jake welsh, b.b.a.'15
Western Michigan University graduate Jake Welsh, B.B.A.’15, knows that when it comes to taking risks, you need to accept uncertainty every now and again.
When Welsh graduated in 2015, he was offered an inside sales role at a well-known e-commerce marketplace, where he supported their home and auto departments. But after working there for over a year, he decided it was time for a change. “I wanted to look for something that would be more of a long-term career,” Welsh shares. “I reached out to a family friend who worked for Praxair to discuss roles and what it would be like to work for them. I ended up getting offered an interview immediately and knew it was what I wanted to do.”
But his leap to another company didn’t come without some hesitation. The move to Praxair meant another line on his resume, something Welsh was concerned about. “I always thought that the job you took after graduation was an organization you’d stay at forever,” Welsh says. “But it doesn’t work that way for many people. With each job comes a chance to learn and grow, and that’s really what’s most important.”
Now, Welsh is excelling in his new role as territory manager at Praxair and is learning what it takes to be a great leader. “When challenges come up at work, I like to face them head on and get to the bottom of the issue,” Welsh shares. “To be a good leader, you have to be able to communicate well, hold yourself and others accountable and stay organized. I have a great manager who emulates these characteristics and that has a big impact on my work.”
That positive impact is taking shape in many forms, with Welsh recently closing the largest sale of his career thus far. While it took nearly four months to complete, he learned a lot from the experience. “Even after multiple meetings and a few proposals completely scrapped, giving the customer exactly what they were looking for was all worth it in the end,” Welsh shares.
When it comes to the early career success Welsh has achieved, he credits the Haworth College of Business for helping him get there. “I chose the business college because it was the perfect match for me, and I knew the education would be the best one I could get,” Welsh says. “Every class I took at the business college applies to my job today. Having the skills that the business college teaches will make an incredible difference in your career later on.”