My Role and Responsibilities
I am currently interning at CaliBaja Manufacturing Inc., a U.S-based full service outsourcing company founded in 1977.
I met Travis Rose, the CEO of the company, at a Rady School job fair in May. Shortly after, we had a few inspiring meetings at his office where Travis shared his insights about the company history, organization, visions and even concerns. In June, I accepted the offer for an internship as the Business Operations and Strategy Manager in the Sales Management team.
My role and responsibilities include various initiatives and projects associated with strategic budgeting and planning, internal process and control standardization, value chain analysis and cost models development. My first assignment was to establish a three-year planning and budgeting model.
This internship position allows me to have daily interface with Travis who is always willing to share his profound experience and insight both in manufacturing and sales management. Furthermore, the position offers me a better understanding of operations and extending cross-functional networks throughout the organization through on-site plant visits and periodic cross-functional meetings.
How Rady Prepared Me for Success
The lessons I learned at the Rady School play a critical role in my completion of various projects and initiatives in the areas of business and accounting. For example, knowledge from my Financial Accounting course enables me to precisely observe and understand the company’s previous and current performance based on historical financial statements. Lessons from Quantitative Analysis and Operations enhanced my analytical skills, which made it easier for me to enter the factory, understand the operation and uncover the root cause for backlog and inefficiencies. Takeaways from my Strategy course built up my strategic-thinking mindset and vision when leading a three-year planning and budgeting project.
The academic knowledge I’ve gained during my MBA is so close to practical business scenarios that I could quickly adapt to a new industry. Within a few weeks, I established a series of fundamental reporting & analysis tools, synchronized the operation processes and successfully completed the first-phase budgeting and planning model. This new model will allow the CEO to quickly make decisions with a clear business objective and start to utilize some key metrics to ensure healthy performance in business and operations.
Although it’s been just a few weeks since I joined CaliBaja, I want to thank Terra and Rosilynn from Rady Careers. They actively assisted me in sharpening up my resume and offered one-on-one mock interviews and professional coaching. I also had several opportunities to participate in many career-focused activities, such as professional seminars, the Bay Area Trek, and the campus job fair to broaden my horizon and extend network.
Advancing in the Weeks Ahead
Last week, I received another assignment which extended my responsibilities even further. The CEO delegated me with increased authority to engage in internal operation control and improve the payroll system. I will also be involved in business negotiation and help customers find cost-effective solutions in a consultant role. Furthermore, I will work on a new M&A project with the CEO. I can hardly wait to share my experience, learnings and insights with my peers when I return to the Rady School in the fall!
Bei Guo (’16) is an MBA candidate at the Rady School of Management and is currently interning as a Business Operations and Strategy Manager in the Sales Management team of CaliBaja Manufacturing Inc.