Introduction: Insights from a Transformative Evening
Recently, I had the honor of participating in the University of California alumni career panel titled "Beyond the Basics: Advanced Tips for Early Career Growth." This event gathered a remarkable group of accomplished individuals from UC Berkeley, Los Angeles, Davis, San Diego, and Irvine. The panel was moderated by Kevin Cho (Business Dev, Samsung Biologics) and participants included: Vanessa Wong (Sr. Art Director, Accenture Song), Pavan Lohia, MPH (CEO @ PavLyfe), Matt Long (Sr. Director of Product, Duolingo), Jennifer Wong aka JWong (Sr. Product Designer, Netflix), Sudarshan Gopalakrishnan (Software Engineer, Goldman Sachs) and myself - Feiyang Liu (Founder of Your Epic Consulting). I was struck by the deep connections between our shared experiences and the themes we shared as members of the UC community. The evening was a profound reminder of several core truths about personal and professional development:
- Learning to Embrace Imposter Syndrome: One of my key insights from the panel is the persistent nature of imposter syndrome. I vividly recall battling these feelings as a 19-year-old UCLA student, wrongly believing that age or career milestones would quell my doubts. Now, a decade later, these feelings remain. Just a week before the UC panel, I nearly withdrew, feeling overshadowed by seemingly more accomplished panelists. However, after reflecting with my partner, I gained a new perspective. I realized that my unique and engaging career path, shaped by numerous pivots and setbacks, was a result of these challenges, not in spite of them. Imposter syndrome may never fully vanish, but it can be managed and transformed into a motivating force to push beyond our limits or to enrich our personal narratives. This realization was empowering, allowing me to proudly embrace and share my journey of setbacks and self-acceptance, which has significantly fueled my personal growth.
- Adaptability vs Authenticity - Choose Your Adventure: What was discussed frequently was the idea that the is no “ideal way” to develop ones career. For example, JWong talked about how by being introspective she was able to hone in on what her personal values are early on and used that as a guiding compass and direction for her career, in addition to spotlighting them in interviews. Meanwhile, Matt described himself as more of a chameleon who understands what his situation/manager needs and tries his best to fulfill that role. Both approaches can be viewed as complementary to one another. There’s more than one way to achieve similar career progression results. Figure out what works for you - career development doesn’t follow a linear path nor does it adhere to a single optimized formula.
- Proactivity in Career and Academic Environments: Another poignant theme was the necessity of being proactive, especially in environments where you might feel marginalized or overlooked. JWong described the experience of product designers in tech often feeling like 2nd class citizens, relegated to just executing on the CEO or product manager’s vision while making it look pretty. Similar is the student experience of being a UCLA south campus major (STEM) vs north campus student (humanities). There was a noticeable respect and admiration that you received being South Campus that I noticed and, unfortunately, no longer received once I switched over my sophomore year. In both examples, the odds are stacked against you both to some degree, which makes it even more important to create opportunities for yourself rather than wait on doors to open organically.
- Rekindling a Passion for Public Speaking: On a more personal note, the panel reinvigorated my passion for public speaking. This is a skill I've been recognized by others from an early age (basically since I was 15) but often found limited opportunities to practice throughout my studies and career. Part of the people-pleasing side of me would silence the urge to develop this skill in favor of more traditionally respected roles in STEM - I remember growing up and being disappointed at the lack of strong public speaking engineers. Like an athlete feeling flow or entering an out-of-body experience, public speaking allows me to create a profound connection with my audience, delivering messages that resonate and inspire. It's an exhilarating experience that I plan to integrate more actively into my professional life, enhancing my role as a mentor and leader as I continue to build Your Epic Consulting.
Adapting to New Roles and Challenges
Key Takeaway: Sudarshan and Feiyang emphasize the importance of adaptability and authenticity in personal growth and professional development, advocating for stepping outside comfort zones and embracing true self-expression to foster opportunities and genuine connections.
Sudarshen discussed his need to move beyond UC Berkeley's insular environment, emphasizing, "Adaptability is key within various roles. I had to intentionally step out to make connections and create community in New York, given UC Berkeley's insularity."
I added that self-compassion and assertiveness as crucial for overcoming my past people-pleasing tendencies, tying this back to my mission of helping students stop college pleasing and showcase authenticity in college admissions. By doing so, I hope that I can show that they can enjoy self-acceptance as well as college acceptance - the two don’t have to be mutually exclusive!
Mastering Networking in New York
Key Takeaway: Vanessa, Pavan, and JWong underscore the critical role of strategic, persistent, and authentic networking practices in building meaningful community connections, highlighting the value of intentional relationship-building and the importance of quality over quantity in professional interactions.
