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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.

LipingYan.GE@gmail.com

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!