GE, Commercial Leadership Program
Mindy Tiu, now living in Stamford, Conn, fully embraced her time at UT Dallas by taking part in a broad range of campus activities. Originally from Friendswood (near Houston), Tiu played on the Comets varsity tennis team. She also teamed up with other students and took the first place Dallas Mavericks Entrepreneurship Award for their automated parking management and reservation software in the 2012 UT Dallas Business Idea Competition. She was part of the UT Dallas chapter of Phi Beta Lambda student organization, based in the Jindal School, which earned 29 awards at the annual state conference; and she held internships with an array of top companies, including JCPenney, Texas Instruments and Nordstrom. Tiu earned two undergraduate degrees while at the Jindal School – one in marketing, the other in business administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship.
Tell us the highlights of your professional career. What are your proudest achievements?
I’m in the Commercial Leadership Program, one of GE’s renowned rotational leadership programs. This two-year program is to accelerate the learning and professional experience of recent college graduates. I love that I am able to do three eight-month rotations in completely different parts of the company. I have been in Boston and Costa Mesa, CA, and now I am starting my last rotation in Stamford, CT. I get exposure to the C-level executives of the company and make a significant impact in different parts of the business. I even took a trip to Shanghai for a global CLP conference. At a young age, there is nothing more exciting than exploring different parts of the world and gaining this experience. My experience at GE has given me more perspective on myself and my professional aspirations.
What brought you to UT Dallas?
I chose UT Dallas because it is a hub for extraordinarily smart individuals and I knew that these were the people I wanted to surround myself with. UT Dallas also is an amazingly cost-effective choice. My financial situation made it hard to want to go to another school and be in debt. When I received an academic scholarship and weighed the opportunities that UT Dallas provided, I knew I made the right choice. I wanted an amazing education and the ability to be a student athlete.
What is your favorite UT Dallas memory?
My favorite UT Dallas memory is winning the UT Dallas Business Idea Competition. There is no better feeling than to be recognized for your hard work and passion. My other favorite memory is being part of the UT Dallas women’s varsity tennis team. I made lifelong friends and thoroughly enjoyed competing. Eventually I won MVP, which was also one of my proudest moments.
Who was your favorite professor and/or what was your favorite class and why?
I have two favorite professors who really inspired me to pursue my business idea. Michael Savoie and Julie Haworth really became mentors to me. They took the time to meet with me outside of their daily jobs to grow my business idea. This eventually sparked my interest in creating a parking app and to compete in numerous business idea competitions. It was so exciting to compete in so many competitions and even audition for Shark Tank! Dr. Savoie and Professor Haworth have taught me more than any class can teach – how to pursue my dreams and help others. I am truly grateful for their examples and the time they invested in me.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I absolutely love to play tennis at a competitive level. I continue to play tournaments and compete in league tennis. I also enjoy staying active, traveling, and eating new, delicious foods.
What advice do you have for current students hoping to succeed in the business world?
- Determine how you are unique and what makes you special. Stand out among your peers who have the same professional and educational background by finding your special skills.
- Communication skills in professional and social environments will get you very far in the business world. Knowing how to listen, present and network are the keys to continued success.
- Find a mentor and someone you want to emulate. Don’t be afraid to ask question.
- Think ahead and think about the future. If you don’t continue to map out your goals, you will become complacent and your progress will plateau. Dream big and continue to aspire for better.
What makes an effective leader?
An effective leader is someone who can articulate a vision and also influence and support others. This individual has the ability to achieve business goals in their own creative and strategic way. A strong leader cares about his/her people and builds the team to become collaborative and diverse.
