Cameron Javdani, BS '03, MBA '07
Job Title: Director of Sales and Marketing, Louroe Electronics
Part of the Daily Emerald "Alumni Take Flight" Series

Cameron Javdani, BS '03, MBA '07, is a “Double Duck:” he earned both a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in business administration from the University of Oregon. He currently works as the director of sales and marketing at Louroe Electronics, but his path to this position was not a straight shot. His route included taking jobs that were outside his target area, and he even experienced being laid off. He has always had a genuine interest in sales and marketing, and he learned how to build relationships to create a network he could fall back on when he needed it.

I spoke with Mr. Javdani to learn about his life as a Duck and how he found his way in the professional world. I found him to be a thoughtful person, a good manager, who prioritizes people over business.

When you were an undergrad at UO, what were your goals and aspirations? Did these change as you grew older?

They certainly changed over time. I enrolled as an undergrad and decided to major in political science, thinking I would go into some government work. Unfortunately, the job offers didn’t line up at graduation. I did build a foundation in international studies while I was in school. My interest in this area has remained over time, and fortunately, now I’m doing international business, and it suites me.

Have you ever felt like you didn’t know what you were doing? If so, how did you handle that uncertainty?

[When] I finished undergrad, I was working for Aflac. For some people, it’s a fantastic job, but it wasn’t for me. I did not have a specific career direction, and I felt that the uncertainty ended up being a motivator. Taking that job was a leap of faith, and I had to take that risk. It’s a very normal part of entering the workforce.

In hindsight, would I choose the same major or something different? Maybe. As I think back, I took classes in religious studies and almost completed a minor. Because I do international work now, the knowledge I gained from that coursework has paid off. It is easier for me to be aware of religious differences when I work with people from diverse backgrounds. All sorts of knowledge that you get in school like that can really end up helping you later in life.

What does networking mean to you? Are there wrong ways to network?

Certainly, there are a lot of ways to network. At its most basic, you just want to get some contacts. I always felt [that] by calling it ‘networking’ it sounds like you’re “car dealing.” A mentor of mine once told me that networking is building your network, so [what you want to do is] build relationships. That helped me stop feeling like I had to act a certain way. It took all the stress out of [the interaction]. One time, I was at an event with Fortune 100 executives. I walked up to them and thought, “Well, they’re just people.” With one individual, we ended up having a half-hour long conversation about barbecue. These guys own multi-million-dollar companies. They just want to have a conversation with people.

Would you consider yourself successful? What does success mean to you?

Yes, I would. I define success as doing work that I find meaningful and fulfilling, yet it gives me the flexibility to have time for family. Work is important, but it’s not as important as family. You know, I’ve been laid off before - worst case scenario. I know that I have my network to fall back on, and I can always get another job. You can’t simply get another family. You have to prioritize your family first.

Daily Emerald Reporter: Cadaxa Chapman Ball