CAGD Career Development Seminar Matt Tsien 24 September 2005

M. Tsien2 Outline What is career success? What is career success? Who’s responsibility is it? Who’s responsibility is it? Key ingredients of success Key ingredients of success Some analogies Some analogies Mentorship Mentorship Common pitfalls Common pitfalls A Few Considerations A Few Considerations Some enablers Some enablers

M. Tsien3 What is Career Success ? Is it being a CEO ? Is it being a CEO ? Is it being a Chief Engineer? Is it being a Chief Engineer? Is it being a Senior Research Scientist? Is it being a Senior Research Scientist? Is it simply loving what you do? Is it simply loving what you do? It’s ultimately up to YOU to define ! It’s ultimately up to YOU to define !

M. Tsien4 Who’s Responsible for Your Career? Is it your manager ? Is it your manager ? Is it your mentor ? Is it your mentor ? Is it your HR department ? Is it your HR department ? No, it is YOU ! No, it is YOU ! No one knows you better No one knows you better No one cares more about your career No one cares more about your career If you don’t take charge, no one will If you don’t take charge, no one will

M. Tsien5 Key Ingredients of Success Talents and Abilities Talents and Abilities Hard work Hard work Chance Chance

M. Tsien6 Some Analogies Career as a triathlon Career as a triathlon It requires endurance (it’s not a sprint) It requires endurance (it’s not a sprint) It requires multiple skills (not a single talent) It requires multiple skills (not a single talent) It requires training (through hard work) It requires training (through hard work) It’s filled with ups & downs, twists & turns It’s filled with ups & downs, twists & turns It requires a desire to win It requires a desire to win Career as the Tour de France Career as the Tour de France You want your team to win and… You want your team to win and… You want to win You want to win

M. Tsien7 Mentorship Your mentor is NOT your career broker Your mentor is NOT your career broker Make sure the relationship is mutual Make sure the relationship is mutual The mentor wants to mentor, and you want to be mentored The mentor wants to mentor, and you want to be mentored Maintain an open, trusting, and respectful relationship Maintain an open, trusting, and respectful relationship Seek advice, listen hard, and follow through Seek advice, listen hard, and follow through Learn from your mentor’s experience Learn from your mentor’s experience Leverage your mentor’s contacts Leverage your mentor’s contacts Focus on how to improve performance vs. always looking for the next assignment Focus on how to improve performance vs. always looking for the next assignment Be grateful Be grateful

M. Tsien8 Common Pitfalls Over fixation on career development Over fixation on career development Being too boastful and self-confident Being too boastful and self-confident Under focus on career development Under focus on career development Too much humility Too much humility Self esteem too low Self esteem too low Failure to express aspirations Failure to express aspirations Not seeing the ‘big picture’ Not seeing the ‘big picture’ Not demonstrating self-initiative Not demonstrating self-initiative Not demonstrating good teamwork (individualism) Not demonstrating good teamwork (individualism) Not willing to make sacrifices (‘go the extra mile’) Not willing to make sacrifices (‘go the extra mile’) Being driven by politics Being driven by politics Ignoring politics Ignoring politics

M. Tsien9 A Few Considerations Relationships Relationships Build ‘em before you need ‘em Build ‘em before you need ‘em Make it a two way street Make it a two way street 360 degree management 360 degree management Team work Team work Getting things done while getting along Getting things done while getting along Leverage Leverage You can’t know everything nor do everything yourself’ You can’t know everything nor do everything yourself’ Communications Communications Maintaining a robust two-way dialogue Maintaining a robust two-way dialogue Stay informed, and keep others informed Stay informed, and keep others informed Enjoying what you do Enjoying what you do

M. Tsien10 Some Enablers Integrity Integrity Integrity beyond a shadow of doubt Integrity beyond a shadow of doubt Keeping promises and commitments Keeping promises and commitments Admitting mistakes Admitting mistakes Putting team, company and customers first Putting team, company and customers first Loyalty Loyalty To leadership, to team, to company To leadership, to team, to company Alignment Alignment Understanding the organization’s priorities Understanding the organization’s priorities Attitude Attitude Staying positive Staying positive Being optimistic Being optimistic Professionalism Professionalism Perception is reality Perception is reality Work Ethic Work Ethic No nonsense focus on delivering results No nonsense focus on delivering results Excellence Excellence Establishing a track record of performance Establishing a track record of performance Doing the current job extremely well Doing the current job extremely well

M. Tsien11 Some Enablers Vision Vision Knowing the end-game Knowing the end-game Initiative Initiative Anticipate issues Anticipate issues Be self-starting and self-directed Be self-starting and self-directed Be proactive Be proactive Assertiveness Assertiveness Pursuing your convictions the right way Pursuing your convictions the right way Continuous Improvement Continuous Improvement Staying current Staying current Learning from mistakes Learning from mistakes Energy and Stamina Energy and Stamina Charisma Charisma

M. Tsien12 Summary Career success requires a combination of talents & abilities, hard work, and luck Career success requires a combination of talents & abilities, hard work, and luck A career is a long term journey A career is a long term journey You need to take primary responsibility for that journey You need to take primary responsibility for that journey Stay positive, be assertive, take initiative Stay positive, be assertive, take initiative