Chau Pham '03, University of St. Thomas

From Barbecue Sauce to Diversity Training: Chau Pham Outlines Her Path to Success

Chau Pham, a 2003 graduate of the University of St. Thomas, and a training and diversity coordinator at the law firm of Faegre & Benson LLP, is not bashful about her school spirit. In fact, she and a fellow “Tommie” will be married at the St. Thomas campus in June 2008. Her lavender and silver themed wedding will be a close match to the school’s purple and gray mascot. Pham found more than love at St. Thomas, however, where she graduated with a double major in sociology and human resources. 

When Pham realized her plan to study pediatric medicine wasn’t the best fit for her, she looked to her mom for advice. Though neither of Pham’s parents attended college, her mother knew Pham well enough to steer her in the right direction. She pursued human resources and sociology, upon her mother’s suggestion, and never looked back.

Pham credits her success today to the hands-on experience and networking opportunities St. Thomas gave her. One upper level business course consisted of fieldwork that Pham conducted with a start up barbecue sauce company. She and her group members consulted with the company for three months and produced a final report with ideas for increasing business. She still draws on the experience today. “It taught me a lot about basic communication and how to think creatively,” Pham said. 

The networking Pham took part in at St. Thomas proved to be valuable career preparation. Pham attended organized events with alumni in her field and secured her first internship, at a recruiting firm in Kentucky, based on a connection she made at a networking event. “When you’re trying to find a job, it’s a lot easier to go to an interview already knowing somebody—the connection I have with other alumni is something I can talk about right away.”

Two motivating academic advisors were also crucial to preparing Pham for the job market. Her advisors worked as both professors at St. Thomas and professionals in the human resources and sociology fields. “It was really great to have their perspective of working in their fields,” Pham said. There was never any uncertainty about what Pham’s post-graduation life would be like because her professors made it clear that “they really want you to have a job when you graduate.”

Consulting for a barbecue sauce company, an internship in Kentucky, and a goal to advocate for minorities in the workplace have placed Pham in a job she loves. At Faegre & Benson she trains staff and attorneys about diversity in the workplace. Pham is currently working on a set of tools that will provide guidelines for cross-generation communication.

Biggest inspiration: “My source of inspiration is my stepdad’s mother. She was one of the most compassionate people. She had the biggest heart. There are days when I have to deal with negative people and I try to think about her when I do it, to find a way to understand where the other person is coming from.”

Favorite book: Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott.

Favorite Web site: Google

Why college is important: “College provides many more opportunities you wouldn’t otherwise get. I can’t imagine what I’d be doing if I hadn’t gone to college. Everyone wants to lead a comfortable life and not struggle — which I don’t think you can get without a college background.”

Most surprising thing about college: “I thought the classes would be really tough, but the professors turned out to pleasantly surprise me and the small class sizes really make it a homey environment. I didn’t know, coming from high school, that there would be so many flexible opportunities to study abroad. I was able to do two different month-long study abroad programs.”

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