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Mike, Vice President, Global Workplace and Infrastructure at Applied Materials: Advize Career Interview
A career in global workplace and infrastructure offers unexpected breadth and exciting challenges, as evidenced by a Vice President's journey at Applied Materials.
This individual's path began with entrepreneurial ventures and diverse roles at Intel, Microsoft, and Nvidia, culminating in leading a 200-person team responsible for worldwide offices, labs, and factories.
The position demands strong business acumen, financial skills, cross-cultural communication, and the ability to navigate a fast-paced, constantly evolving technological landscape.
A key lesson learned emphasizes the value of broad experiences over solely vertical career progression.
Entry-level opportunities abound in this field, encompassing finance, real estate, construction, design, and operations, with internal mobility fostering significant career growth.
The work directly impacts every employee daily, offering a unique perspective across the entire company and the rewarding opportunity to make significant, long-term infrastructure investments.
Passion for technology, a high-pressure tolerance, and self-driven ambition are highlighted as crucial traits for success.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Mike DeMuro
Vice President, Global Workplace and Infrastructure
Applied Materials
University of Southern California
MBA, Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Economics, Finance
Technology
Strategic Management and Executive
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Career Path of a Vice President of Global Workplace and Infrastructure at Applied Materials
Mike's career journey began with a self-started venture in interactive television post-graduation from USC, followed by experience in a family manufacturing business. This led to a successful transition into the tech industry, with key roles at Intel, where "getting exposed and living overseas proved to be a very important career step," and then Microsoft and Nvidia, culminating in Mike's current position as Vice President, Global Workplace and Infrastructure at Applied Materials.
Main Responsibilities of a Vice President Global Workplace and Infrastructure at Applied Materials
Mike, Applied Materials' Vice President of Global Workplace and Infrastructure, leads a 200-person team responsible for "everything from finding locations…to running" the company's worldwide offices, labs, and factories. This includes ensuring efficient and cost-effective operations while also fostering a positive employee experience by providing amenities like "cafes and food, clean offices, and super efficient factories."
A Day in the Life of a Vice President Global Facilities at Applied Materials
A Vice President of Global Workplace Infrastructure at Applied Materials has "no common day," juggling a variety of tasks including reviewing emails from Asia, attending numerous meetings ranging from one-on-ones to staff meetings and collaborating with city officials on large projects. This role also involves significant financial oversight, managing large budgets and construction projects across multiple time zones, requiring flexibility and constant interaction to make key decisions.
Most Important Skills for a Vice President Global Workplace and Infrastructure at Applied Materials
Mike, a Vice President at Applied Materials, emphasizes the importance of talent development and recruitment, along with strong "business acumen" and financial skills, in his role. Further, the ability to communicate effectively across diverse cultures, maintain an open mind while also assertively projecting ideas, are crucial for success in a fast-paced technology environment where "things may change."
Favorite Parts of Being a Vice President Global Workplace and Infrastructure at Applied Materials
Mike enjoys the broad scope of his role, stating that "you get to deal with every aspect of the company," providing a unique perspective across Applied Materials. This, combined with international collaboration, a fast-paced environment, and a supportive manager who allows Mike to "make decisions," makes the position highly rewarding.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Vice President Global Workplace And Infrastructure At Applied Materials
Mike's biggest challenge as Vice President, Global Workplace and Infrastructure at Applied Materials is aligning long-term infrastructure investment needs— "these have 10 and 20 year...life's to them"—with the shorter-term vision of technology businesses. This requires taking "risks together" and making "best guesses" on significant investments with potentially expensive consequences if decisions are incorrect.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Tech Industry As A Vice President, Global Workplace And Infrastructure
Mike enjoys the tech industry's "very fast-paced" and "constantly reinventing itself" nature, finding the complex challenges thrilling. The real estate and facilities function's impact on "every single employee every day" through their workspace is also a key motivator, highlighting the importance of their work to employee experience and company success.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Tech Industry, According To A Vice President At Applied Materials
Mike, a Vice President at Applied Materials, highlights a passion for technology as crucial, stating that even without an engineering background, "there's still lots to be excited about." Success also requires embracing constant change, a high-pressure environment with "a very high standard of performance," and a self-driven ambition to excel.
What a Vice President at Applied Materials wishes they had known before entering the Global Workplace and Infrastructure industry
Mike, a Vice President at Applied Materials, learned that the real estate and facilities function, "exists at every company in the world," offering surprisingly broad career opportunities. This realization, gained through experience at companies like Intel, highlights the transferable skills and rich career path potential within this often-overlooked field.
Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Workplace and Infrastructure Professionals
Applied Materials' Vice President of Global Workplace and Infrastructure, Mike, highlights the diverse entry-level opportunities in real estate and facilities, encompassing "finance people, real estate people, construction people, design people, operations people," allowing for cross-development and career growth through internal mobility. The company's recent hiring of a new college graduate with a general job description demonstrates this open approach, showcasing that "once they come in, they can start doing that and then they can get exposed to all the different aspects and then grow their career very broadly."
Significant Career Lesson From a Vice President at Applied Materials
Mike's most significant career lesson is that building "a broad set of experiences" through diverse roles and locations is far more valuable than focusing solely on vertical advancement. This approach, involving "multiple countries" and "different things," made Mike uniquely valuable to employers, ultimately leading to greater career progression than a narrowly focused path.
College Experiences That Helped A Vice President At Applied Materials Succeed
Mike's undergraduate finance degree provided a "fundamental way of looking at business," proving invaluable throughout their career. Beyond academics, joining a fraternity unexpectedly taught valuable teamwork skills in navigating diverse personalities, mirroring the complexities of the professional world, and starting a small business instilled entrepreneurial skills applicable both personally and professionally.
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