How did your education here contribute to your professional success?
A business degree taught me critical thinking, problem solving, time management and interpersonal skills along with the technical aspects of Business Management. In the mid 80’s, I responded to a job posting for a Customer Service Representative, a “college degree’ was listed as ‘desirable’. Back then, we were responsible for writing letters in response to customer inquiries and then having a secretary type them. I looked at those situations like writing a paper for a Business Policy class in which you state your case and list several points on why the customer should ‘buy’ from you. Additionally, the skills I learned in a Speech and Communications class taught me listening and inter-personal relationship skills that are used daily in interactions with Customers, Teammates and Management.
Education is invaluable. I learned many things but foremost was critical thinking, problem solving, time management and writing skills. Juggling a full-time class load and determining which assignments to complete first is time-management. This is critical in juggling multiple high-priority tasks on the job. What needs my immediate attention and can be completed immediately; what will need my undivided attention; and equally important – what can I delegate to an associate? The “Business Policy and Theory” class I took required a paper written every other week. Half of the grade was based on the content and how you backed up your theory and the other half was based on Grammar and Punctuation. I still practice many of the writing skills and grammatical practices I’ve learned both in high school and at Chaminade. I’m from the “double-space between sentences” era.
Can you recall a specific moment or experience during your time that had a significant impact on you, either academically or socially?
The legal age when I was attending Chaminade University of Honolulu was 18-years old and at that time going to the disco was the “thing to do”. Towards the end of my first semester, I realized that if my parents were contributing to my education and I was working part-time to pay for my education there was no way I could fail any of my classes because I had “skin in the game”. I made sure that if I wanted to go clubbing, I had to make sure I made time to study and complete my assignments. Failure was not an option. That has served me well throughout the years.
How did your Chaminade education shape your perspective and personal growth?
Most of the instructors for the classes I took were nurturing and approachable and the smaller class sizes made it easy to seek and ask for help. It made it easy to learn that ‘different is different’ and there really is no stupid question because everyone has a different perspective which is based on their upbringing, background and experience. I’ve tried to keep this in mind as I met and interacted with people through work and extracurricular activities. Through the years I’ve promoted the benefits of attending a smaller college and also how living in a college dormitory or sharing off-campus housing and participating in student government taught me how to interact with others, how to compromise and negotiate and cooperate in a group setting.
How have you continued to invest in your professional development since graduating?
Learning does not stop after earning a degree or a professional certificate as a tradesperson. To remain relevant, one needs to keep up with rapidly changing technology. The Covid pandemic shutdown made this painfully clear with remote work and virtual meetings. I incorporate reading, attending seminars and webinars to continue learning and adding tools to my toolbelt. Six months after the pandemic shutdown, I became the president of the NAWIC Hawaii Chapter (National Association of Women in Construction). All membership meetings were via the Zoom platform. A month prior to assuming my new role, I took a webinar on “Presenting with Influence in the Virtual World.” What I learned is that it is basically no different from doing a Sales Presentation face to face with a customer. Personal appearance is important. Keeping your message concise and to the point is also important and audience involvement and engagement keeps it from feeling like a lecture. Also, I did at one time seriously consider returning to Chaminade to earn a Master’s degree. However, that never came to fruition due to timing and because it really would not have advanced my career at what I though was the company I would retire from. However, I am involved in several trade associations and have served on some of the boards for these organizations. That has afforded me opportunities to serve in leadership positions and hone my public presentation skills as well as mentoring and coaching skills. The bottom line is that education in some form or fashion is an on-going process.
How has your education influenced your personal goals and achievements?
Earning a degree while working as an intern or at a part-time job was a personal goal and major achievement. Hence, setting a goal, mapping the steps to achieve it has been the roadmap that I’ve followed throughout the years. And now when opportunities to coach and mentor others arise, I think of those who have taught and nurtured me at Chaminade and after graduation and I try to embody the best of those I’ve met along the way.
