This is the 103rd article in Bears Doing Big Things, a weekly column celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni.
“After high school, I learned that pursuing college wasn’t the only habit. There are trade schools. There are roads for people interested in business or an apprenticeship,” Adrian Sanchez ’13 said. “I wish when I was at M-A, I knew what I do now.” Today, Sanchez works as a senior coordinator for the advisory and consulting firm SIA, where he manages registration for the company’s leadership conferences.
Sanchez, the middle of seven kids, grew up in East Palo Alto and followed his older siblings to M-A. There, Sanchez mainly stuck to academics.
“I wish I had taken advantage of joining more extracurricular activities and sports,” he said. “I was more of the shy kid at school, and I only did things if my friends did them, which, looking back, I really wish I hadn’t done.”
Throughout his high school career, Sanchez spent time exploring where his interests lay. “I never really clicked much with any of the careers that I saw, and I couldn’t imagine myself sitting in a classroom for years to learn about something I wasn’t super pumped about,” he said.
After graduating, Sanchez initially attended the College of San Mateo. “Coming out of high school, I didn’t want to be the same person in my adult years, so I really worked at being someone that was the opposite of one who was shy and didn’t take on opportunities,” he said. “That led me to many great relationships in the future and a lot of great career opportunities as well.”
While working in retail at Vans, Sanchez met a customer who worked in business. “I shared that I wasn’t doing so well finding what my career was going to be, so he offered to give me some tips and advice,” Sanchez said. “He ended up taking me under his wing, and for the next five to seven years, he coached me on how entrepreneurs think and how to build businesses.”
“Helping out my customer and taking his offer for help changed my life,” he added.
Sanchez eventually left community college to join World Wide Dream Builders, an organization focused on personal growth, people skills, and leadership—his own version of school. “I wish I had spent more time building relationships with folks [at M-A], because there’s no telling where those relationships will be able to help you in the future,” he said. “I want that for everyone at M-A, especially the shy ones. My heart goes out to them. I would love for them to get outside their shell and to take a chance at making some friends.”
While a part of World Wide Dream Builders, he was also involved in the Amway Corporation, a multi-level marketing company that sells various products through its independent distributors. Sanchez was able to become a business owner selling the company’s products.
From there, Sanchez transitioned from the business world to sales for the company SIA, where he has worked ever since. SIA hosts leadership conferences for staffing industry executives, and Sanchez’s role centers on recruiting those leaders, supporting their business goals, and cultivating lasting partnerships with the company.
“I’ve gotten to build a lot of great relationships with them, which is good because I’m looking for my next career move,” he said. Sanchez is currently interested in executive search, where he would work with companies to find and hire executives for high-level leadership positions.
“I’ve learned I’ve always been more of a dot connector kind of person. I love to help people get to the next stage in life, or if they’re struggling with something and I know a book or podcast that could help, I want to get that in their hands,” Sanchez said. “This is another way that I can do that for people.”
Sanchez’s advice to current M-A students: “College isn’t the only way. It’s still a great way. It just doesn’t have to be everyone’s way.”
To those interested in staffing professions: “Treat others how you want to be treated’ is cheesy, but it’s going to go a long way. Professionally, it’s going to help in the long run, to be good to people.”
