Class of 2020: BS Management and Business Economics Minor Psychology
What do you do in your current role? What’s a typical day like?
I manage a team of 16 financial advisors and am responsible for their day to day production to generate revenue for the firm and meet their quotas. I am also tasked with identifying processes that can make the business run more efficiently. I spend most of my day in one on one meetings with my associates, in senior leadership meetings, business partner meetings with key stakeholders that help us run an effective business and problem solving items that come across the table. Such as how do we ensure that our associates have an efficient process whether it’s handling a client task or navigating a tool to help our clients. In addition to how do we ensure that we are stay competitive with our offering for our clients but also our associates from a retention perspective for our book and associates. While also managing risk and ensuring that we are following industry regulations.
What did you enjoy most about the MBE/ECON program at UC Merced?
I really enjoyed the connection I was able to make with the professors in the program. Everyone brought real life experience and shared that with us in the classroom and even took it a step further to connect with their students in office hours and help them prepare to take on the first step in their career after college. I always felt supported.
Was there a class or professor that left a lasting impression on you?
Microeconomics was the course that left a lasting impression on me. It was something about Coase Theorem and Professor Hicks who was a huge mentor and supporter of my success in the classroom and continues to be as I have built my career over the last 5 years. I will always remember him sharing that hard work, grit and determination are the skills that set you apart. He helped build my confidence and believe in myself by always reminding me of those skills that I carry through as I navigate my career now. Alongside his advice to always lead by what will be the greater good for everyone and follow that as your north star.
How did your MBE/ECON degree help prepare you for your career?
Learning about the different economies of scale, my investments course with Professor Lee, and really thinking through externalities has helped me navigate my career well. There are moments where I have an “ah ha” moment remembering sitting in a classroom and connecting the dots between what I learned from a theory and how it’s being applied in the real world now.
If you could talk to your college self, what would you say?
The habits that you build today are the habits that will either keep you stuck or help you develop in life. The person you are today and the habits you create now will shape you into future you. So think what do you want out of your life? Always give it your best shot, because if you do it right the first time you won’t have to do it again.
