Name: Michael Wong
Position: Director of Technology, Fuqua School of Business Career Center
Years at Duke: 4
What he does in Duke. With an MBA from Stanford and experience working in the technology industry, Michael brings a rich perspective to his work with Fuqua MBA students to shape his own technology career. Michael says roughly 70 percent of roles at tech factories don’t require a computer science or engineering background, but they do look for traits that Michael often sees in his students.
“While they may not have strong skills, what hiring managers want, they have transferable skills, passion and motivation to manage the business,” Michaels said.
In addition to coaching them on how to find and pursue career opportunities, Michael tries to understand his students’ aspirations and interests. Through his own journey, which has included stops in the Peace Corps, helping women in Ecuador start micro-businesses and advancing ideas for biotech companies in Silicon Valley, Michael knows the importance of people following their own, personal paths. And with the vast potential of technology, he appreciates why students want their paths to lead there.
“If I were an MBA student right now, I would want to go into technology,” Michael said. What other industry allows you to work on products that can change people’s lives?
What does it cost to work here? One of Michael’s favorite things about his job is the sense of excitement among the team at the Job Center. When together, the tight-knit group often goes to great lengths to tear each other apart.
“I love being able to laugh every day,” Michael said.
One memorable example involves his friend and assistant director of the Fuqua Career Management Center
Natalie Stewart. Michael joked that he was going to interview for the hiring coordinator position just so he could work with her.
“I always thought, ‘We’re going to be a great team!'” Michael said. i say.
And so one day, Michael arrives at his office to find that his desk has been moved to a job site near Stuart.
“I threw my hands up and said, ‘I got the job!'” Michael said. I said.” Michael said, sitting down and pretending to work. “We had a ball there.”
What people don’t know about him: Michael began working as a teenager in his hometown of Madera, California, delivering the local afternoon newspaper, the Madera Tribune. Every day after school, he would ride his bicycle around 100 newspapers, pulling in the backyards of the local subscribers.
About a year later, the Madera Tribune named Michael its “Newspaper Boy of the Year.”
“I’ve been very proud of this for a long time,” Michael said. “I think he put it on the prow until I was in my mid-20s.”
Is there a colleague at Duke who has an amazing career or is going above and beyond to make a difference? Nominate that guy for Blue Devil of the Week.
