Career Path of an ERP Project Manager at Cemstone Products Company
Thomas's career path exemplifies a non-linear journey, starting with a pivot from pre-med to economics and finance after "really challenged" self-reflection. Following a marketing role at a small firm, where Thomas "did anything from the research side to helping name companies," a chance opportunity led to a rapid promotion to ERP Project Manager at a concrete company, showcasing adaptability and growth.
Career Exploration, Project Management, Problem-Solving, Career Development, Overcoming Challenges
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Thomas Becken
ERP Project Manager
Cemstone Products Company
St. Olaf College, 2015
UCLA Anderson MBA
Economics
Architecture, Construction & Design
Operations and Project Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. He pivoted from premed to economics and finance after a conversation with his advisor, highlighting the importance of self-reflection in choosing a career path.
2. He gained diverse experience in a small marketing firm, showcasing adaptability and a willingness to take on various tasks.
3. He progressed from an assistant ERP project manager to a project manager, demonstrating his ability to learn quickly and take on responsibility.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path? Please start with your experiences in college. Include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
Coming into college, I was at a small liberal arts school and really leaning into pre-med. I thought that was the path for me and started taking chemistry and biology classes, which were going okay.
But I had a conversation with an advisor, an art professor who had gone to medical school and was doing cancer research. He then decided to pursue art instead. He challenged me to think about my path and not just follow it blindly.
I started to feel hesitant about pre-med. I realized I enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of it and wondered if I could apply that to a different field. I ended up taking a few classes and fully pivoted to an economics and finance major.
It was a complete change from what I was doing, but I was excited about it. I made that decision late, so graduating was tough because I was still figuring out what I wanted to do.
I loved the business aspect but also wanted to be creative. Through talking with friends, I learned about an internship opportunity at Capsule, a small marketing and brand design firm with only 12 people. I had a great experience there doing marketing research for a few years.
Being on such a small team was a unique environment. They really pushed me to try different things, and I did everything from research to naming companies and giving input on logos.
After a while, I realized there wasn't much room for advancement. I felt there had to be other opportunities out there. Another opportunity stumbled upon me: becoming an assistant ERP project manager at a concrete company.
I didn't have any connection to the industry, but I decided to give it a go. I was learning a lot and things were going well. Six months in, the project manager left, and they promoted me to fill his role.
I was initially thrown into the deep end, but it really challenged me to grow. I think that experience pushed me to learn and get to where I am today.