New Experience Specialist Makes MITRE Connections

After 14 Years on the Job, Helping New Hires Navigate MITRE Comes Naturally

MITRE may be a tech giant, but we can't run without essential skills like communication, teamwork, networking, and problem-solving—attributes out in full force during our new-hire orientations. At our Bedford, Mass., headquarters, one of the first faces newcomers see is Lymarie (pronounced Lee-Marie) Santana's. This New Employee Experience specialist knows a thing or two about how all of MITRE's different parts work together and the value of human connection. And for Santana, it all began as a work-study assignment at Notre Dame Christo Rey High School.

My alma mater, Notre Dame Christo Rey High School, in Lawrence, Mass., pairs students with local businesses for work-study jobs. At 15, I had no idea what I wanted to do for a living or study. When the nuns who ran the program recommended me for a job with MITRE, it was a big surprise. Science, math, and engineering really aren't in my wheelhouse. I wondered, is this going to work for me? Am I going to be a good fit for them?

Apparently I was. If you count my high-school work study, I've been at MITRE for almost 15 years—full-time since 2014. Today, I'm on the front line, welcoming new employees. It's a huge pleasure for me.

A Friendly Face and Resource for First Day

I've always been very social—I just love to chat. It's something that used to come up all the time in school, but it's an asset to my professional role.

In orientations, it's my job to help and guide people. It's natural for new hires to be nervous and feel overwhelmed, especially joining a well-known company like MITRE.

In addition to sharing information and what to expect their first days and weeks, I become that familiar face they can go to with questions. It's an honor to be one of the first connections people make here.

Introductions Become Connections

At the core, our new employee experience has always been about connection. We put a lot of thought into orientation so new hires can learn about MITRE at an enterprise level, learn their role, and have an idea of what's happening in different parts of the organization.

Of course, no one can absorb every detail that first day. If asked, I'm always happy to follow up with another tour, with places and people that are starting to look more familiar. And we stay in touch; check in during the following weeks and months. We're mindful that it's the start of your journey here, and we're grateful you've chosen MITRE.

Here in Bedford, that first day is fully in-person. As a group we have lunch and very fluid conversations that tighten connections. It's great to see new hires of all ages, stages, and levels take the initiative to find common ground. Many times they end up creating their own Slack channels and Teams groups for sharing experiences once everyone gets to work.

MITRE Helps Forge a Career Path

My first work-study job at MITRE in high school was tied to diversity and inclusion, which was an emerging concept back in 2011. In the beginning, I helped with vendors' fairs and charity drives around the holidays. From there I got into talent acquisition, setting up the booths at college career fairs and talking with attendees. Afterward, I'd help sort resumes and upload them into the system we used at the time. From there I got involved with student orientations.

When it became time for me to go to college, I went in studying architectural interior design. But my focus changed when I thought about the human resources assignments I'd been enjoying at MITRE.

I'm really happy about where I landed. And my design skills come in handy when colleagues ask for my help in setting up events!

Finding Belonging Through Cultural Connections

I'm Dominican and Puerto Rican. In the time I've worked at MITRE, I've been very encouraged by what I consider a huge diversity shift in hiring.

And through the years we've put a lot of work into our internal business resource groups, such as the Latin-American Network. It's an inclusive environment for MITRE employees of Latin American descent and allies to appreciate and experience Latin American culture. I love being able to connect with people of similar backgrounds, to be able to ask the group where to find the best Spanish coffee and get a response of, "Yeah—I know a place!"

From day one, you'll see I like to be an open book for just about everything, and I love sharing and helping others. That’s similar to our mission here—if you're someone who truly enjoys helping and wants to benefit the world we live in, you'll fit right in at MITRE.