Vanessa highlighted her networking strategy, emphasizing the value of asking at the end of coffee chats, "Do you know anyone in your network who can teach me something?" She also noted the significance of interdisciplinary learning and the concept that we are all just six degrees of separation (handshakes) away from one another.
Pavan underscored the importance of persistent follow-ups in building community, specifically crediting the moderator, Kevin, for his diligent email follow-ups that ensured he received the necessary information before the panel.
JWong explored the unique challenges and pressures of networking in New York, emphasizing the need for authenticity and intentionality when building meaningful relationships. She pointed out that the networking scene in the city can often feel impersonal and draining, underscoring the importance of embracing differences and focusing on quality over quantity in social interactions. Specifically, JWong vividly remembered her early days in New York. While navigating the social landscape, she would initiate conversations, only to notice people's interest quickly waning as their eyes wandered, scanning the room for other contacts. These experiences were stark revelations for her, highlighting a disheartening truth: "Wow, this person isn't genuinely interested in getting to know me." Such moments profoundly shaped her understanding of the city's networking culture, emphasizing the importance of seeking authentic, quality connections over quantity.
Career Maneuvering: From Setbacks to Opportunities
Key Takeaway: Pavan emphasizes resilience and adaptability in career paths, highlighting that setbacks, such as not getting into med school on the first try, can open different opportunities for growth and success.
Pavan: "You may not have the hot tech career but you can still capitalize on whatever opportunities you have."
Specialist vs. Generalist: Finding Your Fit
Key Takeaway: Vanessa, JWong, and Matt highlight the importance of self-reflection, advocacy, and strategic planning in career development, emphasizing that true job satisfaction and professional growth require challenging oneself, aligning roles with personal values, and maintaining flexibility to navigate and adapt to diverse career paths effectively.
Vanessa emphasized the importance of self-reflection in evaluating job satisfaction, advising, "Even for a dream job, reflect on if you're being challenged enough." She shared her own experience where she initially landed what she believed was her dream job at Disney. However, upon reflection, she realized she wasn’t being sufficiently challenged. This realization led her to transition to a start-up, where she engaged in designing socially impactful educational toys for youth. Vanessa also suggested that individuals consider additional questions related to career progression, such as “Does your work environment fit your personality?” and “Are there sufficient growth opportunities outside of work, beyond the day-to-day tasks?”
JWong emphasized the proactive nature required in career advancement, particularly in competitive fields such as design within tech companies. She highlighted that designers, similar to north campus (humanities) majors at UCLA, might often feel undervalued, likening their experience to being second-class citizens within their organizations compared to engineers/product managers or UCLA south campus students. To combat this, JWong stressed the importance of advocating for oneself. If you disagree with a decision, she advised, don’t just accept it—create your own solution and share it. Furthermore, she encouraged envisioning an ideal professional scenario for yourself and then strategically working backwards to reverse engineer it. This approach not only fosters personal agency but also aligns career paths with individual aspirations and values.
Matt discussed the perceived divide between specializing and generalizing, emphasizing that it's a false dichotomy and advocating for flexibility in framing one's experiences to fit various roles. He highlighted the importance of having transferable skills to enhance value within a company and the need for strategic thinking in management, particularly the pitfalls of quick decision-making that doesn’t align with long-term goals. He shared insights from his own career transitions, noting the importance of updating one’s resume regularly and strategically evaluating career moves by imagining potential outcomes and their impacts on growth. These strategies have guided his moves, such as his shift from BCG to Twitch, underscoring the necessity of introspection and proactive career planning.
Entrepreneurial Mindset: Key to Navigating Uncertainty
Key Takeaway: Pavan and Feiyang emphasize the importance of resilience, adaptability, and strategic foresight in entrepreneurship, advocating for goal setting, preparedness to pivot, and continuous learning to effectively address challenges and innovate in response to changing circumstances.
Pavan emphasized the critical importance of goal setting in entrepreneurship, coupled with the need for having a failsafe strategy for scenarios where things might not go as planned. He shared a personal anecdote about a high school counselor predicting he would go to community college, which forged his resilience and connection to those with similar experiences. Highlighting adaptability, Pavan noted the necessity of being prepared to pivot and innovate, as demonstrated when he had to overhaul his business model in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
My response highlighted the key qualities essential for my entrepreneurial journey. I distinguished having an entrepreneurial mindset from being labeled as an entrepreneur, stressing the importance of being flexible, learning quickly, and effectively tackling problems that lack straightforward solutions. I also emphasized adaptability and the willingness to be proven wrong, which are critical when developing new products or services. This approach involves continuously seeking feedback and being open to adjusting strategies, ensuring innovations meet actual market needs rather than just the creator’s vision.
