Krys Howard’s Story: Securing a Job at Morgan Stanley

by StreetWise Partners
February 12, 2024

In honor of Black History Month, we’re sharing stories about the power of mentorship to close the opportunity gap and create a more equitable future.

2020 was a turning point for Krys Howard. He was working long hours as a full-time robotics officer at an Amazon warehouse in New York City and also going to school part-time. Then the pandemic hit. And it helped him take a beat to meditate on what was next in his career. 

That’s when a series of doors opened and he stepped through, paving the career path to where he is today: a java software developer at Morgan Stanley. 

Here’s how he made it happen. 

From Haiti to NYC 

Born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Krys moved to the US at age six. He lived in New England, then moved to New York City right before middle school. 

Moving to the city was both a culture shock and an inspiration. 

“Being here for the past two decades has really informed my sense of resilience and empathy,” says Krys. “Understanding how to connect with so many different people from so many different backgrounds with so many different value systems has been the biggest blessing.” 

That ability to connect with people and stay curious is the core of Krys’s progress and has helped him successfully navigate his experience as a mentee, a job seeker, and an employee. 

A first step forward 

Krys initially pursued a degree in communications at Borough of Manhattan Community College—CUNY. But as he got exposure to computer programs like Adobe Workshop and Logic Pro, he became more interested in the underlying technology and how the applications worked. He began to envision a career in Information Technology (IT) instead. 

His first opportunity to explore IT was as a warehouse robotics officer for Amazon. He was happy to be in the field, especially through the uncertainty of the pandemic, but also wanted to work at a higher level. 

Thanks to Amazon’s Career Choice program, an education benefit that helps employees learn new skills, Krys seized the opportunity to build his IT skills and changed course to pursue a degree in cybersecurity. 

“I needed to challenge myself,” he says, “and rise to the occasion and opportunity of having my schooling fees covered for that time period.” 

Build skills, build a career 

Krys knew he was on the right path with a career in IT and wanted to keep building his technical expertise. 

In 2022, he took a self-initiated break from working and enrolled with Per Scholas, an organization that offers tuition-free skills training and certifications, professional development, and employment connections for adults often excluded from tech careers. 

A long-time community partner of StreetWise, Per Scholas enabled Krys to accelerate his upskilling in the IT field – at no cost. He completed the program with both a CompTIA A+ and a Google IT certificate. 

Right around the same time, he attended a Per Scholas event that included a StreetWise speaker. He learned about the mentorship program and decided to interview: another opportunity, at exactly the right time. 

Learning additional skills with a mentor 

Krys signed up for StreetWise Bridge with the initial intent to build his resume and brush up on his interview skills. What he got out of the program was so much more – including a long-lasting relationship with a mentor. 

StreetWise paired Krys with Scott Lichtenstein, an executive in the tech industry, who helped him work on his resume and prepare for interviews. Even more importantly, says Krys, Scott showcased a living example of a “full human being” who loves to travel, knows a different language, and has a family. 

“StreetWise gave me the opportunity to have consistent access to and build a connection with a mentor who has done everything that I'm trying to actualize myself,” says Krys. “My mentor made my dream of making a living in this industry feel possible and a lot more attractive.” 

Krys also gained valuable interview and networking skills, including how to talk about his personal and professional journey. 

“Delivering my elevator pitch is a skill that's been wired in me post-StreetWise,” he says. “The program instilled in me how to be more mindful about the tools and jewels I’ve collected from my journey, and how to share that.” 

Krys enjoys doing informational interviews to learn about other people’s career journeys and has grown his network significantly in New York and the D.C. Metro area, where StreetWise also operates. 

Landing a job at Morgan Stanley 

Equipped with the IT skills he gained with Per Scholas, as well as the interview and communication skills honed through StreetWise, Krys was ready to launch his career in IT. And launch it he did! 

A successful interview with PeopleShores led to an opportunity with Project Elevate, a program the company created in partnership with Morgan Stanley to help underserved talent gain technical work experience to advance their careers. 

Krys accepted the position of software engineer, where he spent the first six months training, then a year in a contingent capacity. 

After 18 months, Krys became a full-time Java developer under the Operation Technology / Payments umbrella at Morgan Stanley. 

What's led Krys to this point, he says, "is my ability to give the best of myself in any situation and an authentic curiosity and excitement about my colleagues and the work." 

Just a month into his new role, Krys is learning the firm’s practices, building his knowledge base, and forging meaningful mentorships and partnerships. He is also pursuing an updated BA in Software Development & Security from University of Maryland Global Campus. 

Beyond the StreetWise Bridge 

As Krys walks his path, StreetWise will always be a part of his story and community. He still stays in touch with his mentor, who always makes himself available when Krys has a question or is navigating a transition. 

“I met a lot of good people through StreetWise who gave me a lot of advice that I took very seriously,” says Krys. “To meet people that I would never have crossed paths with otherwise is priceless to me.” 

Krys also attends StreetWise alumni meetups in New York City to fortify his skills, while also connecting with others going through a similar career journey. 

“It’s very affirming and I get a lot out of it,” he says. “Whenever I get those emails, as long as I have time, I will go. It's a safe space, I know everybody there is vetted, and we all have similar aspirations.”