S2E1: From Legos to Public Service – Daniel Lind on Mentorship, Persistence & Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

In this episode of Think Bigger Voices, host Jennie Treby sits down with Daniel Lind, a compliance safety engineer with the U.S. Department of Transportation and former Horatio Alger National Scholar.

Raised in South Florida by his mother and grandmother after his family immigrated from Cuba, Daniel grew up facing financial hardship but was determined to pursue an education. After applying for more than 60 scholarships, he found a path to college and ultimately a career dedicated to protecting public safety.

Daniel shares how mentorship, encouragement and opportunity helped change the trajectory of his life – and why he now dedicates time to mentoring young students interested in STEM careers.

His story is a powerful reminder that sometimes a few words of encouragement can make all the difference in helping a young person realize their potential.

Listen in to Learn

• How Daniel’s upbringing in a single-parent household shaped his drive to succeed.
• The pivotal role mentors and scholarship programs played in opening doors to higher education.
• Why Daniel applied for more than 60 scholarships to fund his college journey.
• What it means to work in automotive safety and how federal safety testing protects drivers and schoolchildren.
• Why representation and mentorship matter for students pursuing STEM careers.
• The simple ways anyone can make a lasting impact in a child’s life through encouragement and volunteerism.

Daniel’s story highlights how belief, opportunity and a few key mentors can help young people break cycles of poverty and build meaningful careers serving their communities.

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Links

Think Bigger Voices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqGaJ1xjrvk&t=574s

Think Big for Kids: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@thinkbigforkids9061⁩ 

Horatio Alger: https://horatioalger.org

Daniel Lind: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielmlind/

Jennie Treby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-treby/

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