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Nicole, Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix: Advize Career Interview
A challenging economics major at UCLA launched a dynamic career journey, featuring diverse internships and roles in retail and HR. This non-linear path culminated in a fulfilling position as a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix, negotiating multi-million dollar deals with tech giants.
The role demands strong communication, attention to detail, and organizational skills, requiring collaboration with numerous internal stakeholders and vendors.
The most rewarding aspect is the consultative nature, solving problems across various teams. Networking is key, as is embracing unexpected opportunities and consistent effort, even when facing challenges.
Entry-level positions like supply chain specialist or data analyst offer a pathway into this exciting field, which combines problem-solving, negotiation, and the "Hollywood sparkle" of the entertainment industry.
A willingness to say "yes" to opportunities and a belief in purpose are highlighted as crucial factors in career success.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Nicole Panzovski
Technology Sourcing Manager
Netflix
UCLA 2016
UCLA Anderson MBA
Economics
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Operations and Project Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School
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Career Path Of A Technology Sourcing Manager At Netflix
Nicole's career path, beginning with a challenging economics major at UCLA and diverse internships—including door-to-door sales and contract negotiation at Disney—led to a non-linear journey through retail, HR, and ultimately, a fulfilling role as Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix, where Nicole "negotiate[s] deals" with major tech companies like Salesforce and SAP. The experience highlights how varied early career experiences, even those seemingly unrelated, can build valuable skills and contribute to a successful career trajectory.
Main Responsibilities of a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix
As a Strategic Sourcing Manager of Corporate Technology at Netflix, Nicole's main responsibility is "buying things for the company," specifically software and infrastructure like cloud services. This involves collaborating with Netflix teams to identify technological solutions to their problems, evaluating vendors and technologies, negotiating contracts, and ensuring stakeholder alignment with finance and legal teams before finalizing deals.
A Day in the Life of a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix
A Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix juggles 20-30 deals simultaneously, constantly communicating and negotiating with internal stakeholders and vendors; this role demands strong people skills, as Nicole highlights, "it's all about people skills...how do you get people to trust you," while simultaneously navigating complex financial negotiations and presenting multi-million dollar deals to executive leadership.
Most Important Skills for a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix
Nicole, a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix, identifies communication, attention to detail, and organization as crucial skills. The role demands "corralling a bunch of different people" and negotiating "high dollar contract deals," necessitating strong communication and meticulous attention to detail to navigate complex negotiations and manage multiple projects effectively.
Favorite Parts of Being a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix
Nicole, a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix, finds the most fulfilling aspect of her role to be its consultative nature, describing it as "an internal consultant" who solves diverse problems daily across different teams and vendors. This allows for the variety and problem-solving Nicole enjoyed considering in undergrad, while avoiding the extensive travel associated with traditional consulting roles, a crucial factor given their family life.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix
Nicole's biggest challenge as a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix is securing "buy-in" from internal clients, requiring strong communication and "deal negotiation" skills to navigate diverse personalities and ensure collaboration despite a lack of inherent obligation from stakeholders. Success hinges on building trust and demonstrating value to each team, making relationship management a crucial aspect of the role.
Favorite Parts of Working in Entertainment as a Technology Sourcing Manager
Nicole, a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix, enjoys the "Hollywood sparkle" and public visibility of working in the entertainment industry, a perk not found in previous roles in consumer packaged goods or retail. However, the most important aspect of their career is the transferable nature of strategic sourcing, allowing for a flexible and successful career path across various industries.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Entertainment Industry According To A Technology Sourcing Manager At Netflix
Nicole, a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix, emphasizes the crucial role of networking in the entertainment industry, stating that "it's all about who you know," and this is evidenced by their own career journey, beginning with a chance encounter that led to internships at Disney and Deluxe before ultimately landing at Netflix. The advice given is to actively cultivate and maintain a professional network through LinkedIn, alumni connections, and consistent outreach, viewing this as key to mentorship, job opportunities, and career advancement.
What A Technology Sourcing Manager At Netflix Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Technology Industry
Nicole, a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix, advises that a career in strategic sourcing can be unexpectedly fulfilling, despite not being a commonly sought-after field. This role, which Nicole describes as having "a lot of challenges" and "parallels to being an internal consultant," offers transferable skills valuable to those considering careers in business, law, or management consulting.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Technology Sourcing Managers At Netflix
Entry-level positions in technology sourcing, such as "supply chain specialist" or "data analyst," build foundational skills in data analysis and purchase order creation, which are crucial stepping stones to higher-level roles negotiating "multi-million dollar deals." Internships like "strategic sourcing intern" provide valuable experience and networking opportunities to land these entry-level positions.
Significant Career Lesson From A Technology Sourcing Manager At Netflix
Nicole, a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix and career coach, learned that the fear of failure hinders success more than actual failure; the most impactful advice Nicole received was to "just show up," even if it means giving "25%," because consistent effort, despite imperfections, ultimately yields results, as evidenced by their successful side business.
College Experiences That Helped A Technology Sourcing Manager At Netflix Succeed
Nicole's career success stems from a willingness to embrace unexpected opportunities, highlighting the transformative power of internships. The Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix emphasizes saying "yes to opportunities that might not seem like they're a good fit," noting that internships, rather than school jobs, provided invaluable networking and career insights, ultimately shaping their career path.
How Identity Has Influenced a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix's Career
Nicole, a Technology Sourcing Manager at Netflix, attributes her career success to her Christian faith, stating that "there is a reason and a purpose for why I am where I am." This belief allows Nicole to embrace opportunities that may seem unexpected, fostering a positive work attitude and leading to promotions, even amidst challenging situations; "I really do think that there's a purpose for why I show up to work even when work is not the greatest."
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