Joey Pisano scrubs into sales: finds his passion in the medical device industry

KALAMAZOO, Mich.— Junior sales and business marketing student Joey Pisano has found both his professional passion and a place where he belongs during his time at WMU. Originally from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, the Western Michigan University Haworth College of Business student has discovered he’s comfortable in a business suit or pair of scrubs as he explores a career in medical device sales. 

For Pisano, the unknown is what makes sales so compelling.

“The idea of having a job where no day is ever the same is so exciting to me. I want to go into medical device sales specifically, and the endless variety in that field is one thing that makes it so interesting to me. The autonomy within sales is also very appealing because it can give me more time to travel the world!”

WMU Haworth has allowed Pisano to follow his curiosity through his courses and academics.

“This semester, I got my first taste of what the sales program is really like, and I absolutely loved it. The faculty genuinely care about my growth, and the classes themselves push me to do my best. I look forward to going to these classes because they are so fun! Being able to curate my own path has made my time at WMU Haworth so enriching. The students and staff here all support one another, especially in our sales classes. We are always giving each other constructive feedback.”

Outside of the classroom, Pisano has found support from student organizations. As a member and executive officer of the Sales and Business Marketing Association (SBMA), Pisano has found invaluable connections. 

“Through SBMA, I have met so many wonderful people that I would never have met otherwise. I have really grown into the community around me, knowing I have lots of support. I used to leave to go visit friends at other campuses every weekend, but this year I have found myself trying to immerse myself at WMU, and SBMA has been a big reason for that change.”

Beyond his experiences on campus, Pisano had the chance to shadow a Stryker sales representative through their day in a hospital. He experienced what the day-to-day of a medical device sales representative looks like, inspiring him to pursue this type of career. He says, “I was able to sit in on two different surgeries, toured the hospital, and got to meet many doctors and nurses. It was an amazing opportunity and really solidified that this is the kind of work I want to do in the future.”

Pisano shares some advice with incoming students.

“Don’t be scared to try something new. The worst-case scenario is that you don’t like it, and you don’t do it again. The best-case scenario is that you meet some of your best friends! Whether it’s a club, going to the Student Recreation Center, or a Greek life opportunity, I encourage you to set your fears aside and just take that next step. As scary as it may seem, it could be the step that changes your life for the better.”

Learn more about sales and business marketing at WMU.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.