College Experiences That Helped a Managing Director of Quantitative Strategies at O Asset Management Succeed
Trevor's undergraduate experience led to a pivotal decision: dropping out of their master's program in industrial engineering because they "really hated it" and wanted "something fundamentally different". This courageous choice allowed them to pursue computer science, ultimately leading to a fulfilling career that they describe as the "best thing that ever happened".
Career Exploration, Overcoming Challenges, Motivational Stories, Computer Science, Data Analysis
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Trevor Richardson
Managing Director, Quantitative Strategies
O Asset Management
Arizona State University
M.S. Computer Science at Arizona State University
Engineering - Industrial
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing), Technology
Data and Analytics
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. He dropped out of his master's program in industrial engineering to pursue a career that he found more fulfilling.
2. He spent a year figuring out what he wanted to do with his life before committing to a new career path.
3. He emphasized the importance of saying 'no' to opportunities that don't align with one's goals and passions, even if it means delaying gratification or facing uncertainty.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I dropped out of my master's program; it was the best thing I ever did. In undergrad, I was in a four-plus-one accelerated master's program for industrial engineering. Towards the end of my undergraduate studies, I realized I really hated it.
I didn't want to tell Rosa that she needed to assemble a widget faster. I wanted to do something fundamentally different from what I was trained for. Looking at that next year of the master's program, I could have completed it and gotten a master's degree in IE at 22.
At the time, I was looking at job offers. The best thing I ever did was say no. It was painful; I had a year of trying to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. This period was very different from my engineering cohort, who were going out and getting jobs.
But I couldn't be happier. Computer science is the best thing that ever happened to me. I love my career and the organization I work for. If I hadn't dropped out of that master's program and said no to more industrial engineering, I think I would have had a very unenjoyable time in the workforce.