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.
Career Exploration, Networking, Internships, Saying Yes to Opportunities, Openness to New Experiences
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, Technology
Operations and Project Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Saying yes to internship opportunities, even if they don't seem like a perfect fit, can lead to unexpected career changes and valuable insights.
2. Prioritizing internships over school jobs, especially in business-related fields, for better networking and career exploration.
3. Internships provide a broader spectrum of experience and understanding compared to school jobs, helping undergraduates discover their career paths better
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I believe that my career success has not been solely on me. As a Christian, I truly believe that God has permeated my whole life and pushed me to where I am. I don't think there was anything specific I did, but there were two pivotal points in my career that led me here.
One was saying yes to an opportunity I didn't feel fit what I wanted to do, but I was willing to give it a try. My painting internship my freshman year and the Walt Disney Company were both internship positions I wasn't super passionate about or found incredibly interesting. But because I was an undergrad, I thought I would just try it out.
It turns out, those experiences changed my whole life and exactly what I do and why I do it. As an undergrad, the purpose is to figure out what you want to do. Saying yes to opportunities that might not seem like a good fit can sometimes define entire career plans.
I highly recommend applying for internships over school jobs. In business specifically, internships are more impactful. They offer a better network and better insights into the type of job you might want to do.
I also worked at the UCLA Police Department as a kiosk person, which had a great schedule and pay. However, the most impactful roles that led to my career were internships. I encourage any undergraduate to pursue internships first and work school jobs second, unless you have a financial need.
These internships offer better opportunities for your future career, especially for business majors, economics majors, accounting majors, business economics, and business administration majors. It's a broad spectrum, and you don't know what you don't know.
So, the two key takeaways are to say yes to internships you're not super interested in, and to pursue internships first.