Pictured: Krikor Kapeghian, seated on right, with Temple University students and alumni working as TD Bank interns and associates, respectively.

By: Nick Santangelo

Taking that first step toward something new and different can seem a little scary. It's easy to get comfortable with the familiar and stick with it. But Krikor Kapeghian, CLA '92, took that first step when he left what he calls the "homogenous" confines of Moorestown, N.J. behind Temple University and North Philly. The ensuing experiences—particularly his time spent as a resident assistant (RA)—were transformative.

Kapeghian came to Temple's College of the Liberal Arts (CLA) to experience cultural diversity in a big city that was close to home that he could travel back quickly to visit his family—including his mother, who also graduated from CLA back in the '50s—but different enough to feel like an entirely new environment. Being away at school and serving as an RA also presented him with an entirely new set of responsibilities at a young age. Kapeghian acknowledges that there are two sides to every story, and at Temple he learned to communicate with and understand opposing sides when he found himself needing to resolve a crisis.

As an RA, Kapeghian often encountered crisis situations that could arise without a moment's notice.  Kapeghian recalls that such high-stress experiences "helped to mold" his personal and professional life.

"That doesn't happen necessarily in the corporate world," says Kapeghian. "There's always a stressful situation of like a project getting off track or something like that—but how do you deal with those situations? Are you calm and cool under pressure? Are you going to panic? To me, those experiences that I had at Temple were far more real than if a project is going to get put into place."

The experience taught Kapeghian a lot about putting things in proper perspective. As a result, he's able to compartmentalize real crises from things that only seem like crises in the moment. Meanwhile, his academic experience at CLA taught him how to be flexible and do whatever he has to get through things. Originally a political science major, Kapeghian became a double major in his senior year, adding history after he enjoyed a course he took. It meant tacking on an extra year to take 10 additional history courses. And while he doesn't recommend other students try to replicate that challenge, it worked for Kapeghian—or, at least, he made it work.

"It was crazy," he recalls. "I was reading a thousand pages a week. I took five history courses each semester. I got through it, and I have two degrees, one in political science, one in history."

Many incoming students think that the major on their degrees is equal to the career they'll have after graduation. And while that's certainly the case for many CLA grads, it's not necessarily so for all of them. A CLA degree in any major teaches students to think critically and find creative solutions to problems. Those are skills that are valued in any career, and so it is that Kapeghian ended up working in technology for TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank. Today he's a vice president and senior manager of business systems analysis, digitization and automation.

"I think the really big thing is that having a CLA degree and working that discipline gave me the ability to communicate in an oral and in a written fashion," says Kapeghian. "Also, maybe more importantly, it gave me the ability to think critically. Putting all of those things together as well as establishing some technical skills, actually has given me a leg up."

The combination of tech skills and socio-emotional intelligence Kapeghian has built through his education and his career have empowered him to become something of a translator between TD's tech and business personnel.

"Having the personality and the inter-personal skills, it's huge. It's truly made my career," says Kapeghian. "I think that a lot of that was formed in my early childhood, like I'm a fairly personable person, but also through CLA in learning the ability to write and think critically, communicate with all forms of people. It's worked out exceedingly well."

These days, Kapeghian helps other CLA students and alumni pursue successful careers of their own by looking on campus for talented individuals to refer to TD. When identifying potential candidates, there are three things Kapeghian wants to see in CLA students and alumni.

"First, I look for the ability to communicate," he says. "Can we have a conversation?

"Second thing that I'm looking for is the aptitude to learn. I make an assumption that institutions of higher learning, including Temple University, are not giving out degrees for free. Students are earning their degree, so they meet the second criteria, the aptitude to learn.

"Then the final one: is a student going to fit in with our unique culture at TD Bank? That one's a little bit more nebulous. How do you figure out if someone is going to fit into your company? For me, I think it has to do with adaptability. Is a student going to be adaptable?"

Kapeghian says it's crucial for employees to be able to adapt to changes, overcome mistakes and keep moving forward. He doesn't view these abilities as unique to TD Bank, though—they're things all professionals need in their toolset. Here he returns to the idea that students shouldn't pigeonhole themselves into thinking they can only work in a career that directly aligns with their major. In life, people go through unexpected changes. They encounter surprise opportunities and challenges. How they respond can play heavily into how rewarding and successful their careers are.

Kapeghian cites a friend of his who just received a criminal justice degree and was laser-focused on landing a job as a detective in a police department. Kapeghian wanted her to take her blinders off.

"I suggested to her, 'You know, have you ever thought about the financial sector? There are roles in areas like anti-money laundering and fraud that require investigative skills.'"

Kapeghian was able to get her a sit-down with one of his peers, a Sr Manager Investigative Analytics & Intelligence, who was impressed. Now he's looking to find a role for her at the bank. And it's become possible only because she was willing to consider something different, to adapt her plan as life threw an unexpected opportunity her way.

CLA grads, says Kapeghian, similarly should take care to "not limit themselves to just thinking that they can only work within their discipline." Who knows? They may just find their life's work by looking around instead of only straight ahead.