Category Archives: Alumni Spotlights

Alumni Spotlight: Ty Cobb, Director of Global Engagement at the HRC – Class of 2003

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Ty CobbTy Cobb, BHP ’03, is the Director of Global Engagement at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Ty works to advance equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people around the world. Prior to launching HRC’s global initiative, he was instrumental in passing the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and an LGBT-inclusive Violence Against Women Act in his role as legislative counsel for HRC and while working for Senator Edward Kennedy.

You received your undergraduate degree and law degree from UT. How do you think UT and BHP prepared you for your career?
I’ve been a lawyer, lobbyist, congressional staffer, public speaker, program director, and manager. All of these roles required different skills, and many of those required were things I learned in BHP. My business background has given me a unique perspective in each of these roles. And, all those case studies were certainly helpful when planning for and launching a new program at the Human Rights Campaign.

What was your career progression after graduating from law school?
I went directly to Bracewell & Giuliani in Dallas where I worked for a year. I then moved to another firm in Washington, DC, Sidley Austin. I stayed there until I began as counsel to Senator Edward Kennedy, where I worked to secure passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act in the Senate. It was my first experience working on LGBT rights, but one I’ll always remember. After Senator Kennedy died, I became a lawyer and lobbyist at HRC for several years before getting the opportunity to launch a global program.

What new challenges do you face in this new role in global engagement?
Starting a new initiative from scratch has been a huge challenge. It has been an entrepreneurial adventure, and an opportunity for personal growth. Aside from that, it’s emotionally draining to see some of the more horrific situations LGBT people face across the world. Nearly 80 countries criminalize same-sex relationships – five of which actually punish individuals with death. And, on top of criminalization, several countries have now begun to outlaw public advocacy for LGBT rights. Transgender individuals, as well as those who are lesbian, gay and bisexual, face violence and persecution, some of which is government sanctioned or even condoned by the victim’s family.

There is a lot going on right now with the LGBT rights movement. What is it like being on the front lines of the fight for equality?
Nearly every day is filled with a new dramatic twist or turn. While several countries took big leaps forward last year with marriage equality and strengthening transgender rights, countries like Russia, Uganda, and Nigeria took huge steps backwards. The world is being pulled in two directions and I’m glad to be part of the momentum pulling us closer to a world where individuals aren’t denied their human rights because of who they love or who they are. One of the most rewarding aspects of my job has been meeting human rights defenders from around the world who have become the catalysts for change in their home countries.

What are you spending most of your time on in your new role?
As the LGBT community has gained ground in the U.S., our opposition has lost its momentum. Their decades-long winning streak at the ballot box ended in 2012 when we gained marriage equality in Maine, Washington, and Maryland. As such, in 2013, we started to see anti-LGBT Americans – like Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage – spending more time abroad preaching intolerance and promoting junk science. There is a growing American industry of exporting hate. And dozens of Americans and American organizations are involved in the industry. At this current moment, I’m fixated on a project to expose, combat, and counter the messages of these Americans.

What has been the most meaningful achievement in your career so far?
Being part of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” DADT repeal was the first issue I worked on at HRC, and I became extremely close with many of the service members who lost their careers because of DADT. Many of the folks affected by DADT had spent decades serving their country only to be discharged because of who they love. The law made no sense. Repeal of the law provided the opportunity for so many in the community to heal from the experience of being told by our government that they were less than equal simply because they were gay or lesbian.

What is your pie in the sky goal for your time at the HRC?
From Cameroon to Jamaica, there are LGBT activists who are fighting to combat violence, stigma, and discrimination just because of who they are. While the laws in each country and culture may differ, these activists are working towards the goal of full inclusion and equality for fully realized LGBT lives around the world. I would like to see HRC play a pivotal role in connecting the work of activists to build a stronger, more connected global equality movement.

What advice would you have for current BHP students?
Unless you’re in the minority, you probably don’t know where you’ll be in ten years. You don’t know what opportunities will open up before you. It’s important to constantly challenge yourself to gain new skills so that you can take advantage of opportunities when they arise. If you feel comfortable in what you’re doing, it’s time to do more. I grew the most as a professional when I put myself into extremely uncomfortable situations that made me do things that I wasn’t particularly thrilled to be doing – public speaking, networking outside my usual circles, taking on monstrous writing projects, and such.

Alumni Spotlight: Nick Garcia – Sponsorship Specialist at the NBA, Class of 2010

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Nick GarciaNick Garcia graduated from BHP in 2010 with a second major in Marketing and a minor in Sports Management. He knew early on that he wanted to work for the NBA. Using the tools he learned from his peers and mentors in the BHP, he carved an unconventional career path for himself on his way to becoming a Sponsorship Specialist for the NBA.

