Curt Chan

How I’d Explain My Job to a Kindergartener

I create the pictures and videos of the toys we want your parents to “play” with at work.

Why I Choose Ansys

I started my career as an engineer, and now I get to bring products to life through marketing. As an engineer, I had a strong background in two-thirds of the product cycle trifecta — design and manufacturing — but I was missing simulation. So, when the Ansys recruiter called me, it seemed like the right time in my career to leap into the world of simulation. I used to design and make products, but now I get to bring those products to market, seeing how they fit into the world we live in. Ansys gave me the chance to be a part of the solution.

My Best Advice

As you evolve in your career, it is important to think about your next move. Ansys has done great things with the career framework, helping us as employees understand how to get to new levels and ultimately how to plan for them.

Be open and willing to explore and understand different parts of the business.

Set goals and create a plan. Create a circle of people around you who help push you to be better and help inspire them as well. There are ways to learn and grow in all phases.

Appreciating Different Perspectives

As Simon Sinek once said, “Mentorship is not a mentor-mentee relationship, it’s a mentor-mentor relationship because you will always learn something, even if it's just different perspectives.”

As a mentor and educator, you need to ask questions and understand someone's point of view. It is about growth and learning from each other. When you educate people, it is important to share the “whys.” Think relationships first, business second.

Developing My Career

As a professional, I wanted to get better at communicating and not having anxiety, so I joined Toastmasters. I’ve learned how to be a better public speaker, have strong conversations with key stakeholders and relay important messages when they matter the most. Honestly, it has helped me a lot in my career.

What You Might Not Know

My family is from the Caribbean Islands, and we put ketchup and mustard on pizza. I’m 50/50 on it.