College Experiences And How A Financial Planning Manager At Big 5 Sporting Goods Succeeded
Kelvin's undergraduate experience at NYU was not particularly conducive to career success, marked by a period of "partying all the time" before a later realization to prioritize "getting towards more." However, a subsequent career at Big 5 Sporting Goods provided opportunities for Kelvin to demonstrate responsibility and high integrity, ultimately leading to significant contributions by "redesig[ning] this whole thing" and becoming a trusted problem-solver.
Overcoming Challenges, Resilience, Responsibility, Career Development, Work Ethic
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kelvin Sun
Manager of Financial Planning and Treasury
Big 5 Sporting Goods
New York University, 2008
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Business Management & Admin
Apparel, Beauty, Retail & Fashion, Sports & Fitness
Finance
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Highlight 1: The importance of finding the right time to focus on your career. Kelvin emphasizes that there's a point when one becomes serious about their goals, leading to better focus and results. This highlights the value of self-awareness and timing in career planning.
2. Highlight 2: The value of taking on responsibility and being a problem-solver. Kelvin's experience at Big 5 showcases the benefits of seeking out challenges, owning work areas, and demonstrating initiative. Students can learn the importance of exceeding expectations and becoming a reliable team member.
3. Highlight 3: The power of continuous learning and improvement. Kelvin's admission that he is still learning underscores the importance of lifelong professional development. This highlights the idea that career success is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and a willingness to adapt and grow.
Transcript
When taking you back to your time at NYU, what did you do in undergrad that set you up for success in your career?
Let me start this off by saying I didn't do a lot of things that set me up for success. I made some mistakes when I was younger, and I did not set myself up for the best path forward. It took me a couple more years than most to get on track, and I would say I'm still learning.
I think the lesson there is that when you are ready to get serious about something, it will start to come together. Look for that moment where you realize you don't need to party all the time and you're ready to figure out how to move forward. That's the beginning of your journey, and that's the tough part because you still have many more years of grinding it out.
I'm still learning about where I want my career to go in the future. So, don't do what I did and ignore school and party all the time. New York City was very distracting.
After I moved out to the West Coast, a big company afforded me the opportunity to take my responsibilities seriously. I earned respect at work through good work product and output, by owning work areas, and by being the "fix-it guy." People had left their positions, and I would be told, "Kelvin, we trust you, fix this area." Three months later, I'd say, "I redesigned this whole thing. It works a lot better now, and here's why."
I was fully responsible for all the outputs. I think that whenever you're ready, you can really get going and end up in tremendous places through really good work and high integrity. I didn't do anything to help me as an undergrad, but I was very lucky and fortunate, and it's worked out okay so far.
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