Darrell Porcher

What is your personal and professional background?

My passions are technology, community and helping those with fewer choices and opportunities get more. I have worked at Disney, Sony and Microsoft, and recently started at Google.

Why did you choose USC’s Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business and Technology?

When I read about the program’s intersection between design, entrepreneurship and engineering, I stood up from my chair, pointed at my computer screen and yelled, “That’s me!” This intersection of disciplines is what today’s and future leaders need to have.

What are your career goals?

I have had a successful corporate career and worked in nonprofits in my community, but I’m not sure I have left a legacy I can call my own. I’d like to have a few items that are Wikipedia-worthy.

In what way(s) do you believe this program will help you to achieve your career goals?

I seek ways to innovate, but I tend to help execute on someone else’s vision or service versus my own. I love interactive products, services and visual graphics. USC is helping me to get to a place in my career where I can generate creative marketing, design or product ideas that are used by many.

I have been placed in a class with professors who have their own companies and have learned from the success and failure of business and entrepreneurship. I’m studying alongside classmates who have the drive, aspirations and expert skill sets that complement my own and consistently have interactions that challenge what I thought I knew.

How do the online classes compare to in-person classes you’ve experienced?

The quality of the online class content is world class. I find myself re-watching materials to ensure I grasp or recall the lesson; this is part of the beauty of having the choice of when to learn. I also love the ability to replay deep discussions with my classmates. I have grasped additional nuance to many of our class conversations that a traditional in-person class would not allow.

What is your favorite aspect of the program so far?

The self-selected Essentials classes have been amazing. I chose to work on the areas I felt were the weakest in my career — and my ability to create, design, visualize, take feedback and share information has already shown dramatic improvement in just a few weeks. I now find I look at everything from a design mindset and question design choices made in everyday services and objects.  

What was a surprising experience you’ve had over the course of your first Residential? Was it unexpected or challenging? How so?

It was interesting to see team dynamics play out with the pressures of time constraints. At times, voices that may not be heard in some settings were coached to ensure their perspective was listened to. Every voice mattered, and anytime a voice was not heard, our results suffered.

What was the collaboration experience like in your team?

I found myself playing coach, leader, listener, champion and worker bee all in the span of four days.

What is one thing you did not know before coming to this Residential? How will it help you in your coursework going forward?

First, I became a 3D printing/MakerBot master in just a few days — so much so that several people asked me to help them with their visions. I also learned to draw from the range of experiences and talents of any team I was on. I made friendships with students who were at all stages of life and careers — engineers, artists, entrepreneurs, new graduates 20-plus years younger than me, those going through a career change, etc. I found a wealth of perspective and understanding that impressed me and helped me grow as a leader in a matter of a few days.