College Experiences That Helped a Senior Product Owner at Pacific Gas and Electric Succeed
Jake, a Senior Product Owner at Pacific Gas & Electric, surprisingly reveals that "I was not a good undergraduate student," yet emphasizes the importance of simply staying on track academically, avoiding major setbacks that could hinder future progress. This allowed Jake to be "positioned that once I kind of figured things out, I had the ability to take that next step," ultimately demonstrating that consistent forward momentum, even without a clear career path initially, can be a key ingredient for career success.
Persistence, Overcoming Challenges, Career Exploration, Practical Advice, Time Management
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jake Carlisle
Senior Product Owner
Pacific Gas & Electric
UCLA
N/A
Anthropology, Sociology
Energy & Utilities
Cyber Security and IT
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. At least finish your undergraduate degree, even if you aren't sure what career path you want to take. This will keep your options open and prevent you from having to go back to school later in life.
2. Don't be afraid to explore different interests and career paths. You don't need to have everything figured out by the time you graduate college.
3. Focus on staying on track with your studies, even if you're not passionate about your major or coursework. Graduating gives you a foundational stepping stone that is hard to regain later in life if you drop out.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
That's a good question. I wasn't a good undergraduate student. I wasn't focused and I didn't want to be in school.
However, I also didn't want to not be in school because I didn't know what I wanted to do as a career. The number one thing I did as an undergrad to set me up was just to stay on track. I wasn't super hardworking or focused, but I didn't allow myself to go the opposite direction and screw things up too badly.
I knew people who hated school, had a setback, and dropped out or flunked out. Some took quick money scheme jobs. For them, that was a tough setback. If you leave school and wait, instead of being 19 or 20, you're 28 or 30, still haven't finished, and maybe have a kid, things will always get harder.
If you put things off, they gain more weight. Life gets more complicated. For me, I didn't know exactly where I wanted to go, but I was positioned so that once I figured things out, I had the ability to take the next step. I didn't put myself in a position where I'd have to go back and do more school once things started clicking.
I personally think you don't need to know what you want to do when you're 20 years old. How are you supposed to know with so many interesting things out there? Life is hard and expensive. Our society doesn't seem to be getting any calmer; things seem to be ramping up.
So how are you supposed to make a decision and know where you'll go for the next 30 years? At least position yourself by doing the work you need to do. That way, when things do start to click, you won't be handicapped. Be at the same starting point as everyone else and don't let them start the race while you're goofing off.
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