Mentor Spotlight: Franklin Reynolds (LINK Class of ’98)
We’re proud to shine the Mentor Spotlight on Franklin Reynolds this month. After graduating from De La Salle Institute as a LINK Scholar in 1998, he earned his bachelor’s from Williams College and his MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, where he currently leads the alumni network. Franklin is the Senior Account Manager, Strategic ISV Segment for Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he drives business growth through collaboration with independent software vendors (ISVs), enabling them to provide the most innovative solutions to their customers through the AWS platform
Once he completed his education and established himself in his career, Franklin felt ready to become a LINK Mentor when he was 27 years old, committed to inspiring his mentees to believe in themselves and try new things. He mentors Zachary Tobias (see Alumni Spotlight), his third mentee. “We spend time doing things together that don’t necessarily relate to school,” Franklin described, “like going to ball games or getting a bite to eat. It goes beyond academics—it’s a lifetime bond. Every student is different, and the amount of contact isn’t as important as the quality of the interaction. The most important thing is the trust. Zach knows he can share anything with me. I told him, ‘This is about you. My focus is on you.’ I learned that from my own mentor.”
“Franklin has been such a big support,” Zachary shared about his Mentor. “Knowing the work he does inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s and master’s in business economics—and he’s with me outside of the school atmosphere, too. We do things together and catch up on life. He’s an amazing mentor, and I’m so glad I’ve had him by my side as a role model throughout high school and in my transition to college.”
“As LINK Alumni, you take the Alumni Pledge,” Franklin explained, “that when you have the means to do so, you will come back to LINK and help another student who comes after you. I always remembered that. First, I became a Mentor, and later I decided to join the board. I give back twice as much—three times as much—as LINK put into me, and it makes me happy. It’s just a great experience.”
“LINK is the bedrock of who I am as a man, personally and professionally,” he continued. “LINK gave me the tools I needed to succeed and put me with like-minded people who were also achieving. My best friends are LINK alums; we all have graduate degrees and successful careers, but we still challenge each other to push the boundaries and give back—and as a LINK Mentor, I’m molding the next generation of African American students to achieve their greatness.”
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