UAA College of Business and Public Policy

The College of Business and Public Policy's Tom Case Leadership Fellows Program pairs high-performing CBPP students with a mentor in the Anchorage business community, giving students the opportunity to learn about real-world leadership from local business leaders. To begin the program, each student protégé interviewed their new mentor.

Today’s featured protégé/mentor interview is Michael Andrews, and his mentor Mike Dunn, Operations Manager, Liberty Development with Hilcorp Alaska, LLC.

1 Where are you from? How did you decide to pursue a career in Alaska? 
“I am originally from Texas.  Came up to Alaska in 1988 for a project that was supposed to last 3-5 years.  Thirty years later, I’m still here.”

2 Where did you go to college? What did you study in college? 
“I like to describe myself as a life-long learner.  I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1982.  In 1991, I received my Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the University of Alaska Anchorage.  A few years later in 2000 I received my Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  Most recently, in 2015 I graduated from Gonzaga University with a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership.  And lastly, this fall I have enrolled in the Master of Education program through Colorado State University.”

3 Did you have anyone you relied on for mentorship/solid career advice? If yes, what is the most important leadership advice they shared with you? 
“The value of mentorship is prevalent in the oil profession.  I had great managers.  Twenty years ago when I was put into a manager role one of the most important things I’ve learned was a managers’ awareness of his/her employees.”

4 It is important and beneficial for CBPP and Anchorage’s business community to collaborate and invest in the next generation of leaders. What do you think should be conveyed to our next generation of leaders?
“Collaboration is leadership.  I believe it’s important for the next generation to know the skills to get the most productivity and job satisfaction out of their people.  Working with your peers and being able to discuss difference of opinions is important to the next generation of leaders.”