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Climb Corporate Ladder and Start-up My Own Company
Liping Yan (颜利平), Ph.D., P.E., G.E.
Civil Engineering Associate, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Chief Consultant, Southwest Geotech, Inc.
September 26, 2015
Presented at
COAA-SCC 2015 Fall Workshop
UCLA
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Outline
1. My Story I –
Climbing Corporate Ladder
2. My Story II –
Starting up My Own Company
3. My Tips –
Mainly for Young Professionals
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My Story I – Climbing Corporate Ladder
A member of private consulting companies
1. Staff Engineer
2. Senior Staff Engineer
3. Project Engineer
4. Senior Engineer
5. Principal Engineer
6. Vice President and Principal Engineer
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My Story I – Climbing Corporate Ladder
A member of private consulting companies
• Different role has different requirements:
Technical Skills – Can solve problems
Management Skills – Can Lead a Team
Marketing Skills – Can Bring in Business
• Core –
People feel comfortable and get work done
• My slogan: Just do it!
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My Story II – Starting up My Own Company
An entrepreneur, founding a specialty consulting company
• Put different hats on myself
playing many roles at the same time,
from Secretary, to Technician, to Project Manager
• Need all different skills at the same time
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My Story II – Starting up My Own Company
An entrepreneur, founding a specialty consulting company
• Core –
People feel comfortable and get work done
• My slogan: Hang on there!
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My Tips
An Effective and Happy Professional Life
Mainly Depends on
Attitude,
Skills, and
Habits.
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My Tips
Attitude:
Be kind, humble and proactive
• I am selling something and help others.
• I take ownership of my career and I am the boss.
• I am confident but never be aggressive.
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My Tips
Skills:
Learn everyday, be updated and all-rounded
• I need to know my company’s process.
• I am willing to work with others.
• I listen to people sincerely.
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My Tips
Habits:
Be considerate, consistent and organized
• I prioritize, and do the most important things first.
• I am happy to see everyone-can-win.
• I renew myself regularly.
Sharpening the saw is about constantly renewing myself in the four basic areas of life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual.
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My Tips
• Overall:
A Good Professional should be first a Nice Guy/Gal!
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What To Do?
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At Least Once A Day
Show smile to people around
Tidy up work area (desk or table)
Have time alone to meditate
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Smile!
Say Thanks!
Give Others Commendation!
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At Least Once a Week
Do one thing that is not in your job description
Have lunch with your mentor or colleague
Have one phone conversation with people of your same profession
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Let Your Boss Know What Is Going On!
Early Morning briefing
Late Afternoon Reporting
Regularly Progress Updating
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Learn and Get Help from Others!
Ask Questions with Options
Learn by Helping
Give Credits to Others
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At Least Once A Month
Read a technical paper in your field
Read an article that is outside of your profession
Speak up at the company staff meeting
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Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood
At meetings, speak to show your willingness to be in other people’s shoes
Ask if you understand correctly
Illustrate alternatives
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At Least Once A Year
Write a technical paper in your field
Attend a conference of your profession
Volunteer in and Donate to a charitable organization
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More At Least's
Have one friend in the same profession
Have one friend outside of your profession
Join one organization of your profession (e.g., ASCE, COAA-SC)
Join one non-professional organization (e.g., CESASC, LEAP, alumni association)
Be a volunteer to one organization or your community
Read one journal/magazine within your profession
Read one journal/magazine outside your profession
Read one newspaper in English
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May You All Have a Happy and Successful Career!