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Jenny, Senior Manager, Long Range Planning at Patagonia: Advize Career Interview
A career path marked by intentional exploration and a passion for sustainability led this individual from environmental science studies to a Senior Manager of Long Range Planning role at Patagonia.
The journey included diverse experiences in public relations, agricultural science, a government think tank, and a rotational program at Gallo Winery, ultimately culminating in an MBA and MS in business analytics.
This professional's current role requires aligning stakeholders on five-year plans, demanding strong finance skills, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics.
Success in this position, and the outdoor industry as a whole, relies on detail-oriented execution, abstract thinking, adaptability, and a genuine passion for the outdoors, balanced with a pragmatic understanding of market trends and company culture.
Mentorship played a significant role, underscoring the value of building trust and strong relationships.
The interviewee emphasized the importance of critically examining generalized career advice, focusing instead on understanding specific company cultures, and embracing diverse skillsets built through deliberate choices, even in the absence of a clear path.
The experience highlights a rewarding career path that combines professional success with a deep commitment to personal values and social responsibility.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jenny Tang
Senior Manager, Long Range Planning
Patagonia
University of California, Berkeley
MBA & M.S. Business Analytics at Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Environmental & Related Sciences
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Finance
Took Out Loans
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Career Path Of A Senior Manager Long Range Planning At Patagonia
After studying environmental science, the interviewee worked in various sustainability-focused roles, including a public relations firm, an agricultural science startup in Beijing, and a government think tank, before pursuing an MBA and MS in business analytics. This diverse experience, including a rotational program at Gallo Winery where they "experiment(ed) in different roles" from warehouse diagnostics to sales, ultimately led to their current position as a Senior Manager of Long Range Planning at Patagonia.
Main Responsibilities Of A Senior Manager, Long Range Planning At Patagonia
Jenny's main responsibility as Senior Manager of Long Range Planning at Patagonia is to "align all stakeholders on a five-year plan," requiring extensive cross-functional collaboration with department leaders. This involves a strong understanding of finance, including "reading and building a profit and loss," and building relationships to successfully create five-year forecasts.
A Day in the Life of a Senior Manager Long Range Planning at Patagonia
A Senior Manager of Long Range Planning at Patagonia's daily activities vary greatly depending on the company's planning cycle, ranging from frequent check-ins and data input to presentations and ad-hoc projects; the role involves significant stakeholder collaboration, "talking with stakeholders" to gather inputs for financial projections, and ultimately facilitating key decisions based on these projections and their implications for the company.
Most Important Skills For A Senior Manager, Long Range Planning At Patagonia
For a senior manager in long-range financial planning at Patagonia, foundational finance skills are crucial, progressing from "detail orientation, execution oriented skills" to managing "abstract risks" and communicating "abstract ideas." The ability to foster curiosity, ensuring everyone understands the value of financial decisions and their connection to other areas, and adaptability to a changing world are equally vital for success.
Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Manager Long Range Planning at Patagonia
Jenny, a Senior Manager of Long Range Planning at Patagonia, appreciates the broad scope of her role, stating that it offers "a bird's eye view of the entire landscape," allowing for strategic thinking across the outdoor industry and internal collaboration. This involves understanding "the complexities of…how many people…needs to be in the room to…move these really big, daunting decisions," highlighting a key aspect of her work in navigating complex organizational dynamics.
Biggest Challenges Faced By a Senior Manager Long Range Planning at Patagonia
Jenny's biggest challenge as a Senior Manager of Long Range Planning at Patagonia is balancing "the 30,000 feet view" with meticulous detail, requiring flexibility in switching between collaborative communication and detailed analysis depending on the audience and their priorities. This necessitates understanding diverse perspectives, ranging from "how does this math add up?" to "is this possible?".
Favorite Parts of Working in the Outdoor Apparel Industry as a Senior Manager Long Range Planning
Jenny's passion for the outdoor apparel industry stems from a personal connection to nature, finding that "being in an industry that enables these types of nature connecting experiences" aligns with both personal values and Patagonia's company culture. The industry's shared commitment to sustainability and ethical practices, while acknowledging imperfection ("we are far from perfect"), is a key source of fulfillment in their career at Patagonia.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Outdoor Industry According To A Senior Planning Manager At Patagonia
To thrive in the outdoor industry, a passion for the outdoors— "daydreaming about your next backpacking trip"— is essential, connecting with consumers on a shared level. Success in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) sector specifically requires collaboration, innovation, understanding consumer trends ("catching the ebbs and flows of a tide of the market"), and a persistent curiosity about new products and market responses.
What a Senior Manager Long Range Planning at Patagonia wishes they had known before entering the Consumer Goods industry
Jenny, a Senior Manager at Patagonia, cautions against generalized industry assumptions, noting that even within "consumer goods," the "pace of work, hours of work, even work styles" vary drastically between companies and departments. The interviewee stresses the importance of critically examining broad career advice and instead focusing on understanding a specific company's culture during the interview process to avoid the pitfalls of relying on myths like "this environment is much more relaxed."
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Outdoor Industry Professionals at Patagonia
Entry-level outdoor industry roles include standard business functions like "supply chain, finance, marketing," but Jenny, a Senior Manager at Patagonia, emphasizes that passion is key; entering the field through a skill set one is "most passionate about" leads to greater intrinsic motivation and faster growth, opening doors for diverse backgrounds like writing, art, or guiding.
Career Lesson from a Senior Manager Long Range Planning at Patagonia
A significant lesson learned by the Senior Manager of Long Range Planning at Patagonia is the importance of "building trust and solid relationships with everybody" one works with, impacting both individual career trajectory and company response to challenges. This involves actively cultivating connections, observing how people answer questions to gauge trust levels, and ensuring that even during mistakes, a supportive environment exists where "we got Jenny's back."
College Experiences That Helped A Senior Manager, Long Range Planning At Patagonia Succeed
Jenny's undergraduate experience, while initially feeling "like running around like a chicken with its head cut off," ultimately equipped them with adaptability and a diverse skillset by pursuing passions in renewable energy and public relations, despite lacking a direct career path. This approach, characterized by intentional decision-making even without knowing precise outcomes, fostered a deeply engaged and fulfilling career journey, culminating in their current role at Patagonia.
How Identity Has Influenced a Senior Manager, Long Range Planning's Career at Patagonia
Jenny's career journey, while influenced by a lack of Asian American representation in certain industries like winemaking, has been guided by a personal philosophy of "what do I owe myself?" and a willingness to pursue opportunities despite potential challenges, always maintaining the power to "leave" if necessary. This approach allowed the Senior Manager to gain valuable experience and learn about supply chains while working in less diverse environments.
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