Bronco Spotlight: John Sypniewski
Bachelor of Business Administration in sales and marketing, 2021
Sales Academy Trainee at SMC
I was relocated to SMC's headquarters and stay on the property at a dormitory in Noblesville, IN. I'm in the midst of a 5-month training program that is teaching me various areas of the business and how it operates full-circle. I feel truly blessed to be a part of a company that works together as a team and wants to see everyone succeed. I give all credit to the sales and marketing program at WMU as it shaped me into a professional that I am today. Western does a great job preparing you for the worst, so it doesn't seem too bad in the professional world. The skills I gained enabled me to think efficiently and prepare with ease.
What's the most rewarding and most challening part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is knowing that what my company does will affect the industrial world as we know it. I work for a very innovative company that dips its toes in just about every industry and truly cares about their customers and the well-being of the planet. The most challenging part so far has been understanding the concept of how a pneumatic application is put together as well as finding the right products for that application. With 12,500 basic product series, not including variations, it's not easy finding exactly what the customer needs. A large portion of this program helps me to do just that, making me feel more confident with product knowledge every day.
Which of your skills had the biggest impact on your success?
I believe the skill that has gotten me this far would be resiliency. I never worried about what other people were doing as I knew it had no effect on me. Instead, I focused on my own strengths and weaknesses and carried myself through hard times that inevitably occurred. Every time I was knocked down, I stood and fought back harder. Covid especially was not easy to deal with but I stayed true to my goals and did everything I could to make sure it wouldn't have an effect on my future.
What advice do you have for students looking for their career after college?
There's a perfect job out there for anyone. Don't settle for something you know you won't like because it'll be so hard to push yourself to learn their process. Take your time and try to find a company that will treat you like a human. I didn't have any business experience before I accepted this position but I made it very clear that I was willing to do whatever it takes to be successful if I was given the right guidance. Don't stress too hard about it but that stress and fear will put you in the right position. I promise.