You went to work for the NBA right after graduation. Tell me more about your career progression there and how you landed the job.

Growing up, I always wanted to work in sports so I used BHP as my stepping-stone to do just that. As a freshman, I researched the bios and career progressions of all the top executives in sports. From there, I was able to map exactly what I thought would make me an excellent candidate to work in sports post graduation. By the time I was applying for full-time jobs, I had completed four sports-related internships, varying from collegiate, professional, and Olympic levels. Then, it was as simple as going to the NBA Career Website to apply for their NBA Associate Program my senior year. I believe my internship experience, combined with my academics, helped me get the position. They typically only accept six out of 2,500 applicants, so it is very competitive.

I started in a rotational program and spent eight months of the year on Latin American business development. An opportunity came up for a consulting role in Team Marketing and Business Operations (TMBO) and I decided to transition over since it is considered to be the most prestigious group at the NBA. In the beginning, I worked on a lot of case studies and I found a better way to improve some of the fundamental resources we provided to teams, which got me noticed and promoted. Since my first promotion, my positions have been more team-facing, I’ve been doing more presentations to team leadership which allowed me a lot of visibility. I have been able to move up quickly because I have shown advancement in the areas I have been tasked with. Currently, I am a Sponsorship Specialist with TMBO.

How did BHP prepare you for what you are doing now?

The biggest thing was the competitive edge and high standards set by some of the most elite  students and professors at UT. I knew I needed to come to class extremely well prepared every day because I wanted to contribute to discussions and group projects as much as I could. It helped me be successful. Now at the NBA, my colleagues are some of the best in the industry and I need to be prepared to stand out and contribute. I always think, what comment will my boss make and what comment will my boss’ boss make. It is the same as when I was in school and prepared for what my classmates would be asking in class.  If you practice with the best, you become the best.

How did you find opportunities in your interests when you were at UT?

I had a lot of personal ambition to work in the industry. I did informational interviews with anyone and everyone I could find in the sports industry. I would ask them how they got to their job, then I would interview their boss and ask how they got to their job. It helped me find the areas I was interested in and figure out how to get there. It was a lot of work. I took the initiative and was proactive.

What do you enjoy most about working in sports and your current position?

I fundamentally believe in the product we are pitching. Some people say sports is too much of a business and athletes get paid too much, but it is really amazing how sports bring people together. It brings them together in a way nothing else does and I love working in an industry that provides people that escape. The world cup is one of the best examples of that. So many countries in the game face civil unrest, but during that moment, they are all one.

Tell me more about the marketing side of your work. What are the key differences of marketing in a sports setting?

I don’t really think it is that different. It is the fundamentals of business. We are trying to understand our consumers. We survey our fans to get information to put together our marketing strategies. Those who operate sports teams like a traditional business are the most successful.

You worked with Latin America. How did conducting business with Latin American countries differ from conducting business in the U.S.?

We were moving business down there and getting the infrastructure set up to have the first NBA office in Latin America . The skepticism from the locals was high because we are an American Company. We had to work a lot with the government and get their approval for everything. I mean everything. There was a lot of red tape and it was difficult getting them on board for basketball since soccer is the predominant money making sport in the region.

What BHP class do you think was most valuable to you?

BA 324 was probably the most valuable. It provided me with the fundamentals and the ability to communicate my ideas, whether it be in meetings, presentations or emails. I think that is a big part of why I rose up the ranks so fast. I see a lot of new grads who are too conversational in tone. I always knew how to be very professional. The group projects in all my classes also really made a difference in my ability to work in teams.

What advice would you have for someone from BHP looking to take a different career path?

If you have something you are passionate about, find a way to make a career out of it. Whether it is through informational interviews, or looking at Linked In profiles of those you admire. I had the ambition to do something I love. I dismissed financial considerations. I wanted to do what would make me happy and thought the money would come. Entry-level salaries in sports are lower, but once you break through that first tier, you tend to be at a higher level than other business industries. The fact that I was a business honors student and not just a sports management major set me apart because I understood how sports is a more than a game, it’s a business.

Alumni Spotlight: Tom Li – Investment Banking Associate at Nomura

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Tom LiTom Li graduated from the BHP in 2005 and has since lived all over the US and the world. From NBC Universal in London to investment banking in Hong Kong, Tom has been able to explore new industries and rise quickly in his positions. He is currently an Associate at Nomura International in their investment banking division, focused on the consumer and retail sector. He previously held positions with Liz Claiborne and NBC Universal/General Electric.

