Interview Conducted by Luxi Wang (Q17)

1. What have you been doing since graduating from the University of Maryland and QUEST?

I’ve had a few career changes since I graduated almost 15 years ago!  I started out as an auditor at Deloitte & Touche and after seeing that my QUEST experience was never going to make a difference in the auditing world, I returned to the QUEST program to be the first Director of Corporate Relations.  After a year, I was able to return to the world of professional services as Operations Manager for the Risk Consulting practices at Arthur Andersen.  When they closed their doors in 2002, I went to an IT consulting firm to do the same thing.  Then, came by biggest challenge and accomplishment: my son, Max.  After he was born, I started my own professional organizing business to try to have some work/life balance.  After doing some independent consulting, I joined forces with my current partners to start Real Change Strategies- a management consulting practice focusing on providing real life business consulting to area nonprofits.  We’ve been in business for 4 years.

2. How has QUEST helped you in your career?

The QUEST experience has given me the confidence to take risks in my career and to know that I can solve just about any problem (or at least figure out who can)!

3. Where do you see yourself in five years, ten years, and twenty years?

In five years, I imagine to be doing the same thing. By twenty years, I’ll be looking at retiring!

4. What are some of your fondest memories of QUEST?

My fondest memories are of the team bonding.  I was able to work with people I never would have an opportunity to do so otherwise.  I was also exposed to coursework and professors that went far beyond the accounting curriculum.

5. What was your role as a former QUEST staff member?

My role as the Director of Corporate Relations was to find corporate sponsors for the program, senior practicum projects and to provide career counseling to students

6. Why did you choose to become a QUEST staff member?

I chose to become a staff member as I really believed in the program and wanted to give back.

Meeting my husband, who was a QUEST graduate assistant.  Seriously, it was being able to bring real world experience back to the students.  It was also an exciting time as the IBM grant was winding down and the University was deciding whether or not to continue funding.

8. What advice would you give to the current QUEST staff members?

You can learn just as much from the QUEST program as a staff member as you do as a student.  Apply those principles to your job and try to be a role model for other staff outside the program.

9. What advice would you give to current QUEST students and alumni?

Even though you might not be designing hair dryers or doing case studies on Disney Paris in the real world, those exercises translate into valuable, unique skills that are much needed in the workplace.  I am amazed by the lack of project management and critical thinking skills that are out there- especially in nonprofits.  The ability to solve a problem, streamline a process or just get things done is as important, if not more, than content area knowledge.