An Interview with Andy Chan, CMC Director
Jamie Earle
Issue date: 10/29/01 Section: Features
Q: Please tell us about your background.
A: I graduated from Stanford with a BA in 1984 and an MBA in 1988. I have 15 years of general management and marketing experience in seven different companies and 13 different jobs. I have a broad range of experience, which includes Internet start-ups, consumer software, consumer products and consulting. I have four years of experience in the recruiting and career management arena. As President and CEO of eProNet, an online recruiting and career management company, I led a company that provided career services and job opportunities for the alumni from over 20 of the top universities in the country including Stanford, MIT, Yale and Duke. Prior to eProNet, I ran MindSteps, a venture-backed career development software company.
I also held the following positions:
· VP of Marketing and Business Development at WorldRes, an internet hotel reservation company
· VP of Online Services, Director of Product Development, Director of Corporate Marketing, Director of Product Marketing at The Learning Company, a premier educational software company
· Director of Marketing at SyberVision, an instructional audio and video tape company
· Assistant Brand Manager at Clorox
· Marketing Manager at Dole Foods
· Consultant at Bain & Company
I am the Ex-Chairman of the Stanford Athletic Board and provide ongoing volunteer time for the athletic department and the alumni association. I enjoy playing golf, basketball, tennis and spending time with my family.
Q: What interested you about the CMC Director position?
A: The purpose of the CMC - to help GSB students find fulfilling work - is perfectly aligned with my own personal life values and goals. I am excited to be leading an organization where our services make a significant impact on how people think about their careers and lives. I hope that our work will help our Stanford MBAs be even better leaders in their companies and communities. I also enjoy working with students - people who are at a major crossroad in life and who are looking for answers.
Q: What are some of the strengths and weaknesses you see currently at the CMC?
A: The CMC is blessed with a dedicated and responsive staff that is committed to helping each GSB student find a good job. The CMC has a strong historical track record for delivering on this objective.
I have heard that some students and employers have not been completely satisfied with the CMC. I intend to completely understand these issues and make the appropriate adjustments.
Q: What are your plans, short- and long-term, for the CMC?
A: I can't describe specific plans at this point, but I would like us to achieve 100% satisfaction from the students and employers who use the CMC. In the long run, I would like the CMC to be recognized by students and employers as one of the best MBA career centers in the world. It will take work and time for us to get there, but I am eager to begin the journey.
Q: This is a tough economic and employment environment. Being from the class of'88, you "lived through" the crash of '87 and saw the downturn of the early 90s close-up. How will those experiences prepare you to help students plan their career paths today?
A: The following "truths" hold whether we are in a bull or bear market.
First, develop your personal foundation. What makes you tick? What kind of work do you like to do and not like to do? Where do you imagine yourself in 5 or 10 years? Write these things down and review them often. Now you can begin to focus on finding the industry, company and job that fits YOU. This is valuable every time you are faced with a work or life transition point - now or in the future.
The sooner you are able to focus, the easier the search process will be. But I will not lie to you. Even after focusing, getting that job won't be easy. It's competitive and time consuming. But it's worth the investment of time and energy.
To get out of school, I recommend that students use the skills that got them in:
· Hard work
· Creative Thinking
· Aggressive salesmanship
In general, be prepared for change. Be "Change Resilient." There are no guarantees in work or life, so the more prepared you are for change, the better you will be able to handle it when it comes. Because I guarantee…it will come.
Q: What advice would you give students looking for traditional MBA jobs such as banking and consulting?
A: First, be sure that you really want the job. I hear of so many students who say that they want to do it for 1-2 years and then figure out what they really want to do. The problem is that many feel that they cannot leave because they can't find work that matches the compensation level. And others don’t have a clue as to what they really want to do!
Banks and consulting firms will be hiring, but at lower volume than they have in the past. Be prepared for the competition: Write an outstanding resume. Bid aggressively for companies that you really want. Know the company and what it looks for in new employees. Align your interview points with this information. Develop relationships with people at the firm, not just in the interview.
In addition, there may be banking and consulting firms who do not come to campus. Develop a tailored job search to target these firms. They may be hiring, and it may be less competitive because there are fewer applicants.
Q: What advice would you give students looking for non-traditional MBA jobs?
A: This encompasses a wide range of jobs, so the answer varies depending on what the student is looking for. In general, talk to one of our experienced advisors to learn from their experience. They can help you develop a tailored job search and get you connected to people in your area of interest. I also recommend using the network of alumni from the GSB and from your undergraduate alma mater. People really enjoy helping students. All students need to do is ask.
