Kāneali‘i Ng-Osorio, BS '98 (psychology) 

Enterprise Business Analyst, Kamehameha Schools; UOAA Board of Directors

Part of the Daily Emerald’s “Alumni Take Flight” feature series
Written by Lauren Leone, UO student columnist

Kāneali‘i Ng-Osorio graduated from the University of Oregon in 1998 with a BS in psychology. He recently accepted an enterprise business analyst position with an enterprise program management and business analysis team at Kamehameha Schools. Ng-Osorio also serves on the UO Alumni Association Board of Directors and is the president of our Hawaii Ducks regional UOAA chapter. 
 

What were some of the key takeaways and skills from your time at the UO that empowered you to return to Hawaii and serve your community? 

Going to Oregon helped me develop soft skills and emotional intelligence to be a strong team member and thrive in my work environments. I developed strong leadership, communication and organization skills.  

What motivates you to stay so connected with the UO and to support current and future Ducks, especially from Hawaii? 

I joined the alumni association just as I was graduating from Oregon in 1998.  I see the value of being a lifetime member because it is an incredible professional and social network. There are Ducks everywhere across the world!  I’m blessed that I had an awesome college experience at Oregon. I want current and future Ducks to have similar experiences that I did and it feels good to help them when I can. It brings me great joy to support students from Hawaii to attend Oregon. Our UOAA Hawaii Ducks chapter has provided many scholarships over the past 20 years. Every dollar helps when you’re a student given the high-cost of a college education. 

What are your tips for students interested in a project management career? 

It’s really helpful to get as much experience as you can, even in school. You can be on project-based assignments and learn about what types of tools and certifications are out there. I recommend to students and alumni to get involved with Project Management Institute to help them in this a career path. There are student rates for membership, and you receive an instant connection to all these professionals across the world who can provide support.  

Do you recommend the Project Management Professional certification and why? 

I recommend the PMP certification because a lot of employers globally recognize it as the gold standard of project management, and it shows that you’ve applied many hours of work experience to just be eligible to apply for the exam. It can help you get your foot in the door for a job interview, and when employers are looking through resumes, having that extra certification listed will help tremendously. 

What drew you to study psychology at the UO and enter the field you currently work in? 

I came to Oregon undeclared, and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do until I took an introductory psychology class. I really liked the subject and started to take more psychology classes before declaring it as my major. I ended up looking into industrial psychology, and I took the GMAT to apply to graduate school, but it was such a competitive field which didn’t pan out the way I planned. I ended up pursuing and obtaining a Master of Business Administration, while my education in psychology helped me develop strong skills to be an effective leader. 

What skills or key takeaways did you gain from your time at the UO that you now implement in your role? 

I would say strengthening my communication and leadership skills, following through on things, being accountable for the work, and navigating through the process of getting a degree. I think the opportunities that I had on campus to get involved with different student organizations and student government gave me opportunities to be on a board, hold leadership positions, and be able to learn to speak out and advocate for things. These are all skills I got to develop while I was at the UO, which prepared me for life after college. 

What are your tips for effective networking and how can UO students build a professional network early on? 

I recommend getting out there to meet folks at events and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. Follow-up when you meet professionals, even just to thank people for their time. It’s good to build your network as a student by getting involved in different types of organizations or volunteering your time. Taking advantage of those opportunities to network with established professionals and having mentors will help you be successful and reach your goals.