UofM Graduate School Advisory Board Member: Christian Montague
Christian’s current role is a Sales Support Advisor at FedEx Express in which they
are responsible for mentoring other employees, providing both our internal and external
customers excellent customer service, while also being able to provide them a solution
to complex problems. Christian’s position also consists of leading projects periodically
that are at aimed at reducing the amount of time Sales spends completing documentation
related to billing.
In terms of academic background, Christian graduated magna cum laude in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy from the University of Memphis. The following semester, they returned to the University of Memphis where Christian began their Master’s of Arts in Philosophy and Cognitive Science. Christian graduated in 2018 and the following semester, they began their International Master’s Business Administration degree and graduated the following year.
A standout professional experience for Christian occurred at the onset of the pandemic when global lockdowns made the job market uncertain. Christian had submitted numerous applications but, due to the circumstances, had not yet received responses. That changed with a call from a manager at Kuehne & Nagel, who invited Christian for an interview. When Christian arrived, the manager shared, “This is just a formality—you already have the job.” Despite Christian’s limited experience, the manager later explained that he valued Christian’s teachability, recognizing it as a trait crucial for success in any role.
This experience highlighted for Christian the importance of teachability when building a team. Beyond skills and experience, an individual’s openness to learning and growth can be a strong predictor of their potential for success within the organization.
The potential for collaboration and knowledge-sharing on the advisory board is incredibly appealing. Engaging with other accomplished professionals and thought leaders from diverse fields offers an invaluable chance to exchange ideas and develop creative solutions that address the evolving needs of graduate students. Working alongside board members to identify and support key priorities will allow Christian to expand their perspective, as well as contribute to fostering a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment at the Graduate School.
Though you may not be in business school or even plan to stay in academia, it is never a bad idea to check out the various career fair events that occur at the Business school periodically. The job market can be unforgiving, so it is always essential to have alternative plan if the problem arises.
Personal Interests:
- I am an avid reader, I go to a book-club once a week.
- I play more video games than I probably should.
- Hiking and Traveling
Personal Motto:
None of us is as smart as all of us.
- Ken Blanchard