Allen Klein
Strategic Account Executive at Microsoft
Seattle
Business Administration major 2011
As a strategic account executive at Microsoft, Klein works with the world’s largest advertisers on a daily basis.
How does your time at SPU connect to the work you’re doing today?
While at SPU, I made a mentor connection that helped me land my job here at Microsoft. Now almost five years out, I find that while many of the specifics of class are foggy, but the focus on collaboration, teamwork, and doing things right — not fast — lives on.
Who made a difference in your SPU education?
Dr. Gary Karns was, and still is my mentor in many life activities. He taught me many sales skills while in school that I use now.
What advice do you have for students about life after graduation?
Significance is not what you do, but who you are. Choose a “theme” that you want to be true in your first job, but be prepared to grunt it out while you learn the skills you need to be successful.