Career Path of a Senior Client Solutions Manager at FreeWheel
Amy's career journey began with a business economics degree and a family suggestion to enter consulting, leading to roles at KPMG and JP Morgan, where extensive travel and long hours fueled a desire for a change. This led Amy to an in-house position at Barclays before a friend's referral opened the door to their current role at FreeWheel, an ad tech firm, marking a shift away from "the financial services industry" and its demanding culture.
Career Exploration, Job Search, Career Development, Overcoming Challenges, Industry Realities
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Amy Chen
Sr. Client Solutions Manager
FreeWheel, a Comcast Company
University of California, Irvine & 2011
UCLA, Anderson School of Management, MBA
Marketing
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Sales and Client Management
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Amy's career path demonstrates that a business economics major can lead to diverse roles, including consulting, in-house corporate positions, and ad tech.
2. Her experience at KPMG and Barclays highlights the demanding hours and travel requirements often associated with consulting and financial services, which she eventually sought to change.
3. Amy's transition to FreeWheel showcases the importance of networking; she was referred by a friend and has found a good fit within the ad tech industry, illustrating career pivots are possible and can be rewarding.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please also include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
I graduated with a Business Economics major and didn't know what I wanted to do. My family suggested consulting, as it's a great career path with business that gives you access to different industries.
I worked in an advisory services role at KPMG in California. I transferred to financial services in New York, worked a lot of hours, and was constantly traveling. I lived six months of the year in Ohio at JP Morgan.
I realized I really wanted to live in New York, but never got the opportunity because I was traveling so much. I left consulting and then worked in-house at Barclays, a British bank.
I became tired of the financial services industry and burnt out by the people and the hours. I moved into ad tech. A friend who really enjoyed their job in advisory services at FreeWill, an ad tech firm owned by Comcast, referred me. That's where I am now.