College Experiences That Helped A CarParts.com Senior Director Information Security Succeed
Phillip's undergraduate success stemmed from hands-on robotics experience, "getting your hands dirty and doing work" by mentoring high school students and leading a fraternity. This combination of technical skills and "project management people experience" from organizational leadership proved invaluable for their career trajectory in information security.
Project Management, Communication, Teamwork, Leadership, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Phillip Chang
Senior Director - Information Security
CarParts.com
Michigan State University - 2007
UCLA Anderson MBA
Communications
Automotive & Auto Parts
Cyber Security and IT
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Hands-on experience: Phillip emphasizes the importance of practical experience, citing his involvement in robotics from high school through starting a program in college. This highlights the value of going beyond theoretical learning.
2. Leadership and teamwork: His experience as fraternity president showcases the value of leadership, project management, and teamwork skills. These are transferable skills highly valued in many careers, including information security.
3. Combining technical and soft skills: Phillip's background demonstrates the advantage of combining technical expertise (robotics, engineering) with strong interpersonal and organizational skills (fraternity leadership). This holistic approach to skill development is beneficial for career success in many fields.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set yourself up for success in your career?
Two things really helped. The first was my involvement in robotics since high school. If you've heard of FIRST Robotics, it's a high school-based robotics learning program.
I did that in high school, and when I got to Michigan State, there was no program for it. So, I helped start one with the engineering school. We would mentor high school students on basic engineering concepts.
I think that just helped me with the active, non-theoretical side of engineering, like getting your hands dirty and doing the work. I found that really rewarding.
The other thing was that I was the president of a fraternity. The social aspect, learning how to talk to people, organizing events, and doing things as simple as a fundraiser, gave me project management and people experience from leading an organization like that. I think that really helped as well.
Advizer Personal Links
phillipchang.com