College Experiences That Helped An Anthropologist And Corporate Historian As An Independent Consultant Succeed
Laurie's anthropological training instilled crucial skills for a successful career: "follow through preparedness, discipline," and the ability to ask insightful questions, even if it means challenging a client's perspective. This foundation, combined with the ability to "parse information, organize information, interpret information, and write about information," proved highly transferable across various professional endeavors.
Communication, Information Organization, Critical Thinking, Research Skills, Cross-Disciplinary Learning
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Laurie Levin
Anthropologist and Corporate Historian
Independent Consultant
UC Berkeley; Harvard University; UCLA, 1972
Harvard/MA and UCLA abd
Anthropology, Sociology
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Creative
Disabled, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Develop strong foundational skills: Focus on preparedness, discipline, and the ability to ask insightful questions without fear of judgment. This involves learning how to parse, organize, interpret, and write about information effectively.
2. Embrace a beginner's mindset: Cultivate a willingness to admit you don't know everything and approach new challenges with curiosity and a desire to learn. This continuous learning approach is crucial for adapting and succeeding in a dynamic professional environment.
3. Develop anthropological skills: Laurie highlights the value of anthropological training, emphasizing the ability to go into new situations with an open mind, gather and analyze information effectively, and articulate findings clearly. These skills are highly transferable across various career paths.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?
What set me up for success were the basics: follow-through, preparedness, and discipline. It was also important to be able to ask questions without feeling self-conscious, or worrying about how my clients would perceive me.
I learned to ask relevant questions, which sometimes gave clients pause because they hadn't considered things from that perspective. I also knew there was always more to learn; no one knows it all, regardless of their level of expertise.
My training as an anthropologist is particularly significant here. When I lived in communities worldwide to study anthropology, I entered with the mindset that I knew nothing, and I was usually right. I approached it as a blank slate, but I knew how to parse, organize, interpret, and write about information.
These are fundamental skills learned in college across all disciplines. If you have those basic skills, you have a lot of mobility in life, allowing you to move from one thing to the next.
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