On this episode of Bama Means Business, University of Alabama alumnus Jamal Robertson returns to Tuscaloosa after 25 years. Throughout the episode, Robertson walks through his career since graduating from the University in 1996, shares his inspiration for a mentorship program, and reminisces on fundamental moments from his young adult years. He emphasizes the importance of aligning your career with something you are passionate about and adopting a mindset that maximizes successes and minimizes failures.
Robertson began his career in Birmingham but eventually settled in Seattle, where he now works for Microsoft as a recruiter in the experience and devices group. Throughout the episode, he discusses how the evolution of the business world following the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic presented industry professionals with an opportunity to reset their outlook on life and re-evaluate what they want their legacies to be. After taking on a mentorship role for a UA graduate student who connected with him via LinkedIn, he was inspired to develop a formal mentorship program between Microsoft and UA students. Robertson has worked with Connie Chambers, director of corporate partnerships for UA’s Culverhouse College of Business, over the past several months to execute this vision. Ultimately, he hopes that this pilot mentorship program will grow to span multiple universities and multiple corporations.
The Bama Means Business Podcast offers a unique perspective on a variety of topics from some of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the college.