Work from Your Heart: Building Connections and Community
Kevin Moore | Senior Systems Development Engineer | North Carolina, United States
Originally Published: February 11, 2025
My name is Kevin Moore, and I support Dell Technologies’ Secure Connect Gateway application for enterprise clients. We aim to deliver exceptional customer service while using our technical expertise to solve complex issues. As a development engineer, I focus on producing high-quality technical solutions and helping to enhance the growth and improvement of our Secure Connect Gateway application. I rigorously test and review product details to ensure all deliverables are robust, efficient and aligned with best practices. My personal goal is to foster a culture of excellence and collaboration by being an asset to my team and the company.
Tell us about your career journey and why you choose to continue your career at Dell?
My IT career journey started at the age of 8. I loved fixing things and putting them back together. My mother saw my passion and gifted me a Dell computer; from that moment on I was captivated. I then had the privilege of attending Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington, Delaware. At Howard High, I gained a deeper understanding of technology by obtaining certifications and participating in national computer competitions.
After graduating from Howard High, I took my talents to the illustrious North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT). While at NCAT, I learned more about software, leadership, and collaboration. The skills I learned at NCAT led to a summer internship at Dell. I chose Dell because it aligned perfectly with my goals. My mentors at Dell, Robert Gresham and Jack Joseph, challenged me daily to bring my best to the table. They modeled the importance of excellence, intelligence and partnership. The examples their professional lives showed me made working at Dell feel like I was working with family… and that is why I’m still here – because I still feel that way.
I hope to be a good thought when people recollect the moments we shared. One of my closest friends shared that we don’t do the hard work, we do the heart work. So, I’m just working from my heart.
Kevin M.
Senior Systems Development Engineer
What does the Impact Maker Award mean for you?
Being recognized as an Impact Maker means a lot to me. I’m beyond honored. My goal is to raise the consciousness of the next generation through support, encouragement and teaching. I strive daily to impact not only those around me but my community. This award is bigger than me. It is what the years of dedication and hard work have yielded – the results of change. I recently told the students I’m not volunteering but investing in their future. I’ve learned you can’t be your best self by yourself. Furthermore, it takes a village, and I just want to leave the world, and Dell, better than I found it. We don’t go as far as our dreams; we go as far as our team.
I successfully transformed a complimentary offering into a high-value opportunity for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University students, delivering a program that would have otherwise cost the university approximately $32,400. I spearheaded a pilot program to educate and train their students in Artificial Intelligence. Successful completion of the course resulted in a Dell GenAI certification, which validates their knowledge and understanding of key concepts, scope and needs of AI in our ever-evolving world. To support their success, I designed a comprehensive course that will ultimately enhance their academic and career prospects. Through this pilot program, 90 students became Dell GenAI certified over a three-week time span.
My contributions continue to extend beyond Dell, as I foster strong relationships with NCAT faculty, influence curriculum development, and amplify Dell’s presence on campus. For example, I was recently privileged to join the Dean of Engineering in serving as a keynote speaker for the NCAT Computer Science Department’s honor society, Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE). UPE is “the first and only international honor society for the computing field in the world.” This was a special moment for me as it affirmed my commitment to being a mentor and a resource for aspiring professionals in the field – especially those from my alma mater.
How do you find time to give back? What’s the most rewarding part of giving?
It's innate honestly. I didn’t get to where I am alone. I have a community. I have people that invested in me. Mentors, teachers and family members all played a role in my maturation so it’s only right to reciprocate that energy and pay it forward. The poet laureate Kendrick Lamar once stated, “Sacrifice personal gain over everything, just to see the next generation better than ours.” It’s bigger than me, and the relationships, the conversations and the moments are the most rewarding.
Why is giving back so important to you and how does that fit into the Dell culture?
