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Matthew Yu, president of OCA-St. Louis and Michelle Rogers, Director of global learning & development at MasterCard International
By Olivia O. Ly-Pieknik
"Use what you learn today as a tool and not weapon," commented Michelle Rogers, Director of global learning & development at MasterCard International. In attendance were mostly members of Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) St. Louis Chapter including Matthew Yu, president of OCA-St. Louis. Participants spent their Saturday, August 2nd at MasterCard, O'Fallon campus learning about their behavioral profiles and how to capitalize on the strengths as well as minimize weaknesses. This is the second session in OCA-STL 2003 Leadership Development Program. BJC HealthCare Network sponsored the first session on Saturday, July 12th with a seminar on time management and leading effective meetings. The topic for the third and final session will be on effective negotiation skills on Saturday, October 11th at University of Missouri - St. Louis campus (UMSL), and is sponsored by Monsanto Company.
Michelle Rogers, Director of global learning & development at MasterCard International
Entitled "Manage Self & Others", the program began at 8:45 a.m. with continental breakfast served. Ms. Pat Smith, Vice-President of Clearing Systems at MasterCard International welcomed participants and provided a brief presentation about the company. MasterCard is a global payments company with approximately over 25,000 financial institution members worldwide in 210 countries and territories. "MasterCard is the most widely accepted payment card globally," Smith proudly stated.
Ms. Michelle Rogers began conducting the training following the presentation. Rogers has over fifteen years of experience in training and development. Her training at MasterCard including, but not limited to developing course curriculum for leaders at all levels, team development programs, motivating for retention, facilitate workshops and represent MasterCard as keynote speaker at conferences. Rogers travels globally to deliver seminars and training programs.
After a brief introductions by all participants, each person was asked to complete a Response Page of descriptive words that MOST or LEAST describes how an individual act and feel in an environment either at work or at home. Points were given to each response. The total points were the basis for interpretation of four personal profiles, Dominance, Influence, Conscientiousness and Steadiness. Dominance profiles emphasize on shaping the environment by overcoming opposition to accomplish results. Influence profiles emphasize on shaping the environment by influencing or persuading others.
Conscientiousness profiles emphasize on working conscientiously within existing circumstances to ensure quality and accuracy. Steadiness profiles emphasize on cooperating with others within existing circumstances to carry out the task. According to Rogers, the profiles of Asians or Asian Americans generally are Steadiness and Conscientiousness. This interpretation is based on Asian cultures tend to emphasize on respect of others' personal worth as much as their accomplishments. Asians Americans strive to create a stable, harmonious work environment by having high level of tolerance for conflict. Based on these interpretations, participants were able to find their classical profile pattern. From each profile pattern, individuals would be able to identify the values they bring to the company, how to work effectively with others, how to overcome fears and the best methods to accomplish their goals. David Sha, a manager at a software company commented that identifying his profile as Dominance and Steadiness (DS) enable him to be an effective manager and taking appropriate authority by overcome his Asian culture influence that one must be humble and avoid confrontation.
The Personal Profile System is not a test. There is no best profile. "It is used only as a tool to help participants identify their own behavioral profile, understand themselves and others in either work or home environment", Rogers commented. Once participants understand their own behaviors, they would be able to anticipate and minimize potential conflicts with their spouses, family members, co-workers, bosses or anyone they come in contact.
A tour of operations command center, MasterCard International
Tian Liu, an employee of Enterprises Rent-A-Car in Clayton, commented that she had been to other training similar to today's training. Liu felt that what she learned about her own behavioral profile, Influence and Steadiness (IS) would help her improve work performance. After the training, participants were escorted to a tour of operations command center where all networks are being maintained, monitored and provide technical support to other branches around the world. Joe Wilson, who oversees the command center, shared that when the networks in Singapore was down, the center in O'Fallon was able to take over, process all transactions and transfer data back to Singapore once their networks was back in operation with minimal interruption.
To learn more about Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), logon to
www.oca-stl.org.
OCA/MasterCard 2003 Leadership Development Seminar
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