How was your first job different than you thought it would be?
There was a long learning curve, and I realized the real need for interpersonal skills.

What important lessons or skills did you learn in your first job that have been instrumental in your success?
To focus on the job at hand and pay attention to detail, and that all jobs require good interpersonal skills.

Which of those lessons, and how, carried into subsequent jobs after your first?
Business is a team sport, and you must be able to work comfortably with all kinds of people.

Have you seen how lacking those first job skills had negative effects on others?
Arrogance and lack of teamwork have killed many careers.

Is there a specific event in your first job that you learned something you still use today?
You will learn from everyone you work with. From some you learn positive lessons, and from others you learn what not to do.

What obstacles that you faced had the greatest impact on your career path?
Working in other countries gave me a real appreciation for the value of diversity and a variety of perspectives.

What people or outside factors affected your work ethic or motivated you the most to succeed?
My parents were great role models. They taught good values and kept a focus on respect for others.

What advice would you give to someone starting his or her first job?
Find something of interest and get started. No one knows where their career will lead, so get going!

What is the most valuable advice you have for young adults who want to pursue their own business plan?
Work hard and do the best you can at the job at hand and develop the ability to work effectively in teams.

What do you find most rewarding about your position today?
When people exceed their own expectations.