Meet Will Lu

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Will Lu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Will , so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

I aim to have two attributes when I’m in these types of situations. The first is to be genuinely enthusiastic. It is natural to gravitate towards positive people. A little enthusiasm goes a long way when trying something new or meeting someone for the first time. Think of the energy you feel when encountering a friend you haven’t seen. It’s hard not to feel excited about someone else who is excited to meet you.

The second is initiative. Being willing to raise your hand to volunteer is a quick way to stand out. Examples could be coordinating the next meeting, setting up an event, or even taking notes during a meeting. It’s a fast way to go from being just an attendee to having your name known by everyone in the room.

These attributes are agnostic to your education, background, or upbringing. While there is a cost with time and effort, this approach has continued to offer a big return in my own life.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I grew up in Houston, TX, but have called San Diego home for the last ten years. Like many others in San Diego, the Navy brought me here, and I never left. After serving in the Navy, I went into management consulting and pivoted to Fintech. I’m now on my second career pivot, working as an Integrated Product Team Lead at the Navy Information Warfare Center Pacific. In my role, I bring together teams to help implement new business processes and improve existing ones.

Outside of work, I serve on the board of management for the Armed Services YMCA San Diego. We support military families through programs focusing on health and wellness, youth development, and social responsibility. I currently sit on the Communications and Public Relations Committee and the Financial Development and Capital Campaign Committee.

Later this year, we will break ground for our new Center for Military Families. This project will expand our military childcare program from 41 to 98 children, create an updated playground and diamond field, allow for additional community space, and reduce barriers to accessible after-school programming. The staff and board have been hard at work fundraising for this project. I’m proud of everyone’s hard work and look forward to the future impact.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three most impactful actions that I’ve done in the last few years are:

1. Conducting an inventory of strengths and weaknesses
2. Emphasizing personal and professional relationships
3. Building grit

We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Where you have the most competitive advantage are your natural strengths, abilities that come naturally to you and require additional effort from others. There are things I’m naturally good at and things others see as my natural strengths. Over time, I’ve made connections between the two and identified situations where I can highlight those strengths. As someone more introverted, I have extroverted friends that I love bringing to networking events. It’s a chance for them to meet new people and helps me participate in events I otherwise might skip.

This ties into the second action on relationships. Once you find areas you could improve in, find others who are naturally good at those areas. Back in business school, we had study groups for our core classes. Early on, my group identified who was naturally strong on the quantitative and qualitative sides. We leveraged each other’s strengths, which became essential during more complex projects.

The final one is to build grit. Meaningful change does not happen overnight. A few years ago, I took salsa lessons for the first time. I’ve always wanted to learn to dance and honestly got tired of sitting on the sidelines at weddings. After a year of lessons and many mistakes, I finally got it down. Despite having little coordination, I never gave up and stuck with it. I’ll admit my hips still can’t move like instructors do online.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

I would not be where I am today without the mentors, supporters, and friends in my close circle. From my first supervisor post Navy to mentors I’ve met through my veteran circles, these are the people I attribute much of my success to. Over the years, I’ve learned about topics ranging from how promotions work to accessing networking groups I wouldn’t otherwise know about. I know there is lots of support behind me anytime I start a new endeavor. In the spirit of “paying it forward”, I’ve continued to mentor others and volunteer in the community. As much as I can, I try to do my part to help make the world a better place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://williamtailu6.wixsite.com/will-lu
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-lu/