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 Joe McGlaughlin, and his mentor Kami Fitch, Resource Data, Inc.

1 Where are you from? How did you decide to pursue a career in Alaska?  
Kami lived in northern Virginia during her years in elementary school and in Washington State during junior high and high school. Ultimately, the decision to relocate to Alaska was driven by the career opportunities UAA offered her husband Mark, who is a professor in the UAA mathematics department.

2 Where did you go to college? What did you study in college? 
Kami attended Bob Jones University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Technical Writing with a Minor in Business Administration. She then attended Clemson University, earning a Master’s Degree in Professional Communication.

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? 
Over the years Kami has had many informal mentors and shared the following advice:

1. Take on more responsibility over time. As you progress in your career, your success will be measured through the accomplishments of those you lead.
2. Pursue what is enjoyable or important to you personally, and don’t be afraid to buck tradition.

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?
“Leadership is not confined to a specific industry or field.” Kami also noted that effective leadership is built on the following foundational elements:

• Building trust
• Demonstrating personal integrity
• Having compassion for others
• Admitting your mistakes, sooner rather than later
• Taking personal responsibility

5 What would you do with $1,000,000 to make a difference in the world?
Kami’s response was that 50% of the money would go to missionaries who are making a difference, since her personal faith is extremely important to her. The other 50% would be donated to Bob Jones University, specifically aimed at reducing the cost of education. However, she quickly provided a caveat that she would prefer to conduct a thorough analysis before any money is disbursed.