Advice for fresh graduates: stay curious, seek mentors, take pride in work

View profile for Suresh Kumar

Global Chief Technology Officer and Chief Development Officer at Walmart

I completed my undergrad time in the late ‘80s, and one truth still stands out: learning never stops.   During graduation season I’m often asked to share advice with those just starting on their professional journeys. This is what I would tell a fresh graduate: 🔹 Stay curious. Don’t just master your role - learn how your work connects to the bigger picture. Curiosity is a career superpower. 🔹 Seek out people who inspire you. Ask questions. Listen deeply. Mentorship can come from unexpected places—look for those who challenge your thinking. 🔹 Take pride in your work. Excellence starts with the mindset you bring every day. The habits you build early on will shape your path.   What graduation advice did you get that has lived with you? What do you wish you’d known? 

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Blake Franke

TOLA | Strategic Accounts @ Wiz | Driving Cloud Security Sales

3mo

Excellent post. Thank you for sharing.

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Harsha Kiran

Senior Manager-II at Walmartlabs | IT Operations, Network Administration, Cloud Platforms | Enhancing IT Infrastructure Stability and Reducing Downtime | Developed Critical Operations and Incident Management Processes

3mo

Great perspective

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Mr Kumar can you help my Liberia friend get a job my email is vickiscott560@yahoo.com

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Karthik S.

Stealth Startup | Ex-Google | Senior Software Engineer | Problem Solver | Supply Chain Management | Order Management | Cloud Service Pricing | Instructional Trainer | Data Analyst | IT Support | Customer Support

2mo

Beautiful insights, Suresh Kumar! 😊💙🎉🎊👏💐⚡🌻

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Ndifreke Okon

(Software Developer)(Project Manager)(Healthcare Professional)(Business Owner)(Consultant)

2mo

“Take things one exam at a time, one quiz at a time, and one homework assignment at a time. Focus on those things exceptionally, and the big picture will fall into place.” Prior to starting undergrad, I wish I would’ve known more about the power of financial aid and internships.

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Insightful, thank you Suresh

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Chandrasekhar Muthyala

Senior Software Engineer | ReactJS, React Query, Typescript, GraphQL | GCP certified

3mo

Suresh Kumar Your advice to stay curious, seek inspiration, and take pride in our work is incredibly valuable. One piece of advice that has stuck with me is to never stop learning and growing, both personally and professionally. I wish I had known earlier in my career the importance of building a strong network and finding mentors. It's never too late to start, and I truly believe in it. Thank you for sharing your inspiring insights.

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Michelle Hood, PMP

Sr. Product Manager - ex Walmart l AI, Data & Process Optimization l Enterprise, B2B & B2C SaaS l Delivered $250M+ in CapEx & Labor Savings through Digital Modernization

3mo

I whole heartedly agree to all the advice. I would also add to new professionals that it's equally important to give back as you progress in your career (there is much to learn from minds that see things differently).

Vamshi Reddy

5X LinkedIn Top Voice | CEO, Quadrant Technologies | Visionary Leader | Entrepreneur | Venture Capitalist

3mo

Thanks for sharing, Suresh Ji. I agree - staying curious helps us grow. I'd add that bouncing back from tough times is just as important as being good at your job. Making real connections with people has helped me most. And I wish someone told me earlier that career paths aren't straight lines, the unexpected turns taught me the most.

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