Willie kicked off his professional journey with a moment of moxie. As a University of Oregon business student, he stayed after one of his banking classes to connect with the day’s guest speaker—a chance encounter that changed his trajectory. That guest speaker happened to be the board chair of Synchrony, a leading U.S. financial services company. Impressed by Willie’s confidence and curiosity, the chair asked him for his resume on the spot.
The encounter led to a summer internship with Synchrony in Chicago, where Willie showcased his drive and talent. His efforts paid off, landing him a full-time position as a field sales manager and becoming the company’s last hire before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Willie has since worked his way up in the company, which has 20,000 employees, and been promoted to an AVP Relationship Manager.
He currently works out of the company’s office in Manhattan and lives in East Village. His day-to-day work involves partnering with GMs, client C-suites and cross functional teams to drive sales growth for contractual partners. While his job could be done fully remote, Willie loves the energy and excitement of working in the New York City office, as well as the opportunities to get face time with company senior leadership -- the type of role that he dreams of holding himself one day.
- From Hillsboro, Oregon
- Lives in New York City
- Major, Business Administration
- Graduated in 2019
- First-Generation College Student
Q&A with Willie
“I think I’ve always been intentional about building relationships with people, which starts with listening. In the modern workplace, it’s very easy to become siloed and isolated. But I consistently push to find ways to break through those barriers, even if it means stepping into uncomfortable situations. That commitment to building genuine connections has opened doors, strengthened my network, and played a pivotal role in advancing my career.”
“Don’t stress over what your peers are doing on LinkedIn. It’s so easy to get caught up in the comparison trap, where you’re constantly asking yourself: 'What’s next? What's next?'
It’s really important to focus on the long-term and remember: 'Hey, what I’m doing is great too.' If you know you’re at a good company, doing work you enjoy, just focus on building your network and continuing to move forward. A step is a step, no matter what direction. Keep on moving."
“First and foremost, my PathwayOregon scholarship allowed me to attend UO without needing to get a full-time job. That meant I could engage more with my classes, participate in a Semester at Sea program, and work lower-paid summer jobs that were better fit for preparing me for my career.
There were also a lot of times at UO where I was overwhelmed but I had a PathwayOregon advisor that I would go to. She would help me assess my situation, figure out what I needed to focus on in the short-term, and plan my path to graduating. She also helped me access university resources that I really wasn’t aware of — like attending professors’ office hours. That support system gave me the tools and confidence to succeed.”
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