How I Got There: Program Development | Rehana Mohammed (SFS ’12)

Rehana Mohammed studied Comparative Studies in Latin America and Africa and Women and Gender Studies in the SFS and is now the Director of Program Development at Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). Learn how Georgetown shaped her path, what led her to her current position, and more insights regarding her company and the broader non-profit industry:

What activities at Georgetown did you find the most valuable and why?

I really enjoyed organizing events for GU Pride and working with the LGBTQ Resource Center. It allowed me to find community and also help foster a more diverse and inclusive LGBTQ community at Georgetown. Serving on the board taught me a lot about working with stakeholders (sometimes with diverging opinions and conflicting priorities) to achieve joint goals. The facilitation and political skills I learned in this role helped me move into a management position in my career.

How did you find your current position?

I found my current position through a former boss and mentor. Building good, authentic relationships with co-workers and others in your industry is critical, especially in DC.

Serving on the board [of GU Pride] taught me a lot about working with stakeholders (sometimes with diverging opinions and conflicting priorities) to achieve joint goals. The facilitation and political skills I learned in this role helped me move into a management position in my career.

What does a typical day look like for you?

On a typical day, I check in with the four teams who report to me and make sure there are no issues that they need my help on. I work with our Vice President and CEO on corporate initiatives and brief representatives from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on our projects.

My time is split between meetings with leadership and meetings with my teams. I love leading a diverse team working on different issues. We help drive change and manage projects for the nearly $600 million per year rural health care program, which helps rural health clinics pay for their telecommunications and broadband services. I really enjoy motivating the team to help us continue to reach new heights and provide better service to our customers.

Flexibility, integrity, and communication are critical for anyone interested in management. You have to be a strong communicator (both written and verbal), who is flexible enough to adjust to changes and work with diverse people.

What skills are most needed in your role?

Flexibility, integrity, and communication are critical for anyone interested in management. You have to be a strong communicator (both written and verbal), who is flexible enough to adjust to changes and work with diverse people.

What are the best ways for students to learn more about your industry?

I personally subscribe to Harvard Business Review and find it really helpful with staying updated on management trends.

Interested in hearing more stories? Check out the rest of our How I Got There series.