College Experiences That Helped a Senior Vice President at Starbucks Succeed
Michael's undergraduate experience, unlike the current emphasis on internships, primarily involved a semester volunteering with a public defender in San Francisco, where "interviewing and talking to people" unexpectedly became a skill valued in Michael's later career. The study of economics provided a strong foundation for understanding "how the economy worked, how businesses worked," proving highly beneficial in Michael's transition to law school and ultimately, a successful business career.
Communication, Economics, Career Exploration, Interviewing Skills, Legal Studies
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michael Fink
Senior Vice President
Starbucks Corporation
University of California Berkeley
Harvard Law School JD
Economics
Food, Beverages & Alcohol, Law
Legal
International Student, Honors Student
Video Highlights
1. While Michael did not have traditional internships, his volunteer work with a public defender in San Francisco improved his interviewing skills and comfort level in interacting with diverse individuals. This experience unexpectedly shaped his career path.
2. His undergraduate studies in economics provided a solid foundation for understanding business and the economy, which proved beneficial in his subsequent law school education and career. This highlights the value of a strong academic foundation.
3. The experience of working with the public defender, even though it dissuaded him from a career in criminal law, helped Michael realize his enjoyment of interviewing and interacting with people which is a valuable skill in many business careers.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I didn't do much. It was a different world back then. People weren't lining up for college internships, which is a very real thing now.
I know from my daughters and their friends that internships are a big deal today, helping to get a foot on the first rung of the ladder. But that wasn't common for most people back then. So, as far as internships or jobs, I didn't do much.
I did have one experience at Berkeley where I was volunteering for a semester. I believe I received credit for it. I was volunteering to work with a public defender in San Francisco.
I wasn't particularly interested in criminal law, but I thought it would give me some exposure to the legal field. It definitely made me realize I didn't want to pursue criminal law. However, I really liked the lawyer I was working for, Tony Guerrero.
There were aspects of the work that were interesting, like interviewing skills, which I found I actually enjoyed. I would go into the San Francisco jail to meet with clients. I became more comfortable doing that because he was so busy and would send me in to interview them.
I enjoyed the interviewing and talking to people, which I guess helped a little. Studying economics was also very helpful for the business side of law. It gave me a good foundation for understanding how the economy and businesses worked, the big picture things.
This made it more relatable when I went into law school. By then, I knew what I didn't want to do, which was litigation. I had enough exposure to economics that it was helpful in law school and later in my job. So, I guess my course of study was probably the most helpful thing.