 

You have been able to work in London, Barcelona, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico. What have you enjoyed most and found most challenging about working abroad?

I have enjoyed immersing myself in different cultures the most. When working and living abroad, I like learning about the people and their history as well as understanding their perspectives and their point of views. The constant moving around has been difficult, having moved 10 times in the last decade both domestically in the US and internationally. It has been challenging to build a network of close colleagues and friends because you have to basically start again with every move. Being part of a program like BHP and attending a school like UT Austin helps. In most cities that I have lived, I have been able to reconnect with a friend from school or meet up with UT alumni living in those cities.

You have worked in a variety of industries and a variety of roles. Were the moves you made intentional or did your career path just lead you in those directions?

It was partly intentional and a lot of luck. I have usually set a general goal that I’d like to reach and worked towards it. Then, I encounter some twists and turns on the way. For example, I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in the film industry while in college and lucked into it getting involved with film shoots in Austin. I ended up interning on the movies Friday Night Lights and Idiocracy as well as with the Texas Film Commission. Those experiences gave me a slight advantage when interviewing with GE/NBC Universal for their Financial Management Leadership Program, which I found through the McCombs Career Center. With the move from entertainment to fashion, I worked well with the boss I had in London at NBCU. He moved to Liz Claiborne and asked if I would be interested in joining him, which I did. It was fascinating to learn about the fashion industry and to see the media/entertainment industry from another perspective as well as better understand why companies are willing to pay millions of dollars for a thirty-second ad spot on TV. After I got my MBA, I decided it would be good to obtain some investment banking experience to enhance that expertise in my skill set, so took a position with Nomura International in investment banking. Working at Nomura also allowed me to see and understand the difference between working for a non-US (Japanese) company versus an American company.

In your role with Liz Claiborne you developed partnerships with Chinese companies. What was that process like and how different is the process when working with companies in other countries?

The process was difficult. The company was trying to turn around the Liz Claiborne brand at the time, and most people were focused on the core domestic business. I was in charge of the longer-term strategy of the business to ensure its success in the future upon revitalization of the brand. One idea was to further expand Liz Claiborne’s presence in Asia. It was challenging to build partnerships in Asia because it was difficult to find the right partners, particularly in China. I reached out to some advisory firms that connected me with potential companies that could be the right fit as a partner in Asia. We invited those companies to our showrooms in New York City to take a look at the new brand concept and designs as well as to learn more about each other. It was important to pay attention to and respect the different cultures when dealing with people from other countries. I remember wanting to go beyond the surface level of understanding another’s culture, but did not find that to be very easy. I have concluded that is something you learn over time and with experience working with people from other cultures.

Why did you choose to do your MBA at IESE in Barcelona?

It is a great school in an amazing city. I also wanted to challenge myself and live in a country that has a completely different culture and language. Language skills help when you are working internationally. It is better to speak the local tongue if you can, even if you are not fluent in it. The act of trying to speak in another language demonstrates your respect for another culture, which I found is often appreciated. I also like being taken out of my comfort zone and wanted to live in a country where English wasn’t the national language and people took siestas. It was important for me to gain a less US-centric perspective of the world, having lived in the US a majority of my life at that point. The experience allowed me to understand an international perspective of the US as well as made me appreciate certain elements of our US society even more. An unexpected benefit is that now I have friends across the world, as only around 10% of the student population is from the US.

Are there any deals you worked during your time doing M&A work that really stand out to you?

My first one. When I was at NBC Universal working with Telemundo, we acquired a small Hispanic TV distribution company. It was my first M&A deal and was very interesting because it combined my passion for film/tv/media with my corporate finance education. It was the first time I felt truly challenged and used the finance and accounting knowledge that I had learned from UT. I was good at it, and it planted a seed in my head that I could do this in the future. I took intermediate accounting when I was at UT and that helped prepare me for this deal, although I remember that class being extremely difficult when I took it.

Tell me more about the work you did at NBC Universal. Why did you decide to go to work for NBCU and GE after graduation?

It was a dream job for me at that time. I was considering just moving out to Los Angeles to work in the film business upon graduation, but when I got the job I was excited because NBCU felt like a natural fit. I joined NBCU/GE’s Financial Management Leadership Program. They use the program to build the finance leadership pipeline at GE. It is a two-year program. You complete four, six-month rotations, and they send you on company-taught courses throughout those two years. For the first two years at NBCU, I worked in different finance roles in different businesses. I worked at CNBC, Telemundo, Universal Studios and NBC Universal Television Distribution. After the two years, they sent me abroad to London to work in the NBCU International business that was tasked with international expansion. The program set me up with a great network. It is kind of like a mini-MBA.