Investing in the community is essential to me because it is how I was raised. I learned early on that the most important commodity is time and how you spend your time pays dividends to your legacy. We move as one. We operate as a team. We teach. We nurture. We build. It’s community. It’s unification. These constructs are similar to Dell’s people philosophy which outlines connection and balance as a key concept. We need each other. We need connection. We need those things that can’t be quantified but help us thrive and those intangibles – those soft skills that embody love, purpose, affection, forgiveness, belonging, vulnerability, accountability – are essential.
What has been a huge influence in your approach to community service/giving?
My upbringing played a major role in how I spend my time investing in my community. There were so many people that poured into me, and I just wanted to be that for others. Maya Angelou once said, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I hope to be a good thought when people recollect the moments we shared. One of my closest friends shared that we don’t do the hard work, we do the heart work. So, I’m just working from my heart.
What have you learned or developed at work that has helped you outside of work?
My 12 years at Dell have played a major role in my personal growth. The things I have learned here have shaped how I think, process and execute in my daily life. My colleagues have been the most influential. They have taught me about life in a myriad of ways but most importantly they have enhanced my exposure to worlds and perspectives beyond my own. It’s often said exposure leads to expansion; they have shared life experiences that have helped me become a better employee, teammate and contributor to the world we share. Those conversations and moments have translated into the creation of programs, connections with educators, and community bonds that will span the test of time. Quite honestly, Dell has been my proving ground that has yielded so many other opportunities.
What have you learned about yourself that is surprising from community service?
There are many things that I have learned from investing in my community. One of the biggest things that stands out is adaptability. This was a growth area for me. I had to open my mind to different solutions and possibilities. Sometimes we think we know better but there is always room to grow. Investing in my community has shaped how important it is to just live in the moment. I was so focused on tomorrow that I was missing out on the blessing of today. I’m learning how to just “be” and that means be prepared, be focused and be present. I have learned how to appreciate the small things. These experiences have opened my eyes to the beauty of life and for that I’m grateful. Connection is essential for the soul.
What’s one skill that you are glad to possess when it comes to community service?
I’m grateful for my ability to actively listen. Active listening is more than just hearing somebody; it is listening not to speak but to let them share. I learn so much about people in various environments when I lend my ear. Often people want to respond or give their opinions. I’ve learned that sometimes people just want to vent. Some people are carrying heavy things, and they don’t want to be judged so I just focus on being present as a listener.
What did you want to be when you grew up when you were younger?
My plan was to win the Heisman trophy and break Emmitt Smith’s and Barry Sander's rushing records. I also wanted to be the next Michael Jordan. Oh yeah, I had dreams of winning some Grammy awards as well. I wanted to be it all. I wanted to be impactful. I wanted to be a story that others shared as inspiration.
What would you tell your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to dream bigger. I would tell him to cherish life because tomorrow is not promised. I would also tell the younger me to always make sure that your character is intact. I would share that perspective is key and failure is needed to grow. I would stress the fact that investing is important when it comes to health, wealth and mental stamina.
I would share that “slow and steady wins the race.” I would tell him it doesn’t make sense all the time but over time. Be a forever learner. I would share it’s not about being the most intelligent nor the strongest, but it is the one who can adapt that impacts. And lastly, leave your mark on the world! Live by design not by default.
What’s your favorite tradition that you have?
One of my favorite traditions is attending the "Greatest Homecoming On Earth." There is nothing like being an Aggie. Aggieland has shaped me into who I am today and for that I’m beyond grateful. Aggie Born, Aggie Bred!
What are some of your hobbies?
My hobbies include reading, writing, listening to music and spending time with friends and family. Music is my love language. I once heard that music is what feelings sound like so you can be sure that every day, I’m listening to a nice playlist that compliments my mood.
If you can have dinner with anyone in the world, alive or dead, who would it be?
I would love to have just one more dinner with my grandmothers. I would love to see their smiles and hear them laugh. I would love to just be present with them as I shared the new advances in technology and see their responses. I would love to just have one more hug because their embrace felt like home.
If you could describe Dell in one word, what would it be?
Transformational
Next, read Liz’s testimony about community service and receiving a Global Impact Pioneer Award.
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