Paul Donato

About Paul Donato

Born and raised in Flushing, NY, with a rich blend of Slavic Italian and Ecuadorian heritage, I take pride in my diverse cultural background. As a Connetquot High School graduate, I am pursuing Electrical Engineering at LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC). My upbringing, amidst the challenges and strengths of a multiracial family, profoundly influenced my worldview and appreciation for cultural diversity.My journey includes honorable service in the Marine Corps, stationed primarily with Combat Logistics Regiment 1 in Camp Pendleton, CA. After transitioning to civilian life, I founded CEEDS (Children\'s Education Equals Determined Students), focusing on \'Operation San Diego.\' My involvement with Student Veterans of America and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America has been instrumental in my personal growth, leading to significant engagements with organizations like Walmart, the New York Stock Exchange, and even The White House.Before joining LAGCC, I developed business development and strategy expertise, ultimately serving as a Quality Manager at WestRock, managing teams from Long Island to Eastern New Jersey. This role allowed me to refine my leadership and strategic thinking skills.The turning point came with my father\'s battle with cancer and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, steering me towards healthcare. I acquired medical skills and experience, including research roles at Stony Brook University and Suffolk County Community College, contributing to research projects in cancer biology and the neuropsychological impacts of e-learning.Now, my focus is on Financial Engineering. This shift is driven by a passion for finance, shaped by my childhood fascination with Wall Street. I am drawn to finance for its intellectual rigor and its potential as a platform for service and positive change. I aim to merge my diverse experiences into a successful career in finance, leveraging cultural diversity, a disciplined service mindset, and analytical skills.My motivation for finance stems from a lifelong interest in the financial world\'s complexity and the desire to use my financial acumen to promote stability, growth, and fiscal responsibility. Influenced by my grandmother\'s success in real estate, I am committed to ethical integrity in navigating the financial sector.Conclusively, my life is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the continuous pursuit of growth. Each step of my journey reflects a commitment to being the best version of myself, driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact in finance.

Experience

1. Exploratory Programs

   Goldman Sachs

   Jan 2024 — Present

   May-Jun 2025: Virtual Insight Series• Jan 2025: Interview Preparation Workshop• Dec 2024: Team Collaboration• Dec 2024: Diversity Partnership Resume Prep• Oct 2024: Emerging Leaders Series• May-Jun 2024: Virtual Insight Series• Feb-Mar 2024: Veterans Integration Program• Jan 2024: CUNY Possibilities Summit

Education

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Warrior-Scholar Project, STEM

• LaGuardia Community College

  Associate of Science - AS, Liberal Arts: Applied Mathematics

• Institute for Veterans and Military Families - IVMF

  Certificate, Entrepreneurship

• Harvard University

  Warrior-Scholar Project, Humanities

Skills

• Six Sigma
• Strategic Planning
• Creative Writing
• Customer Service
• Community Outreach
• Event Planning
• Security Clearance
• Logistics
• Training
• Quantitative Research
• Qualitative Research
• Process Improvement
• Due Diligence
• Military Training
• Public Speaking
• Public Relations
• Teaching
• Entrepreneurship
• Marksmanship
• Marine Corps
• Project Management
• Marketing
• Tutoring
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Project Planning
• Navy
• Microsoft Office
• Sales
• Military Operations
• Proposal Writing
• Mentoring
• Networking
• Talent Acquisition
• Competitive Analysis
• Communication
• Military Logistics
• Management
• Team Building
• Real Estate