Profiles

Operations Manager
Chay Harris

Finance Major
Hometown: Mountain View, CA

What are you doing this summer? This summer, I am working as an Operations Manager at Chay and Harris Painting Contractors, where I help coordinate their operations and support the company’s ongoing projects. My responsibilities include managing employee scheduling and logistics, analyzing project bids in Excel, improving inventory management, and helping modernize the company’s branding and website.

Hopefully you’ve grown both professionally and personally from this summer experience. Name one or two “life” lessons you learned and will carry forward after graduation. One of the biggest lessons I learned this summer is that effective problem solving often requires taking initiative rather than waiting for someone else to provide a solution. I also learned how important organization and clear communication are when managing multiple responsibilities and people at once, and I will carry those skills with me throughout my career.

What has been the most memorable part of your experience? The most memorable part of my summer was having the opportunity to take on meaningful responsibilities and see how my work directly contributed to the company’s operations. This experience has given me a valuable perspective on how different parts of a business work together.

What advice would you give to younger students who are searching for summer opportunities?

As someone who didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do before this summer, I would encourage students to apply to a variety of jobs and internships and be willing to try something new. Exploring different opportunities can provide valuable insight into what you enjoy and whether you can see yourself pursuing it in the future.