Wayne & Joan Chumley Endowment

An agricultural science major at Texas A&M University-Commerce, Wayne planned to pursue a career as an Ag Science teacher, before fate offered a new path. “One day, I stopped by a campus career fair with a friend, and found myself talking to a recruiter from International Harvester. The next thing I knew I had a job offer in agriculture for three times what I would have made as a teacher.” That chance meeting resulted in more than a well-paying job; it culminated in a 24-year career with Chrysler that took him from Texas, to Japan, Korea and China.

Working in Asia for 17 years, however, wasn’t originally his plan. After transferring from International Harvester to Chrysler in 1986, Wayne informed the human resources department that he was ready to move nearly anywhere the company needed him anywhere but Detroit. Three weeks later, he was on a flight to Tokyo. “I learned very early in my career that you should be careful what you wish for in business and in life!” Wayne said. “Looking back, however, I wouldn’t change a thing. My wife Joan, two daughters and I have thoroughly enjoyed living and working all of those years in Asia, and we have been blessed with opportunities to travel and see places many people only read about or see on TV.” Wayne’s extensive travels, however, have not been without their expansive trials.

“It has not been easy as an American businessman in Asia,” he said. “After almost 17 years in Asia, I am still learning ‘what I don’t know’ about doing business here. I have watched too many people make the mistake of thinking, ‘if it works in the U.S., then it has to work here.’”

The biggest weakness Wayne points out in U.S. business and academia is a lack of understanding regarding the intricacies and relationships that make up the global economy. “We no longer have the luxury of living safely and comfortably within our own borders,” he said. “We must be able to compete and succeed on a global scale.”
In order to accomplish such a feat, Wayne encourages current and future business leaders to embrace the patience, listening skills and relationship building he learned during his travels up the international corporate ladder. “Working in Asia, you find that doing business is based on relationships and not about ‘the deal,’ he said. “It takes time to build a consensus and gain the trust and buy-in of your partners, not only in the business sector, but government regulatory bodies as well. It can be very difficult to balance these against the corporate pressure of ‘making something happen now’ vs. taking the time to do it right the first time.”

Wayne’s patience and perseverance as an international corporate leader paid off in numerous corporate ventures including Chrysler’s takeover of their small, bankrupt distributor in Korea. Thanks to his leadership, the business was transformed into one of the top five import vehicle operations in the country, and one of the most profitable organizations within Chrysler’s International Operations from a per vehicle perspective. “Many of these markets work hard to make it difficult for foreign companies to do business, which is probably what led me to get so involved in the American Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Embassies and associated congressional committees in Washington DC,” he said. “It’s important to get involved and let other business leaders know it’s possible to succeed in international markets.”

Wayne also used his influence and experience as an “outsider” living and working abroad to reach out to other Americans in Asia, including a stint as the USO Council President for Korea that allowed us to “bring a little piece of home” to the servicemen and women that were stationed there. According to Wayne, it is imperative that American universities have the capability to prepare students for the challenges of doing business in the global marketplace. Regardless of what field of study or career path a student chooses, they must be able to compete and succeed on a global scale.

“Students need to learn to keep an open mind and understand that in many cases, there is no right or wrong answer; there’s often just a different way to look at or approach an issue,” he said. “If they learn to be good listeners, they will find themselves better able to hear and comprehend what another person is saying even if it doesn’t align exactly with what they would do or how they would approach it.”

Ever the proud Lion alumnus, Wayne is glad to offer other A&M-Commerce students the same advice he gives his daughters, Jessica and Cassie. “Keep an open mind about the future,” he said. “You never know where you might end up, what turns your career path may take or the blessings you will discover along the way.”

(Taken from the Fall 2010 edition of the Pride Alumni Magazine)