Sam Best ('12, BA, History)

This interview is with Mr. Sam Best, a graduate of the UTA History program.

Tell us about yourself.
I am a native Texan and proudly call Fort Worth my hometown. Since graduating in 2012, I have had the opportunity to work in many different roles for Fortune 100 companies, primarily in business operations and technology. In my current role, I lead the Voice of the Customer program for General Motors Financial, where we use data to build best-in-class customer experiences. When not working, I enjoy spending time with my family; my wife and I have 3 young children that are full of energy! For hobbies, I road cycle and can be seen blocking traffic on a street near you. I’m also a musician and have been playing the bass guitar for 20+ years.

Any special memories about being a student at UTA?
My very first UTA class was led by a professor who taught part time, was also pursuing her doctorate, and she was a mother to 5 children. She was authentic about her journey and this resonated with me because I was taking a full college load, working full time, and a newlywed. Her story would motivate me to continue my education, even when it was challenging. This also provided a powerful lesson that everyone has a story to tell, and we should have the courage to tell our stories because you never know who it could help.

Why did you choose your major or field of study?
History was always my favorite subject and I wanted to learn more in college. One day, I’d like to go back and work towards a PhD.

What can graduating Liberal Arts students do to make themselves more marketable?
Figure out what you want to do and then identify the skillsets needed to be successful in that role. For those skillsets you currently have, use social media and in-person networking opportunities to showcase who you are, your skills, and the value you provide. For the skillsets you don’t have, create a plan to learn those skills, either through education or by gaining functional experience. These actions will help you build a network and promote your brand.

How has your Liberal Arts education helped get you where you are today?
Collegiate history is more than memorizing facts, instead it’s focused on understanding “the why.” As a university history student, to answer “the why” requires extensive research, reading, investigation, peer collaboration, and then effective communication skills to present the answer in a meaningful way. To do this effectively, requires competencies such as problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, communication, and curiosity; all of which have helped me throughout my career.

What drew you to your industry, and what has kept you there?
I’ve always enjoyed solving problems and learning new things. During my career, this has afforded me opportunities across business operations roles, technology programs, process engineering, and my most recent role of creating customer experiences. Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible is personally satisfying and motivates me to continue in this profession.

What do you wish you knew when you were a Liberal Arts student at UTA?
Patience - understanding that it’s called a career journey for a reason and as with any journey, there is no substitute for time. Along the journey be sure to learn as much as you can from every situation, find unique ways to provide value, work hard, have integrity, treat people right, and never despise small beginnings. It’s often in the most uncomfortable circumstances that we grow the most, which ultimately prepares us for the future.

If you are a College of Liberal Arts alum, please let us know by emailing liberalarts@uta.edu.