Bio: I’m a career coach, entrepreneur, and public speaker with an expertise in digital media and technology. With over five years of hands-­on recruiting experience, I’ve worked with tons of startups and major brands like Amazon to help them build pipelines of talent. I’ve worked with thousands of marketing, advertising, and tech professionals to help them grow in their careers and find lucrative opportunities. Most recently, I’ve worked with General Assembly, to assist hundreds of transitioning students to find their own paths in technology.

I am the founder of 2020Shift, a social enterprise that’s designed to educate minority millennials on careers in digital media and technology. We focus on bridging the gap of diverse talent to non­engineering opportunities through access to jobs, resources, and professional development. We also give women and minority millennials the skills they need and the network to help them get to the next level in their career.  Our vision is to diversify the tech economy with long­term sustainable impact by building a community of talented young professionals from underserved communities in the spaceSome of our partners include: AlleyNYC, Pandora, Buffer, Yelp, LinkedIn and more.

I am also a member of Forbes Coaches Council, an invite-only organization created by Forbes and YEC to provide thought leadership opportunities to top business and career coaches.

JET: What are your personal goals?

Ariel Lopez:  [I want to get] as many women and people of color into tech as possible by 2020, become a millionaire by 30, open a homeless shelter for kids and teens, cover Forbes or Fast Company by 40. Then take a one-year sabbatical at some point.

JET: What are five things that people don’t know about you?

1.  I dropped out of college

2. My first job ever was at Krispy Kreme

3. I used to be an A1 trumpet player

4.  I know the lyrics to 90 percent of all rap songs

5. My first business attempt was at 15