Managing Your Career After the PCSB Panel
In front of a packed house, the Department of Accountancy hosted the Managing Your Career After the PCSB panel on October 6, 2022. Moderated by Stephen Perreault, Ph.D., associate professor of accountancy and chair of the department, the panel brought industry professionals to the Ryan Center to share their wisdom and experience with students.
The panel, comprised of Meghan Kass ’96 & ’26P, Neil Mitchill ’97 and Paul Ferraro ’22P, explored a variety of topics including expectations of entry-level employees, the importance of relationship-building and networking, soft skills, finding passion in work, work-life balance, and career planning.
Being an entry-level employee directly out of school can be a challenge. To that, Mitchill, CFO at Raytheon Technologies, advised students to maintain a positive attitude, be inquisitive, and most importantly, learn from your mistakes; they will happen, don’t be frustrated, but rather embrace the lessons learned.
On the topic of choosing the right opportunities, Ferraro, President of Air Power at Raytheon Missiles and Defense, shared “Compensation will come with time. Focus on all the other stuff and make sure you are proud of where you work.” He stressed that it is most important that you share values with the organization where you work; where your work must represent who you are as a person. He described the immense pride he has in his work, serving members of the military every single day.
Wrapping the panel discussion was a conversation on work-life balance. Kass, Simmons University’s CFO, shared great insights: “It takes practice, and it will evolve over time as you grow as an individual. Most importantly, you’ll want to build a strong network – both personal and professional – and use that network to support you.”
Questions from the audience focused on launching a successful career in the accounting field, perfecting work-life balance, and knowing the right time to take one’s next career step.
When asked to share a final piece of advice, Mitchill told students to “Do a good job with the job you currently have; don’t always look ahead to the next opportunity,” going on to explain that it is important to live in the moment and not always be concerned about what comes next. Kass and Ferraro discussed the importance of celebrating your team by recognizing their accomplishments and finding joy in your team’s success not just your own personal success.
At the conclusion of the panel, each of the panelists graciously spent time talking with students, sharing their knowledge, and opening their networks for continued conversations.
