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 Svetlana Suyoroya, and her mentor Matt Childs, GCI

1 Where are you from? How did you decide to pursue a career in Alaska?  
“It is not an easy question. I was born in Japan. Due to the fact that my dad worked in the military, we periodically had to change places of residence. Me and my family lived in many states, including Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Washington state, California and, of course, Alaska. This last but not least one was special to me, so I stayed here and enjoyed uniqueness of this place. Not talking about remarkable nature, people and overall atmosphere, I found a job I am obsessed about. It was not planned as it might seem to you. Of course, there are always pros and cons, ups and downs, but isn't happiness to be where you like to be and also be liked for who you are and what you do? I guess this is the main reason, which brought me here and made me stay. It still drives me on a daily basis. It motivates and inspires. That is what I love about my experience in Alaska and I am always thankful for.”

2 Where did you go to college? What did you study in college? 
“When my family moved to Alaska I went to high school here for a while but in the end I graduated in California. Then I decided to go back to attend a college over here. Initially I have been majoring in Computer Science, which was one of my prime interests. However sometime later I realized that the computer department was not strong enough those days. Besides, I already had a job in this sphere, so I knew how it worked. I talked to my boss and changed my plans. That is how I got a Bachelor's degree in History and kept working in IT. Also I currently have Master of Arts, Creative Writing and Master of Business Administration degrees. As a result, there is no knowledge that was left useless. For 18 years of wide range experience I think I did a good progress, starting to work as an accounting clerk and made it to a director of IT department in GCI. I wouldn't really change anything in a way I did, even if I could. As far as this is what made me a person I am today.”

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? 
“My first boss gave me life-lessons of professional behavior in the workplace. She always tried to give me useful feedback and to teach how to avoid some mistakes, not to get in trouble. She also taught me to keep my mind opened while thoughts secure. It is not always good to let everyone knows about what you think. This and many other pieces of wisdom became basics of my professional and personal ethics.

The best part of our story is that we are still friends, who can freely share problems and get valuable advices from each other. That is why it is increasingly important to have a mentor during academic and career paths.”

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?
“To foster the right vision of business world among young leaders it is necessary to show them the great value of the strong connection between close small communities. I believe that despite progress of technologies and science, people remain to be the most profitable investments to the better future. For example, generation Z must be more effective and innovative in doing the same job. It's natural historical process. Otherwise, mistakes that did previous generation and everything we are taught in school doesn't make any sense. As Mark Twain said: ‘Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from making bad decisions.’ People cannot be punished for doing something wrong anymore. As I always tell to my employees: ‘You can do as many mistakes as you want but they are all must be different.’ Nowadays it is definitely the key point of success in leading position.”