Drive Time Podcast: Tina Pham (’20), Amazon Go Grocery, Category Manager

Recent graduate of the class of 2020 Tina Pham, Category Manager at Amazon Go Grocery talks about her experience going through the Fully-Employed MBA (FEMBA) program as a career enhancer in the retail industry before becoming a career switcher and getting a new job at Amazon.

 

0:00​ – Intro

2:35​ – Family & Early Years – Born and Raised in Seattle

4:19​ – Undergrad Life at the University of Washington Going from Pre-Med to Art

5:55​ – Early Career in Graphic Design

6:20​ – First Master’s in Fashion Management Studying Luxury Brands in Milan at University of Whales

8:25​ – First Job Post-Masters in Buying

9:25​ – Career at Nordstrom – Planning, Merchandising, Product Development

11:15​ – Post-Admission/Pre-MBA Promotion at Nordstrom

17:00​ – FEMBA Admission Excitement – Career Enhancer

19:15​ – Year 1 Memories Imposter Syndrome, Traveling from Seattle, and Learning Team Support

25:54​ – Transition to Year 2 Summer Break and Social Events

27:11​ – Study Habits in Hybrid Program

29:25​ – Navigating FEMBA with a Husband

31:50​ – Focusing on End Goal and Selecting Electives

33:30​ – Global Management Focus and Global Exchange Program (Japan)

39:20​ – Serving as a FEMBAssador and Coffee Chats in Seattle

41:35​ – Global Access Program (GAP) and Working With a Swedish Company

52:10​ – FEMBA Experience Photos GAP Launch and Travel, Interviewing Prospective Students, Halloween Party

55:48​ – From a Career Enhancer to a Career Switcher and New Role at Amazon Grocery

1:06:13​ – Doubts, Encouragement, and Building Confidence

1:13:00​ – Highs/Lows from COVID/Virtual Spring Quarter

1:16:30​ – Productivity Hacks and What I Wish I’d Known Before Starting FEMBA

1:20:00​ – Vulnerability, Communication, and Listening to Understand

1:24:19​ – Final Thoughts

 

Hosted by Dylan Stafford, assistant dean and director of admissions of UCLA Anderson’s Fully Employed MBA program (FEMBA), the Drive Time podcast features interviews with FEMBA alumni, current students, faculty and administrators who discuss leadership, work-life balance, entrepreneurship, career development and more.

More episodes here anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/fully-employed-mba/culture/femba-drive-time-podcast

#Amazon​ #MBA​ #CareerDevelopment