Duhaime currently works at the world-wide and fast growing company Uber. There he utilizes and strengthens the communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that he learned from none other than Gustavus. His devoted investment in extracurricular activities (including Campus Activities Board) taught him how important teamwork and initiative truly are. "Don't wait for opportunities to come to you," he said.
Career Experiences
With a mind made up and a degree in Communication Studies with a music minor, Duhaime graduated and aspired to work in advertising. However, he was quickly led down a different path. "I had this very narrow mindset of what my career should be," Duhaime reflected. "I realized that I needed to be more open-minded and consider alternative options."
He started his career journey as a “digital paper pusher,” joining a small web firm. He then returned to his roots and worked at Gustavus in the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement. There, he discovered his passion for technology and the impact it could have on people's lives.
Then life drove him to Uber, where he now works as a manager in Central Operations. His role involves improving the overall user experience for both riders and drivers, particularly in complex environments, such as airports and large events and venues. He identifies pain points, proposes solutions, and collaborates with cross-functional teams to implement improvements. In addition to these he contributes to product development by partnering with product managers and engineers to define requirements, test prototypes, and launch new features. On top of all of that, Duhaime addresses app outages and operational challenges. Through his diverse responsibilities, Duhaime significantly impacts the future of Uber's airport and venue experiences.
Lessons Learned
Duhaime's experiences show that you don’t have to know exactly what you want to do in order to go far. Today, he recognizes the importance of building strong relationships with mentors, alumni, and industry professionals. These connections have the power to change your future, "Networking strategically is crucial," he said. But of course in order to build these relationships strong communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills are essential. Spoken like a true liberal arts grad, "soft skills are often more valuable than technical skills," he says.
