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.
Overcoming Challenges, Resilience, Career Development, Executive/Leadership, Motivational Stories
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
Apparel, Beauty, Retail & Fashion, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Finance
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Jenny's approach to career decisions prioritizes self-assessment and control, focusing on what she can influence rather than external factors. She emphasizes pursuing opportunities without letting fear hold her back, viewing setbacks as manageable challenges.
2. She acknowledges underrepresentation in certain industries (wine and Central Valley) but highlights that companies are increasingly focused on diversity. She advises researching a company's commitment to diversity before accepting a position.
3. She shares her personal strategy of giving herself a year to assess a new role and reminds herself that she always retains the option to leave if necessary. This approach allows her to manage concerns about diversity while pursuing career goals.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as an Asian American, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
I can share how I've navigated this, as it's always a factor for everyone. For me, I've always considered what I owe myself in terms of decision-making and what's outside of my control.
I was fortunate to go to UC Berkeley and then work in San Francisco. Arizona was a different story, but even there, I found some representation of my community. I've also worked in the Central Valley wine industry and now in Ventura.
In those industries, there isn't a lot of representation. However, both are trying to increase their diversity. The effort they put behind those claims really ranges by company, so it's worth looking into.
For my own story, when I faced a decision, I really focused on what I owed myself and what was within my control. I owed it to myself to pursue opportunities and never let fear stop me.
This means if a situation arose, like before joining E. & J. Gallo in Modesto, the Central Valley wasn't known for diversity, especially for API communities. But I wanted to understand supply chain and the company itself. There were many positive aspects I didn't want to miss because of potential concerns.
I've always given myself one year to try something. If I experienced setbacks unique to me, it would be frustrating. However, it's within my control to leave. This has always been a tool in my mind.
My white-passing friends may not share these concerns, but it's important to keep this within myself. I need that anchor and confidence to know I control what I enter and leave. I also control when I enter a situation and when I can opt out.
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