Maxine Cheng, BBA 2003
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Senior Associate, Pricewaterhouse Coopers
At first glance, Maxine Cheng was an unlikely addition to the MIS BBA Program. She comes from a family who "you couldn't really call early adopters" of technology. But by a stroke of luck, Maxine's mom helped get her a summer job with an IT support person at the office where she worked. When her early mentor learned that she enjoyed the work doing server backups and desktop support, she said, "Have I got a major for you!" That is all it took to put Maxine on the track to a degree in MIS.
Maxine was an undergraduate business student during the dotcom boom "when everybody was going to the Big 5." She swore to herself that when she graduated, that wasn't a track she would follow. When it came time for recruiting, the bubble burst and Maxine suddenly found herself applying to the Ford Career Center for every interview she qualified for. One of those was with Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Vowing to keep her earlier promise, she tried to cancel the office visit, but ironically, couldn't get hold of the recruiter. Maxine went to the Dallas office anyway and ended up liking everyone she met—interviewers, candidates, and employees. She says, "In the end, that's what sold me on PwC. You always hear that—it's about the culture. It's true." She now works as a team lead in the Threat and Vulnerability Management practice, auditing and evaluating security configurations and the processes around information security. In addition to working on policy and implementation, Maxine gets to focus occasionally on attack and penetration (i.e., ethical hacking). What's the lesson for MIS students? You never know where you will find exciting work in IT.
In addition to enjoying the hands-on coursework and project management opportunities in the MIS curriculum, Maxine found that experiences outside of the classroom—like MISA—truly made the program great. She was involved with starting Tech Connects, helping young middle school students learn to use IT as a tool for success. She says that what she loves about MIS is "not technology for technology's sake, but what it can do for business." In the future, Maxine sees herself working in healthcare, an industry she considers ripe for using IT to leverage competitive advantage.
What advice does Maxine have for current MIS students? (1) There ARE jobs out there for MIS majors! (2) Consulting with one of the big firms is not your only option. (3) People skills are your most valuable tool (and donuts resolve all conflicts). For those interested in working in a similar role as Maxine, she suggests that candidates focus on developing communication skills and the ability to listen to clients. She adds, "The technical stuff can be learned—it's not as vital if you demonstrate an ability to learn quickly and improvise." Perhaps most critical, though, are interpersonal skills. Although her current group is highly technical, Maxine feels what differentiates her from teammates is her ability to develop relationships with coworkers and clients. Maxine saw the MIS program as an example of that strong community when so many people came out for Eleanor Jordan's retirement party. She also wants students to know that more women are needed in IT. She says, "I know technical fields can be intimidating to many women, but being female can truly be an advantage in our field."
When she is not defending clients' information systems from intruders, Maxine has become more heavily involved in her church, specifically, in youth ministry. She also enjoys reading and eating, adding that "Food is important. Some of my co-workers have the tendency to work through meals, but hey—we're not a trauma unit—there are more important things than work."
