Job shadow with mentor offers wisdom

By Arts mentee Moyo Ogunkunle
Mentor Peter Hoskow Arts '99, principal and managing director at CCS Fundraising; Chicago

My March 12 trip to shadow mentor Pete Hoskow in Chicago was well worth it. I’m appreciative of a day that was filled with so many useful experiences and insights, including riding the train to meeting with colleagues in his office and Pete’s friends in other offices. Throughout the day, I spoke with Pete’s colleagues about what it’s like working at CCS Fundraising, what they do and their suggestions with how to maneuver through my career. Based on discussions with Pete’s co-workers, I gauged that CCS has a culture and environment like a family. It’s a pretty small office, so those in different departments communicate and get to know each other personally, which you don’t always see. I think it’s a testimony to the type of people who work there and care.

Following my meetings with Pete’s colleagues at CCS, I was introduced to Pete’s friend and fellow Marquette alum, Marissa Martin, Comm ’00 and her colleague, Miriam. They work for Koya, an executive search firm. It was interesting that I immediately noticed their office consisted entirely of women, which is different from other offices. I got a lot of advice from Miriam, who came to the United States from Iran to finish school and subsequently work.

When speaking talking to Marissa, I was very intrigued by her story and perseverance, including the hard work she put forth to get to where she is now. I also learned from them that a bachelor’s degree and working my way up in an industry or multiple industries is just as good, if not, better than getting a master’s degree. I need to put forth the work, ask for what I want rather than wait for it to be given to me and although I may not start my career in what I’m passionate about, showing that willingness to work and ability to excel will make me reputable among managers. Ultimately, it will help get me to where I want to be.

One of the most interesting people I spoke with was Patrice at CCS. I learned that going the extra mile, especially as an African American, helps us to succeed today where most may try to do the bare minimum. In addition, she talked about the importance of giving back to the community locally and around the world because it helps to make the communities around us better as well as reenergize and help us stay happy. She also really impressed me her resilience and taught me the importance of making connections and to keep them strong because we never know when we may need them to help make a change.

Overall, this trip really helped me to achieve some goals that I set out to complete with Pete. One of them is being more comfortable networking and speaking about myself in a way that isn’t condescending. During my conversations that day, I felt more comfortable and natural like I was talking with a friend and not painless like a task or pulling teeth it felt natural. The other goal it helped me to complete is focusing my thoughts of what I want to do after graduation. I spoke to so many people who have done different things in the workforce and didn’t know what they wanted to do. I see them happy and passionate about doing impactful work. They assured me that knowing what I’m passionate about will help me when I get to the workforce to find what I’ll find enjoyment doing.

2018-19 MUAA Mentor Program Resource Guide