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Since its launch in 2018, Johnson & Johnson’s Pathway to Success program has supported young people as they transition from high school into higher education and onward into a wide variety of careers, including health and STEM²D. With a focus on mentorship, academic guidance, and real-world experiences through internships and seminars with Johnson & Johnson, the program empowered participants to envision—and achieve—a future full of success. 

 As the Pathway to Success program comes to a close, we celebrate our final graduating cohort. All of our Pathways participants have accomplished so much, supporting each other as they overcame obstacles and navigated their education and career journeys. Today we’re highlighting five program graduates. 

 

From Local Roots to a Global Career: Olga’s Journey into Tech 

For Olga, a first-generation college student from New Brunswick, New Jersey, the Pathways program offered more than exposure to professional opportunities—it also gave her a roadmap. A recent graduate of Rutgers University majoring in Data Science and Information Technology and Informatics, Olga credits the program with helping her discover her passion for tech and product management. 

“Before joining, I was not sure what was possible for someone like me,” she said. “Pathways made me more focused and intentional about my career goals.” 

A summer internship at Johnson & Johnson (J&J) during her sophomore year led to further opportunities, and today, she’s preparing to return to the company full-time as a Technology Analyst. In addition to gaining practical skills like resume writing, networking, and interview prep, Olga emphasizes the confidence she developed through mentorship and mock interviews with J&J professionals. 

“That moment really pushed me to grow,” she recalled. “Now I’m way more comfortable in interviews—and in myself.” 

Olga plans to apply to graduate school in parallel with starting her new role in J&J’s Technology Leadership Development Program (TLDP) and says she’s especially grateful for her mentors whose support and example helped her succeed. “As a first-gen student and the oldest in my family, I learned so much from this program—and now I try to pass that knowledge on to my younger siblings.” 

 

Building Confidence and Finding Her Voice: Rashell’s Passion for Nursing 

At Roxborough School of Nursing in Pennsylvania, Rashell is working toward her Registered Nurse credential and plans to graduate in December 2025 and will pursue her BSN soon after. She describes the Pathway to Success program as “one of the most meaningful opportunities” of her life. 

“I’ve always been a shy person,” Rashell said. “But through interview practice and constant support, I became much more comfortable expressing myself. Pathways helped me overcome my fear of speaking up and allowed me to share my thoughts and feelings without hesitation.” 

Rashell’s internship with J&J Nursing deepened her understanding of the profession and gave her insight into the challenges and rewards of nursing. “That experience made me feel more prepared and confident,” she said. “Because of Pathways, I continue to receive opportunities that push me closer to my goals.” 

 She frequently applies what she’s learned from Pathways to her clinical rotations and praises the program for preparing her to enter the professional world with confidence. She’s especially grateful to her mentors and her mother, whom she calls her biggest supporter. 

 

Learning to Lead and Pay It Forward: Timi’s Commitment to Growth 

Electrical Engineering major Timi, who also minored in Mathematics at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, graduated in May 2025 and already has a full-time offer as a Process Engineer at Procter & Gamble. For him, Pathway to Success has been a source of encouragement, skill-building, and profound personal growth. 

From lessons in time management and communication to mock interviews and case competition prep, Timi credits the program with shaping his confidence and professionalism. He recalls several defining moments—from the “big rocks first” metaphor he learned during Pathways’ bootcamp, to the feedback he received while preparing for a regional presentation, to the compassionate support he received during his deployment with the U.S. military. 

“When you’re deployed, it can feel like everyone has forgotten about you,” he said. “But my Pathways mentors still made time to check in on me. Their support meant a lot.” 

Timi also shared that the program not only helped him but gave him the tools to help others. He has since guided his sister through her own college journey and coaches peers on job interviews and presentations. 

“I learned how to focus on the small details that make a big impact,” he explained. “And more importantly, I learned how to teach others those same things.” 

 

Giulietta’s Vision for the Future 

For Giulietta, who studies Computer Engineering at Drexel University, the Pathways program opened doors—not just to professional opportunities, but to confidence in herself. “Pathways has positively impacted me in so many ways,” she said. “I’ve developed communication and soft skills that make me stand out among my peers.” 

Through interview prep, seminars, and a supportive community, Giulietta gained the tools she needs to navigate both her studies and her future career in STEM. She envisions working as an engineer, saving up for a home, and one day building the ultimate rabbit playpen. “Pathways gave us the resources—it’s up to us to make the most of them.” 

 
Shaping the Future: Chloe’s Pathways Experience 

Chloe, a Policy Analysis and Management graduate from Cornell University with minors in Human Development and Law and Society, says Pathways gave her the confidence and tools to navigate her career journey with purpose. 

“It’s easy in college to think professional development comes later,” she shared. “But Pathways helped me build those skills little by little—interviewing, presenting, even navigating difficult conversations.” 

A standout moment came when Chloe secured a full-time role as a consulting analyst at Guidehouse, with the help of her mentors. “The one-on-one guidance made a real difference.

 

Moving forward 

Each student expressed deep gratitude to the mentors, coordinators, and corporate partners who made their growth possible. 

“It truly changes lives,” said Olga. 

“It gives us the confidence and tools to believe we belong,” added Rashell. 

“There are other students out there who are lost and just need someone to show them the way,” said Timi. “This program can do that.” 

Although the Pathway to Success program has concluded its initial phase, its legacy lives on through the remarkable achievements of the four pilot cohorts it empowered. These participants, having been supported through intentional investment in education, mentorship, and work-based learning experiences, are now catalysts for change in their own circles and beyond. As the lessons from the Pathway to Success program continue to be applied to continuing projects, stories like these highlight the deep and lasting impact such investments can have—not only on individuals, but also on their families, their communities, and the STEM²D industry altogether.