Career Path of a Director of Business Operations at Select Star
Alec's career journey, beginning with a civil engineering degree and an initial foray into construction management ("kind of bored with it"), unexpectedly led to investment banking in the telecom sector before a seven-year stint in consulting, punctuated by business school. This ultimately culminated in Alec's current role leading business operations at a data-focused startup, fulfilling Alec's desire to "build a business."
Career Exploration, Overcoming Challenges, Career Development, Technology, Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Alec Bialosky
Director of Business Operatins
Select Star
Tufts 2011
UCLA Anderson (MBA)
Engineering - Civil
Technology
Operations and Project Management
Video Highlights
1. Alec's career path demonstrates that a non-linear career progression is possible and can lead to fulfilling roles. His journey from civil engineering to investment banking, consulting, and finally business operations showcases adaptability and a willingness to explore different fields.
2. Alec's experience highlights the importance of internships in exploring career interests. His internship in construction management solidified his interest (or lack thereof) in architecture and helped him to make more informed decisions about his major and future career path.
3. Alec's decision to leave consulting to join a startup underscores the value of pursuing opportunities that align with one's passions and long-term goals. This decision reflects a proactive approach to career development and a willingness to take calculated risks.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
Sure. I went to Tops University and majored in civil engineering. I interned at a construction management company, then did a summer program at the Harvard Graduate School of Design because I wanted to be an architect.
It turns out I hated architecture. I realized I shouldn't have been an engineer just to go down the architecture route. It was pretty late to change my major.
My first job out of school was at that construction management company, doing general contracting. I did that for a year and was kind of bored with it.
So I quit and called up all my friends to ask what they were doing. I sort of stumbled into investment banking, technically in the telecom sector. I really liked working with emerging tech companies but found the IB side to be challenging. I was kind of burnt out, and it's also not a great lifestyle.
So I joined a consulting firm. I did that for seven years with a two-year break for business school in between. I was at the point where I kind of needed to decide if I was going to be a career consultant or try something new. I kind of always had an itch to try to build a business. As a consultant, I advised a lot of people but never actually got to do anything.
So I ended up leaving the consulting firm and joining a startup focused on the data space, which is where I am now, leading business operations.
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