A: I graduated from Stanford with a BA in 1984 and an MBA in 1988. I have 15 years of general management and marketing experience in seven different companies and 13 different jobs. I have a broad range of experience, which includes Internet start-ups, consumer software, consumer products and consulting. I have four years of experience in the recruiting and career management arena. As President and CEO of eProNet, an online recruiting and career management company, I led a company that provided career services and job opportunities for the alumni from over 20 of the top universities in the country including Stanford, MIT, Yale and Duke. Prior to eProNet, I ran MindSteps, a venture-backed career development software company.
I also held the following positions:
· VP of Marketing and Business Development at WorldRes, an internet hotel reservation company
· VP of Online Services, Director of Product Development, Director of Corporate Marketing, Director of Product Marketing at The Learning Company, a premier educational software company
· Director of Marketing at SyberVision, an instructional audio and video tape company
· Assistant Brand Manager at Clorox
· Marketing Manager at Dole Foods
· Consultant at Bain & Company
I am the Ex-Chairman of the Stanford Athletic Board and provide ongoing volunteer time for the athletic department and the alumni association. I enjoy playing golf, basketball, tennis and spending time with my family.
Q: What interested you about the CMC Director position?
A: The purpose of the CMC - to help GSB students find fulfilling work - is perfectly aligned with my own personal life values and goals. I am excited to be leading an organization where our services make a significant impact on how people think about their careers and lives. I hope that our work will help our Stanford MBAs be even better leaders in their companies and communities. I also enjoy working with students - people who are at a major crossroad in life and who are looking for answers.
Q: What are some of the strengths and weaknesses you see currently at the CMC?
A: The CMC is blessed with a dedicated and responsive staff that is committed to helping each GSB student find a good job. The CMC has a strong historical track record for delivering on this objective.
I have heard that some students and employers have not been completely satisfied with the CMC. I intend to completely understand these issues and make the appropriate adjustments.
Q: What are your plans, short- and long-term, for the CMC?
A: I can't describe specific plans at this point, but I would like us to achieve 100% satisfaction from the students and employers who use the CMC. In the long run, I would like the CMC to be recognized by students and employers as one of the best MBA career centers in the world. It will take work and time for us to get there, but I am eager to begin the journey.
Q: This is a tough economic and employment environment. Being from the class of'88, you "lived through" the crash of '87 and saw the downturn of the early 90s close-up. How will those experiences prepare you to help students plan their career paths today?
A: The following "truths" hold whether we are in a bull or bear market.
First, develop your personal foundation. What makes you tick? What kind of work do you like to do and not like to do? Where do you imagine yourself in 5 or 10 years? Write these things down and review them often. Now you can begin to focus on finding the industry, company and job that fits YOU. This is valuable every time you are faced with a work or life transition point - now or in the future.
The sooner you are able to focus, the easier the search process will be. But I will not lie to you. Even after focusing, getting that job won't be easy. It's competitive and time consuming. But it's worth the investment of time and energy.
To get out of school, I recommend that students use the skills that got them in:
· Hard work
· Creative Thinking
· Aggressive salesmanship
In general, be prepared for change. Be "Change Resilient." There are no guarantees in work or life, so the more prepared you are for change, the better you will be able to handle it when it comes. Because I guarantee…it will come.
Q: What advice would you give students looking for traditional MBA jobs such as banking and consulting?
A: First, be sure that you really want the job. I hear of so many students who say that they want to do it for 1-2 years and then figure out what they really want to do. The problem is that many feel that they cannot leave because they can't find work that matches the compensation level. And others don’t have a clue as to what they really want to do!
Banks and consulting firms will be hiring, but at lower volume than they have in the past. Be prepared for the competition: Write an outstanding resume. Bid aggressively for companies that you really want. Know the company and what it looks for in new employees. Align your interview points with this information. Develop relationships with people at the firm, not just in the interview.
In addition, there may be banking and consulting firms who do not come to campus. Develop a tailored job search to target these firms. They may be hiring, and it may be less competitive because there are fewer applicants.
Q: What advice would you give students looking for non-traditional MBA jobs?
A: This encompasses a wide range of jobs, so the answer varies depending on what the student is looking for. In general, talk to one of our experienced advisors to learn from their experience. They can help you develop a tailored job search and get you connected to people in your area of interest. I also recommend using the network of alumni from the GSB and from your undergraduate alma mater. People really enjoy helping students. All students need to do is ask.