About the Guest
Sandra Chu is a former collegiate rowing coach turned higher education consultant with a storied and multi-faceted career trajectory. With over 22 years of coaching experience and notable achievements, including National, Regional, and League Coach of the Year honors, Sandra transitioned into her current role at WittKieffer, seeking more alignment with her skills and the broader mission of higher education. She holds an impressive academic background with a master’s from NYU and a BA from Princeton, where she was an All-Ivy League student-athlete.
Summary
In this episode of “Becoming UnDone,” host Toby Brooks sits down with Sandra Chu, whose journey exemplifies the essence of transformation from a deeply invested athletic coach to a driven higher education consultant. Sandra shares her personal and professional evolution, revealing how critical life choices led her to reevaluate her identity, values, and career.
Sandra’s story is nothing short of inspiring. Starting with her bold step into the world of collegiate rowing at Princeton, to her significant contributions as a rowing coach, and eventual transition into executive search, Sandra has continuously pivoted towards growth and fulfillment. This episode plunges into the narrative of someone who, despite considerable success and recognition, dared to redirect her professional compass amidst the onset of COVID-19 and personal introspection.
Key Takeaways
- Sandra Chu reflects on her decision to leave collegiate coaching to focus on family and explore her potential in higher education consultancy.
- COVID-19 played a significant role in Sandra’s career transition, providing her a time of reflection and re-evaluation of her professional identity.
- The episode highlights the importance of self-advocacy and the power to overcome imposter syndrome, a common barrier Sandra assists candidates with in her current role.
- Sandra shares her perspective on the ability to view beyond job titles and recognize the worth of skills in varying contexts, drawing parallels with her own career shift.
- Mentorship and seeing potential in others, a theme pervasive in Sandra’s coaching career, remains an integral part of her approach as a consultant.
Quotes
- “What did we learn during COVID? We learned what was important to us. And what I learned was that there were many things that I did as a coach, which at the time when that ended and I was unemployed, felt like, oh shoot, I made this terrible mistake, and this was a big part of my identity. And Covid helped me understand that the identity was the skill.”
- “I like to think of myself as someone who sees possibilities, unearths or surfaces those for the folks that I work with and intersect with, whether that was students that I mentored as athletes or with clients and candidates that I work with today.”
Contact
| Timestamp | Summary |
|---|---|
| 0:00:00 | Sandra Chu left coaching to prioritize her own daughter |
| 0:01:07 | Sandra Chu reflects on the importance of her identity and contribution |
| 0:02:01 | Introduction to the podcast and guest Sandra Chu |
| 0:02:59 | Sandra Chu’s diverse background and achievements |
| 0:03:53 | Sandra Chu’s early aspirations and career choices |
| 0:04:42 | Sandra Chu’s journey to Princeton and joining the rowing team |
| 0:07:12 | Overcoming challenges and pursuing opportunities |
| 0:09:07 | Sandra Chu’s decision to attend Princeton and her rowing journey |
| 0:10:13 | Sandra Chu’s encounter with the rowing coach and becoming a coxswain |
| 0:11:35 | Sandra Chu’s roommate encourages her to row |
| 0:12:11 | Sandra’s interaction with a collegiate coach altered her life’s direction. |
| 0:13:03 | Sandra became a student athlete at Princeton and eventually transitioned into coaching. |
| 0:14:07 | Sandra worked in admissions before getting involved in coaching at a community rowing club. |
| 0:16:16 | Sandra pursued coaching as a career and worked at Kansas State before becoming a head coach at Hobart and William Smith colleges. |
| 0:17:29 | Sandra transitioned from coaching into her current role, utilizing her skills in leadership and diversity. |
| 0:20:49 | Sandra decided to step away from coaching due to personal reasons and took advantage of an early retirement package. |
| 0:22:32 | The timing of Sandra’s departure coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, causing challenges for her and the team. |
| 0:24:03 | Sandra spent the next year cobbling together consulting jobs while adjusting to the new circumstances. |
| 0:24:38 | Sandra Chu’s background in television production and higher education consulting. |
| 0:25:17 | Reflecting on the opportunities and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. |