Career Path of a Project and Program Manager at UCLA
Kate's career path demonstrates adaptability and a proactive approach to learning; after taking a break from full-time studies to become "operations lead" at a food company, they pursued an MBA, leveraging a four-day work week at Juniper Ridge to concurrently finish their bachelor's at UCLA and consult independently, eventually securing a Project/Program Manager position at UCLA's undergraduate research center.
Project Management, Career Development, MBA, Entrepreneurship, Operations Management
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kate McAllister
Project/Program Manager
UCLA
UCLA
UCLA Anderson School of Management, MBA
Ethnic & Related Studies
Education
Operations and Project Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Kate's career path demonstrates that a traditional linear path isn't always necessary. She combined work experience with part-time studies, showcasing adaptability and a willingness to adjust her approach.
2. Her experience across diverse roles in operations, project management, marketing, and sales, highlights the value of a multi-faceted skillset in career advancement.
3. Earning an MBA while working and managing various projects emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and pursuing higher education to achieve career goals. Her decision to return to school was sparked by observing the knowledge and success of her CFO at Juniper Ridge, offering a practical example for students considering post-graduate study.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college and internships or jobs you had before your current role?
My journey has been a little nontraditional after my sophomore year of college. I joined a CPG food company then called Cook San Francisco, which made and delivered gluten-free and dairy-free meal kits throughout the Bay Area. I started as a part-time employee in customer experience, but when the opportunity to go full-time came up, I jumped on it.
This meant I needed to take a break from being a full-time student. In my new role as operations lead, I worked directly with the CEO and founder. I oversaw day-to-day business operations, vendor relationships, interns, and distribution.
I was also with the company when we rebranded as Nona Lim and shifted our focus to packaged soups and noodles. Next, I joined Juniper Ridge, a CPG wilderness fragrance company, as a project manager. There, I worked on operations, marketing, sales, and finance projects.
Our CFO had an MBA, and the depth of his knowledge inspired me to return to university and pursue my own. Since Juniper Ridge had a four-day work week, I took the opportunity to finish a few more classes. I applied to transfer to UCLA to finish my bachelor's degree.
After moving to Los Angeles, I mapped out my coursework at UCLA so I could finish as quickly as possible. Wanting a flexible work schedule, I also began consulting independently. I held short- and long-term contracts with companies, working with them on operations, sales, marketing projects, and accounting.
Once I graduated from UCLA, I joined the UCLA Undergraduate Research Center as a project and program manager. I have been working on project and program management with them since shortly after joining the team. I applied to UCLA Anderson and achieved my goal of earning an MBA.