From a young age, Mark-Anthony Delva always knew how to navigate the tech world. It was like second nature to him.
But, it wasn’t until an English class presentation assignment that had him thinking about his career goals. He dove deep into who he wanted to be, and after some research, he found network architecture, software engineering, and computer programming, which led him further toward the path of technology.
Now, a senior at Florida International University majoring in computer science, Delva is proud of the work he’s done and the skills he’s learned, and he knows his younger self would be, too.
“When I took my first programming class, I fell in love with it,” Delva said. “I really enjoyed waking up and going to class.”
With leadership roles across different campus organizations and a mix of real-world tech projects and work experience under his belt, Delva’s feeling more than ready to level up his skills and break into the tech industry after graduation.
He’s tackled everything from an AI model with the Army Educational Outreach Program that helped combat the bystander effect by analyzing social media behavior, to a car-buying tool, to a “sprinternship” with the Village of Palmetto Bay through Break Through Tech that helped analyze internal performances. And if that isn’t enough, he’s currently working as a software engineering intern at ABC Fitness, which provides software solutions for the fitness industry.
Now, as Delva takes his skills to the next level, he says one program at FIU played a major role in helping him get there.
“Throughout my time at FIU, I joined multiple organizations that played a big role in shaping my overall experience, like the National Society of Black Engineers and INIT,” Delva said. “But FIU’s Tech Talent Academy is one program that really contributed to my internship experience.”
Delva was part of the inaugural cohort of FIU’s Tech Talent Academy, a program designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world tech experience. It’s backed by Miami Tech Works, an initiative funded with a $10 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge.
At the Tech Talent Academy, he honed his skills on open-source coding, GitHub, Agile practices, and project management tools like Trello — all while collaborating with a team on real projects.
“The Tech Talent Academy allowed me to start working closely with my teammates while meeting deadlines and regularly reporting updates to my peer advisor, just like I now report to project leads in my current internship,” Delva said. “That early exposure to all these different factors really prepared me to thrive in a professional environment.”
Looking ahead, Delva wants to create more programs that can change people’s lives for the better, especially using tools like machine learning and artificial intelligence.
“If you ask anybody who knows me, they’ll say I love making software that can make anybody’s life better, because I love helping people,” Delva said. “That first experience with the Army Educational Outreach Program really taught me how powerful AI can be in addressing real-world social challenges. That’s what inspired me to continue exploring how this piece of technology can drive a positive change.”
His advice to other students trying to break into the industry and land internship opportunities is simple – surround yourself with like-minded people and get involved.
“My sophomore year, I was in my own bubble – I didn’t want to go out or meet new people because I thought I had everything figured out,” Delva said. “But in this industry, you can learn so much from just speaking to another person. Go to that first workshop or networking event – you never know who you’re going to meet, and you never know what you’re going to learn.”
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For employers: How to get involved in the Miami Tech Talent Coalition
The Miami Tech Talent Coalition, a key initiative of Miami Tech Works, is a collaboration of employers, academic, and community organizations dedicated to strengthening Miami’s tech talent pipeline. Your involvement can make a significant difference in shaping the future of Miami’s tech industry, creating a vibrant and sustainable tech talent ecosystem. Together, participants can continue to build Miami as an innovative hub and a desirable destination for businesses and tech talent.
- Join the Coalition here. Employers can also specify a work group they are interested in.
- Attend a meeting: The next in-person general meeting will be Oct. 1 (updated date). Register here.
- Stay connected with the coalition’s progress and updates by signing up for their newsletter here, reviewing the website here, and following Miami Tech Works on LinkedIn and Instagram.
READ MORE STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES IN REFRESH MIAMI:
- From FIU to a tech-filled future: How Bryan Garcia turned a dream into reality
- From Venezuela to FIU and soon Microsoft: Meet this computer science student making waves in the Miami tech ecosystem
- How Break Through Tech Miami bridges the gap between classroom and industry
- The people behind the pipeline: How Miami Tech Works partners are helping to grow and keep talent here
- How a local company is building connections and talent with help from Miami Tech Works, BrainStation and MDC
- At the Tech Talent Summits and Fest, smart job-hunting advice was in abundance. Here’s some of the best.
- And much more here.
Refresh Miami is a proud Miami Tech Works partner
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