Fowler College Class of 2020 Career Spotlight: Christopher Lee

Leadership and Networking Guide Lee to AT&T

San Diego native and General Business graduate, Christopher Lee embraced networking during his time at SDSU, leading him to numerous opportunities as a student, and eventually landed him a position with AT&T. His involvement with several student organizations at SDSU made a lasting impact on him, both as an individual and a professional.

Chris Lee pictured with SDSU President de la Torre

Lee shares how his connections at Associated Students and the Aztec Mentor Program helped him build a bridge from his journey as a student to starting his career at AT&T.

Q: Can you describe a little bit about yourself and how/when you decided to pursue Business Administration as an area of study?

I am a highly competitive, ambitious individual with huge aspirations in the corporate world.  Being a very business-oriented individual, I learned from early in my college career that I loved to connect with like-minded constituents and surround myself with similar people.  Joining a fraternity my freshman year allowed me to develop professionally from the start and shortly after becoming a new member, I took a role on my fraternity’s executive board as the Vice President of Recruitment.  During my time in this role, I discovered my passion for business, being able to connect with individuals from various backgrounds, driving success in an organization by exceeding quotas, and demonstrating the features of the organization that set it apart from others.

Q: Describe the position you began after graduation (job functions, key role).

I’ve began my role as a Client Solutions Executive for AT&T National Business at their corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas. In this role, I’m collaborating directly with top innovators in the field and taking advantage of world-class learning and development. I have the opportunity to manage all phases of the customer life cycle from business development to deal closure and post implementation account management.  I also pipeline development through direct and personal outbound effort using CRM and self-generated lead techniques.

Q: When did you receive your official job offer and what was your reaction when you received the offer?

I received my official job offer back in December of 2019.  It was a surreal moment that showed me the hard work of my time in college had paid off.  No words could describe my excitement, as the culmination of months of applying and interviewing at various jobs had landed me with the one true job that I had coveted.  AT&T is a top ten Fortune 500 company and has some of the greatest business professionals in the industry.  After taking the time to consider all my offers and reflect on my experiences, I decided that this was the best path and first step to success in my career.  I was and still am immensely grateful for the abundance of support received from family and friends.  Thank you to everyone who supported me along the way and a huge shout out to my wonderful parents and younger brother who have stood by my side since day one and always believed in me.  Love you all and can’t wait to keep making you all proud!

Q: How did you get connected with this company and position?

I started my job search during the fall semester of my final year at SDSU.  During my job search, I was having a casual conversation with Brandi Tonne, one of the most kind-hearted and hard-working individuals who serves as the Government Affairs Coordinator. She mentioned that her husband worked at AT&T and loved his job. She encouraged me to check out the company after learning about my career aspirations. And the rest is history. Thank you, Brandi, for the encouragement and support!

Chris Lee celebrating his 2020 graduation and wearing SDSU student organization stoles.

Q: Did you use any other campus resources to help you acquire this position? If so, describe the support.

I did not use any campus resources to help me acquire the position. I did my own research based on my interests and sought out opportunities that I built for myself. I also utilized LinkedIn to connect with recruiters and industry professionals to gain insight into the specific job and company I applied to. I did utilize campus resources to build my professional network, however.  I attended a career fair, in which I met one of my professional mentors, Jason Tabor, who guided me and provided me with support throughout the job search process. He has been a huge inspiration and given me some of the best advice to this day. I also participated in the Aztec Mentor Program to connect with business professionals and was connected with a great mentor who currently works at Google. She has been a fantastic sounding board and helped with the future transition from college to the professional world.

Q: Are there specific skills you learned at SDSU (in class or otherwise) that helped you with the role’s qualifications?

I learned how to connect with students from various backgrounds and make positive change in organizations, allowing for more efficient, streamlined processes that lead to forward momentum and upward mobility. I also learned what constitutes a successful organization and the importance of networking outside your comfort zone. Additionally, the importance of exceeding expectations and/or going above and beyond goals set, are two qualities that have been instilled into me from the moment I stepped foot on this campus. These skills were shaped during my numerous experiences in leadership positions.  Being involved on campus changed my life and made my SDSU journey the most unforgettable experience, thus far. 

Q: What advice do you have for fellow students, regardless of their field, looking to jumpstart their career and land their first job post-graduation?

Education and experience are both valuable aspects of your college career.  Find your niche on campus and run with it.  Create your own opportunities and surround yourself with likeminded individuals.  I would also recommend that students get started in the job process early, and don’t wait until graduation to start seeking out your desired role.  Connect with professionals early on and learn about the industry or industries you are interested in.  Interviewing is another important aspect to really hone in on.  The more interviews you execute, the more successful at them you will be.  The cliché of “practice makes perfect” really does apply to interview skills and using methods such as the STAR method will lead to successful interviews.  Everything from body language to tone of voice has an impact on the interview process.

Q: What is it that you are most looking forward to as you kick start this next chapter?

I am most looking forward to utilizing the professionalism and leadership developed at SDSU to drive success in my field.  I’m excited to begin a new chapter and start from the ground up in my career.  I am no stranger to hard work and am looking forward to reaching the untapped potential within myself.  Given the ability to drive my own paycheck, I know that the sky is the limit and the best is yet to come.

Q: What experience at SDSU has changed your life the most?

Serving as the Executive Vice President and Director of Recruitment of my fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, were both very impactful and allowed me to lead a group of more than 120 individuals in a positive direction in many aspects. Shout out to the boys of 5505. Another experience that has been truly beneficial was serving as the Chief Justice of the Associated Students Judicial Affairs Council and participating in shared governance, finding ways to better the organization, as a whole. Winning the Aztecs Rock Hunger Campaign competition by donating over 5,000 pounds of food and raising over $1,000 was another highlight that allowed me to benefit the greater San Diego community.