Jason Pacynski, B.B.A.'05

Success Express

Jason Pacynski, B.B.A.'05, was eager to test drive his Haworth College of Business education in the windy city after graduation when he began working with Aon, a provider of risk and human capital management services. His work as a financial analyst uncovered his passion for strategizing and project management, and he began working with the technology strategy group where he was involved in vendor negotiations, program planning and operations strategy. Most recently, Pacynski moved from Aon to Edelman, an independent global public relations firm, to pursue a career in enabling technology as an MIS project manager.

After test driving his education for a few years, Pacynski feels that he was well-prepared by the college, particularly in the area of communication skills. He uses both written and spoken abilities learned from Dr. Joel Bowman’s business communication class daily in his career. He also frequently refers back to his studies in change and talent management as well, and he notes, “Companies need to be in a position to retain and grow talent, or those employees will leave to seek other opportunities.” Pacynski credits the college in his success. “Academics are a cornerstone of growth. Without obtaining knowledge on how to formulate results from WMU, I would not be as motivated to succeed both professionally and personally in the same way. I routinely lean on the backbone established by the Haworth College of Business,” he says.

In addition to networking in one’s field, Pacynski points out the importance of keeping in touch with fellow Broncos. He regularly spends time with Western graduates, “It’s important that we not only look out for each other but also become peer mentors to each other. It is important to form relationships with classmates who may not have the same major as you; because you never know when you may be looking to change industries, learn something new, or draw upon a fellow Bronco’s professional expertise for your own business or work within the community.” In addition to networking with alumni, Pacynski assists current students by giving presentations to groups and mentoring through career and student employment services. He gives recommendations to students on career planning, job placement and general questions about his industry, helping students prepare to test drive their own WMU experience and get ready to go from zero to sixty.