Staff Sketches

Our Staff Sketch series is taking a closer look at the people who make W. P. Carey a place where Business is Personal. Learn more about your colleagues – their roles, interests, and what drives them on and off campus – and discover the stories behind the faces you see every day!

Sharon Liu: From Sun Devil student to staff member

In January, Sharon Liu celebrated her first anniversary as a web content strategist with W. P. Carey's Marketing and Communications team. Born in China, Liu lived in Virginia, Michigan, Kentucky, and Ohio as a child before completing her Bachelor of Science in supply chain management at W. P. Carey in 2017 and settling in Arizona. 

"I liked growing up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the most," says Liu, whose father worked in academia. "As a university kid, there was always a lot of fun stuff going on — I loved their art fairs."

Liu has always enjoyed writing, taking on freelance writing and marketing projects while pursuing her undergraduate degree. She was a program manager for DoorDash then made the jump to a full-time career in marketing as a content strategist for a digital marketing agency. Now, as a W. P. Carey alum and staff member, Liu is experiencing the university from an entirely new perspective. 
 

"I get to see how programs are written about and marketed, which is interesting as someone who had to choose a major at the school several years ago."

Liu says she was surprised by the wealth of learning opportunities available to ASU staff members, including professional development workshops and access to LinkedIn Learning.

"Having a personal development budget speaks to how much ASU values learning for staff members and students," she says.

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly more present in the workplace, Liu is interested in learning more about how it will impact search engine optimization (SEO) and the marketing and communications field as a whole.

"As AI changes how Google ranks websites and does AI overviews of content, I think it will change drastically in the next few years," says Liu.

As Liu settles into her role at W. P. Carey, she's found new ways to connect with the school from a different vantage point. We asked her to share more about her experiences and some of her professional and personal interests. Here’s a closer look at what drives her on and off the job.

Professional experiences

What do you enjoy about your job?
I get to work on many projects with different academic departments, which has shown me how large the business school community is and how it functions as a massive system. It's been interesting to see how the school is creating innovative programs like the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence in Business and up-and-coming programs like the Online Master of Science in Marketing.

What's an interesting or fun fact about your team or office?
We've won a lot of W. P. sCarey awards! It's a testament to our creativity and love for pop culture.

What's one of the best investments you've ever made in yourself?
While working at DoorDash, I completed an ASU Lean Six Sigma certification, which is an approach to improving business processes. I've never used it directly in my work because the information hasn't been relevant to my roles, but the content was interesting and I enjoyed meeting people from different industries, like manufacturing and hospitality. 

What's your favorite W. P. Carey event?
I enjoyed the staff assembly. I liked learning about upcoming events and programs, and it gave me a better understanding of how many students, staff, and faculty learn and work at the business school. There were even updates on facilities. The assembly helped me to fully grasp how many people make up the school's ecosystem.

Personal interests

What is the most adventurous thing you've ever done?
Traveling solo!

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you travel?
Japan would be fun to visit, especially for someone who has a vested interest in visiting the Ghibli Museum. I also want to visit Prague for its architecture and the geothermal pools in Iceland. I have an extensive outdoor hot spring agenda that I want to fulfill. 

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I like going to museums, planning events with friends, and reading — my favorite genre is urban fantasy.

What movie can you watch over and over?
"Inception," "Midsommar," and "Legally Blonde."

If you could be in any other career, what would you choose?
I would open a boba tea bookstore. 

Preferences

Sweet or salty? Salty
Coffee or tea? Iced tea
Iced tea or boba? Boba
Soda or energy drink? Soda
Cat or dog? Cat
Board games or video games? Board games
Facebook or face-to-face? Face-to-face
Breakfast or lunch? Lunch
Morning person or night owl? Night owl