"Coming from banking, it’s nice to know that what I’m doing is actually helping these kids," Martin says.

Janet Martin, BBA ’02, is working to ensure that children with autism can be properly educated. She is the senior marketing director for Autism Training Solutions, a Hawaii-based autism education company that offers eTraining to parents, teachers, and professionals. Before landing in Hawaii, earned an MBA from the Melbourne Business School in Australia and worked as head of business development for an education startup in New York City.

Can you explain what Autism Training Solutions does?

Our goal is to improve autism education training. Since 2008, we’ve gone to schools, clinics, and homes and taped interventions [children who have autism] so that people can see them as they happen. It’s the only evidence-based method for training available. We have built an interactive online learning platform for parents and teachers.

How did you decide you wanted to work with autism education?

I got burnt out in New York and needed to make a life change. I put all of my stuff in storage and came to Hawaii looking for a career with a startup company. Finding Autism Training Solutions was just by chance; I wasn’t even sure what they did when I started working for them. It was fate that brought me to this! But now, coming from banking, it’s nice to know that what I’m doing is actually helping these kids.

What does the current autism education system look like?

Kids often can’t get private therapy because the government thinks [autism education] is an education issue, not a health issue. But the teachers often don’t know how to teach these kids because they haven’t been trained. Fifty-six percent of school districts in 2009 said they couldn’t find teachers for these children. We are trying to fill that gap, and with autism rates growing, we might not be able to catch up. Teachers want this training. We poll everyone who goes through the program and they want this, and it is not a burden for them.

What is most challenging about your job?

Being in Hawaii! A lot of our clients are on the mainland or overseas. We still get a lot of business, especially over the internet, but it’s hard to get the word out [about the business]. We accumulate a lot of air miles.

How would you characterize your experience as a BBA student at McCombs?

It was great! I look back now and realize it was one of the best schools I could have gone to. When I was getting my MBA, I felt like I had already learned everything I needed to know from getting my undergraduate degree at McCombs.

What are some pieces of wisdom that have guided your career?

I believe in networking and learning. If you are afraid to ask other people questions and get their feedback, you are never going to learn anything. When we started, no one knew who we were; we had to build relationships to build our company. You have to get out there and find out what is going on. I wish I would have started doing that sooner. I was shy in school and didn’t take advantage of everything McCombs had to offer and that’s one of my biggest regrets.

What advice would you give to current McCombs students?

Take advantage of what McCombs offers! Network, get involved and do more than just take classes. It will help you find what you are passionate about. You can definitely find what you love at UT.

Editor's note: In the December alumni e-newsletter, Martin was incorrectly identified as 'Janis' Martin, and her work with Autism Training Solutions should have been described as helping "children with autism," which is the preferred term over "autistic children."