Alumni Profile: Billy
Business and technology consultant & project manager
MA in art education, class of 2003
When you first came to UIUC did you know for sure what you wanted to do as a major/career?
Yes
How many majors/careers did you "go through" during your years here and how did you finally come to a choice?
Early in life I decided that I wanted to study art because I had a passion for it. However, through my educational experience I have learned that there were other things that I was good at. I have since actively pursued these "other things" in order to achieve other goals in art, education, and business. Today, I have a BFA and MA in arts education, a career in business and technology consulting, and still actively make art and teach art.
What was one UIUC event, memory, person, class, that made a substantial difference in your career choices?
I was able to apply much of the discipline I learned in the ROTC commissioning program to nearly all aspects of my life as an artist. .
What was your first job after you earned your degree?
Military/Signals Intelligence officer in the US Army working for the National Security Agency.
How did you land your first career related job?
I was commissioned in the US Army upon graduaton and spent four years on active duty. Afterwards, I was hired as a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Manhattan, NY.
Please list all positions you have held since graduation.
- Military intelligence officer
- Human resources management consultant
- Business strategist
- Management consultant
- Graduate student
- Business and technology consultant & project manager
What is your current occupation and how did you come to it?
Business and technology consultant & project manager. Shortly after graduate school I contacted a consulting firm in Bloomington, IL. It did not matter what my educational background was, only that I had strong academic and experiential skills and a solid résumé.
What advice would you give to an FAA student who might be interested in your current or past careers?
It doesn't matter what your educational background is; you can pursue anything you want as long as you apply yourself and do good work. A strong work ethic and high standards are the keys to success. There is nothing wrong with switching tracks. Being multi-talented and unconventional has served me well.
What advice can you give an FAA student who is currently undecided about their future career?
Find what you are good at. Set out to find or create jobs that fit you. We only get one time around, make it worth it.