You have had leadership roles with some great companies. What do you think has been the key to success in your own career?

Finding a mentor is important. Working hard and intelligently is also vital for success. It is key to figure out how to do things quickly and efficiently and how to deliver what people are really looking for, not just what you are told to do. Spend some time to scope out what is needed before you start working. If you understand what needs to be done and what is expected, it will be easier to figure out who to go to for help and how to prioritize your workload and manage your schedule. I have been lucky to be given a lot of autonomy in my roles to have the ability to do this, and that has been very important to me.

What advice do you have for current BHP students?

Do what you are passionate about and interested in. If you are really interested in something, you will be much better at it than if you did something thinking that is what you think you should do. Beyond earning a living and building a great career (in which BHP students will undoubtedly be successful), aspire to also make a positive contribution to society.

Alumni Spotlight: Cindy Lo – Owner of Red Velvet Events, Class of 1998

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Cindy Lo, BHP ’98, was the McCombs BBA commencement speaker this past weekend. Cindy was also honored with the McCombs Rising Star Award this year, which is given to only two McCombs alumni annually who have been successful professionally, and have helped strengthen the McCombs Alumni Network. Cindy is the owner of Red Velvet Events, a full-service event management company based in Austin. She is also extremely involved in UT and her community. We were happy to chat with her recently about her career path and lessons learned along the way.

Tell me about your career path leading up to what you are doing now and what prompted you to change from consulting to event planning.

When I was at UT, I started as a BHP and accounting major, but I did my first internship with one of the big accounting firms and realized it wasn’t for me. That prompted me to switch to BHP and MIS as I always had fond memories of my computer science class back in high school. I graduated in 1998 and worked for a startup software company called Trilogy Software. When I started in my career, I thought I was going to go down the traditional business path, which is work your way up, then go to graduate school and continue down the executive track, but then it all changed. Working in a startup environment, I learned so much and I no longer had the desire to go on to get my MBA. I was at Trilogy for five years. When 9/11 happened, the company saw a shift in client’s pausing their existing contracts, so an opportunity came up for me to take a leave of absence without immediately affecting my employment status. I took advantage of this leave of absence option, and during that time reflected on what I wanted and realized I wanted to get into events and meeting management. I had difficulty getting hired to do what I do today because I didn’t have any formal background in this industry. I thought about starting my own event planning business, but was very hesitant because I knew how much work that would take. I had just come off of working 80-100 hour weeks and I wasn’t sure I wanted to do that again. Out of necessity, I did end up starting my own company because no one would hire me. I put together my business plan with the intent of going to work for someone else after I had some experience. That never happened because surprisingly the business took off. I would never have guessed that this is where I would be.

Describe the services offered by Red Velvet Events.

We offer full service event management. We will pair you up with the best caterer, florist, hotel, etc. We are the event architects. We help design your event program and manage all the details. We make sure everything happens the way you had envisioned. We do it all.

You started your company as a one-woman show and now have a staff of 13. Tell me about the growth of your company and what plans you have for the future of Red Velvet Events.

We have seen the most amount of growth in the last six years. We are bringing on three more in January 2014. In 2007, we started really aggressively growing our company (yes despite the downtown turn in the economy in 2008). Destination management and graphic design became a core part of our company during that time. I have another idea I am trying to launch in the next two to three years, but I am not ready to talk about it yet. I will stay true to events though.

In your industry I would imagine that innovation and creativity are very important. How do you encourage innovation and creativity amongst your staff and yourself?

Yes, they are important. I always ask my team to look around them and be a tourist in their own city. Look at things that are influential. When TV shows are a big hit, clients start wanting to incorporate them into their events. Knowing how to spot the trends and hits early is the key. Always be hungry and looking for ideas. I try to read as much as I can so I can stay on top of what is going on. Travelling internationally has also been great to get new ideas.

Are there any events you have planned that really stand out to you or that you are most proud of?

I have some favorite corporate, social and other events that stand out because they were just really challenging and in the end, we were excited we pulled it off. A client came to us once with a very simple idea and we made it a huge production. They wanted Santa Claus to come to their house to take some photos, but I turned it into something more elaborate and we basically turned their house into the North Pole. We did it all with only one week’s notice. I like to push the envelope to see where they want to take it, but we don’t push beyond what they want to do. I always want to bring the wow factor.

What would you say are the top 3 lessons you have learned as an entrepreneur.

1) If you think you have communicated enough, you haven’t. Never think you have over communicated.

