What a Membership Experience Manager at University of Michigan Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Education Industry
Annalee, a Membership Experience Manager, discovered significant on-the-job learning was required, exceeding initial expectations. The role demanded mastering new systems and navigating the unique intersection of "a tech company within an education organization," requiring Annalee to learn different project management approaches.
On-the-Job Learning, Systems and Technology, Project Management, Adaptability, Industry Differences
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Annalee Shelton
Membership Experience Manager
University of Michigan
California State University Northridge, 2006
Pepperdine University, MA Social Entrepreneurship and Change
English
Education
Sales and Client Management
Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. There is a significant amount of on-the-job learning involved in this role, more than initially anticipated.
2. The role requires navigating the intersection of education and technology, demanding familiarity with both industry approaches to project management.
3. Learning new systems and technologies is an integral and continuous part of the job.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you started?
I've learned that there's a lot of on-the-job learning. I thought I would come in and understand the job, and then learn the pieces of it as I went along.
For example, I expected to get to know my direct clients better. What I didn't know was that I'd need to learn new systems. I'd also need to learn about almost new industries.
In a way, we are an education organization, but we're a tech company within an education organization. How does a tech company approach project management versus an education organization? Those are really different things. I had to learn along the way how to do those things.
This included learning new systems, and both how to use them and how to learn them. It's all part of the journey.