Career Path Of A Global ISV Operations Supervisor At ServiceNow
Allison's career journey began with a business administration degree and internships, including a pivotal experience at Merrill Lynch during the 2008 financial crisis, where they "learned under fire" and developed valuable skills. Following a challenging job market post-graduation, networking led to a tech career, marked by adaptability and growth, culminating in nearly nine years at ServiceNow after a five-hour interview process; the company's rapid growth provided "an awesome opportunity."
Networking, Operations Management, Career Transitions, Adaptability, Tech Industry
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Allison Kulp
Global ISV Operations Supervisor
ServiceNow, Inc.
Loyola University Maryland , 2009
University of California Los Angeles -Executive MBA anticipated 2024
Business Management & Admin
Technology
Operations and Project Management
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. The importance of networking: Allison emphasizes the role of networking in securing her first tech job after graduating college during a challenging job market. She highlights the value of attending networking events and leveraging personal connections to find opportunities.
2. Adaptability and resilience in a changing market: Allison's experience at Merrill Lynch during the 2008 financial crisis and her subsequent career moves demonstrate the ability to adapt to challenging circumstances and changing job markets. This includes relocating for better opportunities and navigating mergers and acquisitions.
3. Diverse skillset from a business background: Allison's business administration degree with concentrations in marketing and finance provided her with a broad skillset applicable to various roles in the tech industry. This allowed her to transition into operations and other business-related functions within her career.
Transcript
Allison, could you walk me through your career path? Please start with your experiences in college.
Then, tell me about any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
I did my undergrad on the East Coast at Loyola University in Maryland in Baltimore. I earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with concentrations in marketing and finance.
I had a few internships. One was a sales internship between my sophomore and junior years. During my junior year, I interned at a marketing event space, trying to learn more about the marketing field. My last internship, which had a significant impact, was at Merrill Lynch's wealth management firm in 2008.
This was during the market crash and the start of a recession, similar to what we've seen recently. As the analysts and financial advisors were very busy, they had me help analyze portfolios worth millions of dollars. It was interesting to learn under pressure, especially during a chaotic financial market. Some of the financial advisors I worked with, I still keep in touch with for insights on my personal financial portfolio.
It was difficult to find a job in 2009, even with a good degree from a good school. The job market was tough, much like it is now. I had to keep applying and networking, which is how I got my first career job out of undergrad.
A friend's mother worked in tech, and she helped me pass my resume around. This led to my start in tech in 2009-2010 with a small tech reseller company, as the financial advising industry didn't seem promising. I wasn't picky about my first job.
Although I concentrated in marketing and finance, my business degree gave me a broad understanding of operations management, accounting, finance, marketing, and economics. I started in an entry-level operations and finance role at a tech resale company outside of DC.
Around 2011-2012, I noticed the tech industry on the West Coast was growing faster than on the East Coast. I found a job at a company called Websense in San Diego and moved across the country. There, I worked in operations and order management for a software company that was eventually bought out.
The ability to adapt and learn under pressure, skills I gained at Merrill Lynch, helped me when the company was acquired. I had just moved to San Diego and had the option to move to Austin, Texas, as many tech companies were relocating there around 2012-2013. However, I wanted to stay in San Diego.
Networking, having a well-designed and updated LinkedIn profile, and getting referrals were crucial. My manager found me on LinkedIn and offered me a position at ServiceNow. After a five-hour interview day, I accepted.
ServiceNow was growing rapidly and had gone public two years prior. It has been an awesome opportunity, and I've been there for almost nine years. I've experienced many transitions, making it a really good journey.