CK Link - Theatre of Dreams for Calvin

Kicking-off MY Career Path

It has been about 3 months since I came to the United States. Given that I had lots to experience in a new country, I'm still getting the same feeling - weeks passed by really quickly.

I think it's time (also as response to friends) to summarize a little bit what has the professional side of my life been like. Started July 1 of year 2003, I graduated from HKUST finally after 5 years living on the wonderful campus. Then I was lucky to get a job offer from The Beijing Center, which is an educational joint-venture between the US and China. The center brought over American college students to study, live and experience in Beijing and so as the Mainland of China. It is an excellent idea of integrating academic advancements, exploring the Chinese culture with first hand personal expeditions and immersion with local people. (For more information, please refer to the link to The Beijing Center on the right)

Fortunately, I have built a network of good friends and family-like colleagues at The Beijing Center and the fabulous city - Beijing!

Then in October 2004, I made a decision to realize my long-term AIESEC dream - to be a trainee of AIESEC, living and working abroad, to challenge myself and further develop my global perspectives. Then I underwent interviews with the company Nielsen Media Research and got confirmed an offer from it. I began my journey to "the West" - applying my visa in HK in X'mas 2004 and then booked my tickets flying through Japan to New York City!

So currently I'm with Nielsen Media Research, a TV ratings company. As one will expect, our client base basically includes all major US broadcasters (ABC, WB, NBC, CBS, Fox, etc...), cable TVs (CNN, ESPN, TNT, TBS, History Channel, Discover Channel, National Geographic, etc) and the international and local advertising agencies in the United States.
The business unit I'm now assigned with in NYC is for broadcast stations in 210 local markets in USA. I'm involved in a new product launch - including marketing plan and strategies formulation, revenue forecast and initial client feedbacks, etc. In addition, I also do product portfolio reviews and revenue analysis...and since the traineeship itself is also the management development program of the company, so I have a lot of management training sessions and I am going to have rotations in different business units in the parent group VNU Inc. (a business media and information group HQ in NYC and Harlem, The Netherlands) Ocassionally, I will also travel for manager meetings, etc...Tampa in Florida, Chicago in Illinois and LA in California are among my next stops in the coming 13 months of time.

The industry itself is challenging and interesting, plus USA is a matured and huge TV and entertainment market, so I'm having a lot to learn and catch up :) Also, since my former job was sort of an NGO, while I have to be more business/profit oriented now. Even adjusting my mindset itself is also quite an experience.

I think I am lucky to have these 2 different professional experiences which help me realize my future career goals step by step. I also enjoy the work culture in Nielsen and intereactions with the co-workers, as well as learning from my senior management.

To my current thoughts, I hope I would be posted back to a business unit in China or HK within the parent group VNU or Nielsen Media Research after the training period and further persue my career development. Of course as my past experiences tell me, what is more important is to keep my eyes open and be ready for new challenges and always creating a difference!

posted by CalvinCK @ 8:26 PM