the 2024 Hack for Social Good, an event dedicated to providing information science and design skills to middle and high schoolers. Put on by the Women in Informatics student organization.
Connect with me.
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