2) Always be learning. You may think you know what to expect, but new problems come up every day. I am always pushing to see what I could have done to be better. If you think you are done learning, you need to move on to another career.

3) Always be thankful. Tell people you appreciate them, no matter how busy life gets.

What do you love most about what you do and what do you find the most challenging?

It is so rewarding to see my team grow both professionally and personally. It is a great feeling. I also enjoy seeing the event come to life; being able to put it all together and pull it off. I love seeing the end result and love the challenges that come with it. It is problem-solving and creativity rolled into one.

Your company was selected by the Austin Business Journal as one of the best places to work this year. What sets your company culture apart from others and what did that honor mean to you?

I have to thank my team for nominating the company. I felt very touched that my team took it upon themselves to do that. As far as the culture, we are very open office. If there is something bothering them, they can come to me and tell me. I am trying to take care of our team so that they take care of the clients. For example, we pay full medical benefits for everyone. They shouldn’t have to worry about that. I want them focused on our clients’ needs, and not worried about things like paying for medical coverage.

How do you think BHP prepared you for what you are doing now?

The teamwork we practiced in the classroom was really beneficial. It was useful to learn to work with different personality types. We were required to take all of the different business courses, which helped me a lot because I had to do it all when I started the business. The networking skills helped me find people who could help me along the way. I couldn’t have asked for a better network. It also taught me to be goal oriented and break down big goals into small chunks.

You just received the McCombs Rising Star Award, honoring your professional accomplishments, as well as your commitment to the McCombs Alumni Network. Tell me more about your involvement in UT and McCombs and why you think it is important to stay connected.

I started giving back because I was one of the lucky few who got a full-ride to UT. I wanted to pay it forward. The more involved I got, the more I realized it was good for not only my business but also help me with my soft skills. I served on the MIS Advisory Board, then the university’s 1883 Council, which then led to getting involved with the Forty Acres Scholarship Board. I love meeting the new students and seeing how driven they are. Giving back is very important to me. I value education and want to help in that realm. I know who made it possible in my life to receive the education I did and am so grateful.

What advice would you offer current BHP students?

Take the time to enjoy school. Get involved with the things that you love doing. Do something non-academic; try to be more than one-dimension. Make genuine friends and find friends outside of the business school. I was involved a lot in the business school, but love the friends I made outside of the school. I think it is very important. Keep in touch with your friends beyond just sending Facebook notes for their birthdays.

Yum! Brands’ Liz Williams Talks Tacos with BHP Students

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Written by Amy Yu, BHP sophomore

Liz Williams, Chief Financial Officer of Taco Bell USA at Yum! Brands and a BHP alumna, visited BHP sophomores in their weekly Honors Lyceum course last Wednesday. Williams shared her wisdom and even brought free Doritos Locos Tacos coupons for everyone. With an undergraduate degree and MBA in marketing, Williams admits that her path to a CFO position at Taco Bell was not typical but says the marketing background has enriched her career.

Williams grew up in Iowa but fell in love with the University of Texas at Austin while on a college visit. While working towards a Business Honors and Marketing degree, she also found time to serve as president of the Texas Panhellenic Council and as a member of Student Government. She also interned at Dell when the company was still a “smaller start-up” with only a few employees and interns. After graduating in 1998, Williams stayed in Austin to work in brand management with Dell. She found that while she enjoyed her work, she wasn’t passionate about the high tech field and left to pursue an MBA at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

After Northwestern, Williams went on to work for Boston Consulting Group. While working on different cases and projects there, she discovered a passion for consumer, retail and packaged goods. As a result, she left BCG for Yum! Brands in Dallas, where she led corporate strategy before choosing to specialize in the finance track within the company. She joined Taco Bell in 2011.

Williams said that though she has worked in several different and unrelated industries, the key to smooth transitions is to “let things pull you.” She noted that Yum! Brands pulled her into an industry she was already passionate about and she was excited to part of the team that introduced Doritos Locos Tacos and will soon be introducing Taco Bell breakfast to the public. She advised students to explore different industries and fields to discover what they love and attributed her much of her success to mentors that guided her and encouraged her to develop her potential when she was unsure of her own abilities.

The lyceum course stresses leadership and ethics, which Williams said she has had to address during her time in corporate America. She stressed the importance of “doing the right thing,”even when the correct choice may be difficult to make in the short-run. She also addressed the 2011 lawsuit against Taco Bell that claimed the chain did not use real meat in its products, saying that while the allegations were damaging and false, as a leader she treated the lawsuit and other obstacles as learning experiences.