Puget Sound Alum Selected for Inaugural PosseNext Cohort

Tomicia Blunt’s recent professional accomplishments have earned them a place in the inaugural PosseNext cohort. Described by Tomicia as “a program for the next generation of leaders, thinkers and doers,” PosseNext brings together Posse alumni from across the country, forming a new cohort while providing mentorship from leaders across a range of industries.

After graduating from the University of Puget Sound in 2020, Tomicia returned to the Bay Area and began an internship at First Public Bank through the Posse Career Program. The role allowed them to apply the skills they developed as a communications and business administration major.

When the internship concluded, Tomicia transitioned into the technology sector, joining Google as a member of the Google Live team. They later became a manager within the company’s marketing department before being affected by the company’s 2023 layoffs.

“The layoffs became an opportunity to build something of my own,” says Tomicia. They launched a card game company centered on fostering deeper communication, taking on responsibilities ranging from marketing and game design to business strategy.

Following that experience, Tomicia returned to Breakthrough Collaborative in the Bay Area, an organization that had played an important role in their own development. A participant in the program since fourth grade, they later returned as a mentor, creating the organization’s alumni program and leading a team of 25.

Today, Tomicia is a member of Walmart National’s software division and says PosseNext arrives at an important moment in their career.

“The program gives flowers to young alumni at a critical point in their careers. I’m excited to learn from leaders who can help me steer clear of some of the typical pitfalls, but I’m just as excited to reconnect with other Posse alumni who are at a similar point in their careers."

Looking ahead, Tomicia hopes PosseNext will continue preparing them to support others.

“Posse has always been about supporting people so they can give back,” she says. “I hope PosseNext helps me continue building my career so that one day I can give other Posse alumni the same opportunity I was given.”