James McDonough: Recent finance graduate excelling in new career

Recent Finance graduate James McDonough is already hitting his stride as a Data Administrator for DirecTV in their Engineering Program Management Office.

The Salt Lake City native previously interned with their business intelligence division, but it was a chance call from a consulting firm alerting him to open positions at the cable provider that helped him to land an interview, and ultimately a full-time position.

“I am really loving it so far,” James said, adding that he and his team are in charge of the company’s capital budget and oversee contractor and vendor payment accounts.

Key to his success, he says, was the decision to take an elective in Database Management his senior year.

“I worked under the SVP of Finance at my first internship at Trium Entertainment,” James said, “and he told me if I wanted to succeed in the finance industry I needed to know Excel inside and out… all the tricks, how to manipulate it, etc.”

James paid a visit to the Dean of the business school and got an override to take the advanced course, as well as permission from the professor.

“It turned out to be very valuable,” James said, “great exposure to the systems side of things. I’m so glad I decided to take something advantageous towards growth in my field instead of something more frivolous, like karate.”

When James first began his college search, he says he was looking for a change of scenery and culture.

“LMU was exactly what I was looking for in terms of culture and diversity,” James said. “On the campus tour alone I saw so many different types of people around me.”

During his time at LMU, James says he relished the small class sizes and personal attention afforded him by professors, not to mention the lively campus atmosphere.

Outside of his rigorous studies, James became a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and an on-campus tutor for the Academic Resource Center. He also spent a semester studying abroad in Madrid with his two best friends, which he calls one of the highlights of his college career.

James has no plans to head back to Utah anytime soon and hopes to rise the ranks at DirecTV and one day manage his own team.

As for what advice he has for current and incoming LMU Lions…

“Always be curious and always keep asking questions,” James said. “You want to continue learning everyday, because if you’re learning everyday, you’re improving everyday.”