Career Path Of A Business Development Manager At Walmart
Alexander's career path began with a GIS focus from their environmental studies degree at UC Santa Barbara, unexpectedly leading to roles in the autonomous vehicle industry at Uber, Lyft, and Waymo. This progression saw a transition from "looking at situations in the real world" and data analysis to project and people management, culminating in Alexander's current business-focused role at Walmart, where they leverage "financial planning" and contract review skills for new product launches.
Project Management, Career Development, Technology, GIS, Business Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Alexander Claiborne
Manager, Automation Engineering
Walmart
University of California, Santa Barbara
N/A
Environmental & Related Sciences
Automotive & Auto Parts, Technology
Operations and Project Management
Video Highlights
1. Alexander's career path highlights a transition from GIS expertise to program and business management in the autonomous vehicle industry, showcasing adaptability and career progression.
2. His experience at Uber, Lyft, and Waymo demonstrates the growing importance of project management and operational roles within the development and deployment of autonomous vehicle technology.
3. His current role at Walmart combines business development, financial planning, and contract management, illustrating the diverse applications of management skills gained in the tech sector.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
I started at UC Santa Barbara, studying environmental studies with a specialization in Geographic Information Systems, or GIS. GIS is essentially digital mapping.
I didn't do any internships, but I did complete independent projects and took independent study units. I worked closely with my GIS professors to build my skills and ensured I was taking the right classes for my career goals.
Ultimately, I didn't go directly into that specific field. I returned to San Francisco, my hometown, to look for work. Uber was launching its autonomous vehicle program, and they needed to ensure their digital maps aligned with the real world.
This is where GIS became crucial. I was responsible for reviewing real-world situations and verifying if, for example, a curb protruded further than the vehicle's digital map indicated. My role was to ensure everything was in alignment.
From there, I transitioned into more project management work. I moved to Lyft, also working on their autonomous vehicles. There, I managed project timelines for a small fleet of vehicles, allotting them to various tasks.
Next, I moved to Waymo, formerly the Google self-driving project. As an operations manager, I was moving further from my GIS skills and more into program and people management. I managed a larger fleet of vehicles and a bigger team, gaining valuable experience with large-scale programs and financial analysis.
This experience served as my segue into my current role. I am now in a business position at Walmart, focusing more on business development and financial planning, rather than the operations and R&D of my previous roles.
In this business role, I engage in business development and financial planning, and other tasks related to launching new products and ensuring they align with business needs. I also review contracts and ensure everything is in place to launch a program.