Building Community and Giving Back
Key Takeaway: The UC alumni panel discussions highlighted the significant impact of community within the UC system on shaping diverse career paths and personal growth, with panelists like JWong, Matt, Vanessa, and Pavan emphasizing the transformative power of academic experiences, community engagement, and advocacy in fostering long-lasting professional relationships and personal development.
The discussions from the UC alumni panel vividly illustrated the profound sense of community within the UC system and its lasting impact on personal and professional growth. JWong brought to light how stereotypes about academic majors often limit perceptions unfairly, yet in reality, these fields of study can lead to diverse and unexpected career paths, expanding possibilities far beyond traditional expectations. Matt expressed a personal preference for giving back through time and effort rather than monetary contributions, reflecting on his missed opportunities to engage more deeply with the community during his time at UC Davis. This sentiment was echoed by Vanessa, who emphasized the unexpected joys of reconnecting with old acquaintances through UC events, underscoring the enduring bonds formed during college. Meanwhile, Pavan spoke about the challenges faced by first-generation students, highlighting UC Irvine’s commitment to advocacy and support, which resonates with the broader UC mission of transforming ordinary educational experiences into extraordinary opportunities for growth. Collectively, these reflections underscore the value of the UC network and community, not just in providing educational opportunities, but in fostering a supportive environment that continues to influence alumni long after graduation.
Q&A Section: On Professional Development and Personal Growth
Key Takeaway: Matt, Vanessa, JWong, and Pavan discuss key strategies for career advancement, emphasizing the importance of a balanced approach to execution, impact, and optics, proactive networking, aligning personal values with professional goals, and the necessity of self-advocacy to ensure recognition and fulfillment in one's career.
Matt elaborated on the essential components of career progression, identifying three critical levels: execution, impact, and optics. He emphasized that success in any career requires a blend of these elements, advocating for a strategic approach that balances the direct achievements of tasks with their broader influence and the perception others have of these accomplishments. Furthermore, Matt described his “chameleon approach”, adapting to various professional environments while still maintaining a core of authenticity. He views this adaptability as complementary rather than contradictory to genuinely expressing one's professional identity. By embracing flexibility and understanding that there are multiple paths to similar outcomes, Matt encourages professionals to find and refine the approach that best suits their unique circumstances and career goals.
Vanessa shared her strategies for effective career advancement, emphasizing the importance of proactive networking. She recommended arranging coffee chats with individuals who are one to two levels up in their career to gain insights into their daily responsibilities and challenges. This approach not only broadens one’s professional network but also provides a clearer picture of potential career paths. Additionally, Vanessa highlighted the necessity of working smarter in conjunction with working harder. By focusing on both the quality and efficiency of work, professionals can optimize their productivity and impact, paving the way for more significant opportunities and advancements in their careers.
JWong emphasized the crucial role of personal values in shaping one's career trajectory. She articulated that personal values should serve as both a compass and direction for professional decisions and progress. This approach ensures that career moves and choices are not only strategic but also deeply fulfilling, allowing individuals to pursue paths that resonate with their core beliefs and aspirations. By aligning their careers with their personal values, professionals can achieve a sense of purpose and satisfaction that transcends conventional success metrics.
Pavan highlighted a common issue in the workplace: a significant lack of self-promotion among professionals. He stressed the importance of actively advocating for oneself, emphasizing that if you do not speak up for your achievements and capabilities, it's unlikely that others will.
Miscellaneous Insights and Personal Reflections
In the Q&A portion, a UCSD graduate reflected on the panel's openness, expressing a desire for more intergenerational dialogue and sharing, highlighting the contrast between the vulnerability shown by younger generations and the more reserved nature of Generation X.
Conclusion & Wrap-Up
The University of California alumni panel provided a treasure trove of insights that emphasize the crucial intersection of personal authenticity, strategic adaptability, and proactive community engagement in shaping successful careers and meaningful personal development.
Key themes such as stepping outside comfort zones to embrace new challenges, the importance of authentic and strategic networking, and the power of resilience in the face of setbacks underscored discussions throughout the evening. Panelists illustrated through their diverse experiences the necessity of being adaptable in various professional environments and the value of maintaining personal integrity in all endeavors.
The collective wisdom shared highlighted the significance of aligning career moves with personal values, advocating for oneself in the workplace, and the continuous need for strategic career planning. Furthermore, the panelists demonstrated the profound impact of the UC community, not only in providing educational opportunities but also in fostering a supportive network that propels both personal and professional growth long after graduation.
Ultimately, the panel served as a powerful reminder that career progression is not just about climbing a ladder but weaving a rich tapestry of experiences in a way that align with one's deepest values and aspirations. This approach not only leads to professional success but also to a fulfilling life enriched by genuine relationships and a clear sense of purpose.