Career Launch: How Caddying Helped Evan Fisher Land a Job with Mondelez International

Sep 9

Manager of Corporate Development at Mondelez International, Evan shares how caddying at Orchard Lake Country Club helped him become an Evans Scholar and land a great job.

Why do you enjoy your job so much?

I love the work because it’s dynamic, high-impact, and collaborative. Every deal is like a high-stakes puzzle — it spans multiple countries, involves diverse teams, and requires balancing strategic vision with precise execution. It’s deeply rewarding to work alongside some of the best M&A professionals in the world, using skills I’ve been developing since my first job. And yes, being surrounded by some of the most beloved snacks on the planet definitely adds a bit of joy to the workday.

How did caddying help prepare you for this role?

Caddying was my first crash course in professionalism. You’re talking to people you’ve just met — often with far more experience and much higher expectations — and you need to earn their trust in real time. I learned to notice every detail: where the ball landed, which club would be needed next, when to offer advice and when to stay silent. I also learned to keep calm when the weather got nasty or when someone’s game wasn’t going their way. Those skills — quick thinking, emotional intelligence, patience, and staying steady under pressure — are exactly what I draw on now in the boardroom when navigating multimillion-dollar deals.

Did anyone that you met caddying help you land your job? If so, please explain.

While no single person from my caddying days directly handed me my current role, the people I met shaped my mindset and ambition. Watching accomplished leaders carry themselves on and off the course showed me that success isn’t just about winning — it’s about how you treat people along the way. Those lessons, absorbed from golfers I caddied for, guided the way I built my career and the values I bring to my work today.

Can you name someone whose career inspires you and that you'd like to emulate?

Michele Kang has been a consistent source of inspiration for me. She’s known for her bold vision, her willingness to challenge the status quo, and her ability to lead with both confidence and empathy. On top of that, she’s a passionate supporter of sports, investing in and championing athletic organizations to drive growth, equality, and opportunity. Watching her blend business acumen with a commitment to making a positive impact — both in her industry and in the sports world — reinforces for me that leadership is about more than results; it’s about values and vision.

What's the best perk of your job?

Working in the snack industry comes with some delicious benefits. One of my favorites is getting to try new products before they ever hit store shelves. It’s like having a backstage pass to innovation — except the show is a kitchen and the previews are edible. Plus, having an endless supply of Oreos within arm’s reach doesn’t hurt either.

Kai Sato

Kai Sato is a managing partner of Mauloa, a unique private equity firm where he is its west coast lead. In addition to Mauloa, he is an advisor to Forma Capital, a consumer-focused venture firm and a fund advisor to Hatch, a global startup accelerator focused on helping feed the world through sustainable aquaculture technologies. Kai is the author of “Marketing Architecture: How to Attract Customers, Hires, and Investors for Any Company Under 50 Employees.” Through his holding company, Kaizen Reserve, Inc., he also advises family offices and corporations on the design, implementation, and oversight of their venture capital portfolios, sometimes taking an active role in turning around underperforming investments. Previously, Kai was the co-president & chief marketing officer of Crown Electrokinetics (Nasdaq: CRKN), the chief marketing & innovation officer of Rubicon Resources (acquired), the co-founder of FieldLevel, and a board member of SportTechie (acquired). He has also been a contributor to publications like Inc., Entrepreneur, IR Magazine, and HuffPost, in addition to a speaker at various industry conferences. An avid golfer who put himself through college by working as a caddy, Kai is the creator of Caddyshack to Corner Office, a golf media platform that profiles successful people whose lives were transformed by caddying and also serves on the board of a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, called Friends of Golf (FOG). He graduated from the University of Southern California as a Presidential Scholar and now chairs the alumni board of its John H. Mitchell Business of Cinematic Arts Program. Follow Kai on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Career Launch: How Caddying Helped Evan Fisher Land a Job with Mondelez International

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