Michael
Manager, Princeton Office
Education
DUKE UNIVERSITY, Fuqua School of Business
M.B.A., 2003
Activities at Fuqua: Co-president of the Asian Business Club, Research Associate in the Teradata Center for CRM, Proud Member of Section 3
Memories of Fuqua: My fondest memories of Fuqua were surviving campout and then being able to watch Jason, Boozer and Dunleavy in Cameron my first year.
SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY
B.S. in Electrical Engineering, 1993
Hometown
DeSoto, TX
ZS Career Path
Consultant (Evanston office), 2003
- Moved to the Tokyo office, 2005
Manager, 2007
- Moved to the Princeton office, 2007
On the work
"On one project, a foreign-based firm in Tokyo was working with a Japanese-based company to sell its product portfolio. Sales had not been as strong as in other parts of the world, and the client asked us to conduct primary research to better understand the reasons. I conducted some of the doctor interviews and field representative visits (spending the whole day riding with a sales rep), as well as 2 other colleagues. By the end of the project, we had a clear understanding of the reasons why sales had not been increasing, and countermeasures for both companies to undertake."
On ZS values
Treat People Right: "In Tokyo, because the office is still growing, there was a lot of opportunities to contribute to the success and growth of the office. When I expressed interest in recruiting, I soon found myself managing a large part of it. When I wanted to take part in training and development, I was given a free hand to do what I could. Unlike a big corporate environment where you need to get the approval of ten people to buy a new pencil, it is easy to get involved and contribute in a variety of ways if you take the initiative here at ZS."
On life outside work
"I enjoy all kinds of music and sports. After work I relax by playing the piano, clarinet, guitar, or soprano sax. For sports, I enjoy playing basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, and going snorkeling in the Caribbean or in Okinawa. My passion for Blue Devils basketball is beaten only by caring for my new child!"
On lthe Princeton office
"Having spent 2 years living and working in downtown Tokyo, I wanted to return to a more balanced lifestyle. My family and I really enjoyed our years in North Carolina, and living in Princeton provides us with the same environment - clean air, lots of nature, deer walking around in our backyard. It is also nice to be back in a college town - there is a lot of energy and there are plenty of things to do associated with the university. When we do miss the city, Philly and NYC or only an hour away, so we truly get the best of both worlds here in Princeton."