Following are some of the valuable tips and lessons Dr. Forsyth shared with the class:
- You don’t have to be the smartest at what you do, but you must be willing to put in the time necessary to become successful and attain your goals.
- The labor market is a lot more competitive than you think. Look for an internship while you are in school and start networking now.
- Graduate school is intense and can be hard on your family, so do it early.
- Try to gain some work experience before entering an MBA program.
- Work outside the United States, if you can. It's great experience for your resume.
- Learn the business culture and language of a country before you go there; this will help you immensely.
- If you want to work in a financial field, take all of the math classes you can now!
- Be prepared for ethical dilemmas in the work place. Know your limits.
- Also, know when it’s time to leave. Professional growth may mean taking some risks—but not insane risks.
- When you leave a company, try to leave with grace.
- Remember to have a “TMI” (too much information) philosophy in your job. You may want to have a little social distance from the people you work with every day.
- Money is not everything. You need to find joy in what you do.
Lastly, Dr. Forsyth talked about his position at Avista. His
main duty there is econometric forecasting in areas such as gas loads,
electricity loads, and customer growth. The information he collects is plugged into
revenue models that are used by the CFO of Avista for planning purposes. Dr. Forsyth also does
public-relations work for the company: he serves as a resource to the community, doing formal presentations, advising the mayor of Spokane, and putting on an annual regional forecast with
John Mitchell, to name just a few of the projects that keep him busy.
Thank you, Dr. Forsyth, for your great insights and for taking the time to come to campus and present to the students and faculty of Whitworth!
Student Contributions: Amber Manuel, Sam Schoesler and Peyton McMahon
