Valerie Faudoa
Communication & Leadership, Communication & Leadership
Class of 2021
How are you using the skills that you learned at Moody in your current position?
I learned to be an ethical communicator , to conduct stakeholder analysis and to be an effective public speaker
How are you enjoying your career as a project manager? How are you using your CLD skills?
I have truly loved my career so far. I work in a small team within training, so my skills are used differently every day. One day I may be creating marketing material for my programs, other times I am using my public speaking skills at an event, or while recruiting. It's always something new and exciting.
Do you have a favorite project at your company?
Yes! I manage an Upskilling Technician program which essentially provides training for our manufacturing employees. What is really neat is that we partner with institutions like Austin Community College to come on-site and teach them during their scheduled work hours. This is really impactful, as many of the employees in our cleanroom only have a HS diploma or GED. This program provides them with the opportunity to gain the skills needed for the next step in their career, and they get to do it free of charge, while getting paid. Receiving feedback from participants on the impact this has on their lives is my favorite part of the job. This is exactly what CLD prepared me to do.
Why did you study Communication and Leadership?
I felt a true passion for making a change, and giving back to my community. CLD gave me the flexibility to strengthen my skills as a communicator, while preparing me to lead change in the field I decided to pursue.
Were you in any student orgs?
Subiendo
UT and Moody offer some of the greatest connections you'll come across — use them!
How was your degree helpful to your career?
My degree was helpful in that it equipped me with such an array of skills. When I joined my team at Applied Materials I was prepared to lead projects, help in marketing, write award submissions, and so much more.
What have you learned so far working in the field?
One of the biggest things I've learned in my field is that data drives every project, and knowing how to present that data in an effective way is what makes a project successful.
What advice do you have for #TEXASMoody students?
Get to know your professors and network! UT and Moody offer some of the greatest connections you'll come across — use them!
What do you miss most about Moody College?
I miss the giant chocolate chip cookies sold at Moody, they were the best when taking a study break.
Can you talk about your career path?
Working in tech and specifically in the semiconductor industry has been a huge learning opportunity for me. I get to lean on my strengths as a communicator to manage programs while being challenged with learning about an industry I wasn't familiar with before. I work for the leader in engineering solutions producing virtually every chip in the world, saying that I have learned a lot would be an understatement. We've been described as "the biggest tech company you've never heard of" by The New York Times, and I think that's pretty cool.
What classes and professors helped the most?
There were so many professors who really helped develop my skills! Dr. Jennifer Jones Barbour, and Dr. Drumwright pushed me to become a better writer and communicator, and think about the kind of leader I wanted to become. My CLD capstone class with Professor Cutbirth was especially helpful as I worked with a team to deliver a huge project. Much of what I learned in that class, I can apply to my job today. Dr. Larry Schooler's Facilitative Leadership class was also great. I learned to conduct stakeholder analysis, as well as communicate effectively when facilitating an issue amongst a group. All of these skills set me up for success as a project manager.