How Networking Helped Me Decide On A Career Path

Interview with Kris Manipon, MBA in Finance and Strategy graduating in Spring 2019 from Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University

Kris (30) is a 2nd year MBA candidate pursuing a concentration in finance and strategy at Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University, an RBC Future Launch and Ten Thousand Coffees’ partner.

His career spans across multiple areas including business development, operations, and valuations. Combined with his MBA education, he is using this experience to aid the growth of firms in the tech and new ventures space.

We sat down with Kris to talk about his experiences networking and how the conversations helped him to better understand his future career path and land his dream job.

Well, I have met a lot of interesting people from different technical backgrounds that have helped me learn about the [banking] industry, whichI am getting into. Asking questions and bettering my understanding helped me a lot in landing an interview, and then I went through a fair and formal process.

Yes! Google is great, but I think the personal side of things is really unique. Everyone I talk to has a different point of view, which is a breath of fresh air. Often when I Google something, the information may be helpful but I don’t always know the author’s personal experience. I think it’s a lot more valuable talking to someone that has that first-hand experience.

I think that talking to people to better understand their industry is highly valuable. It helps you to get a clear path and put the pieces of the puzzle together to find out what you’re interested in, and what you’re passionate about.

I’ve spoken to many undergraduates who don’t know what to do after their degree and are scared to reach out to people. You don’t have to know what you want to do right now, just start asking questions! Asking questions will help you to steer into an area that you may not even know you were interested in.

I met a couple of people in person and one over the phone. Most of the conversations were laid back. I was curious about their industry and what type of things they do so many of the conversations revolved around what they did, how they got there and their advice for others looking to break into the industry.

Definitely! Before using Ten Thousand Coffees, I had a few meetings that were a little bit more formal which often felt restricted. With Ten Thousand Coffees, it often feels like a more casual conversation which helps the conversation to feel more natural and flow better.

Yes! Everyone I spoke to were really open about their experiences. It just shows that they are being truthful and have nothing to hide. Their advice really helped me to gain a better understanding of the industry and also get a reality check on things that I had previously overlooked.

Even though these people are busy running their own businesses, they are still open to chat to students like me who are curious about their industry. So it just shows the passion that they have for what they do. In general, people who I’ve met have been very helpful, open and approachable.

The first step is to ask questions and don’t be afraid of formalities or making mistakes. It doesn’t hurt to ask! There’s nothing to lose, there’s only the relationship to gain.

Networking is really important. I got my job offer because of my connections at that bank. If you are interested in a particular field, networking is key! Not just to get a job but also to learn as well.

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