Pivotal recently partnered with video and broadband service provider, Harmonic, to host a career exploration day for our high school scholars. The day was designed to offer a glimpse into the wide range of opportunities in the tech world, right here in the heart of Silicon Valley.

“Being in foster care often means that students are limited in the different types of careers they are exposed to. We live in the heart of Silicon Valley and want to give our students the opportunity to learn about career paths in the tech industry that they might not have thought about in the past,” says Matt Bell, Pivotal CEO. “Harmonic worked with us to craft a thoughtful, insightful and truly valuable experience for our scholars.”

With sessions scheduled around school breaks, students were able to step outside traditional classroom setting, dive into hands-on workshops, and have meaningful conversations with professionals who are experts in their field

Event Highlights

The day kicked off with a welcoming lunch, where students were warmly greeted by Harmonic staff. From there, they were treated to an exciting behind-the-scenes look at how Harmonic supports live television streaming for major events like the Super Bowl. Students saw firsthand how creativity and technical expertise combine in fast-paced, real-time broadcast environments.

Later, the focus shifted to innovation during the Sneaker of the Future workshop. Students were encouraged to think outside the box as they designed futuristic sneakers and learned how to approach problems like product developers. The session was bursting with energy—full of brainstorming, ideation, and imagination, all guided by experienced industry mentors.

An ice cream social break created the perfect atmosphere for networking. Students were able to connect with Harmonic professionals across a range of industries including HR, accounting, marketing, production and engineering to ask questions and hear personal stories of their professional journeys. The team shared how they navigated through changing goals and moments of uncertainty and talked about the importance of having the support of mentors along the way.

Their message to students was clear: dream big, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and remember—it’s okay not to have all the answers. “No one gets there alone,” one speaker shared, reminding the scholars that success is built through hard work, support, and being open to new possibilities.

“I honestly didn’t know what to expect,” said 18-year-old Nyice. “I thought it might be a room full of people just talking at us like a class lecture. I was glad I was wrong and even more glad I decided to join on my school vacation day.”

Harmonic Event Socials (1)

Nyice especially appreciated the balance of fun and learning. “The workshops were engaging and informative. The opportunity to learn about TV production and participate in the sneaker design activity was exciting—but what stood out most was how the professionals really seemed to care. They wanted the day to be about us.”

Nyice’s career interests are evolving and range from nursing to law. She had spoken with nurses before, but this was her first opportunity to meet and talk with a lawyer. “It was eye-opening to hear his journey; what it took to get there and how his path changed along the way.”

Pivotal’s Career Day, in collaboration with Harmonic, is more than a window into the world of work—it’s a launchpad for curiosity, confidence, and connection. And for students like Nyice, it’s a powerful reminder that the future is theirs to shape.