Quinlan students network with alumni and faculty during Quinlan Career Week ’25.
The second annual Quinlan Career Week, held in October 2025, provided numerous opportunities for networking with successful Loyola alumni across a variety of industries and helped students consider plans for their careers.
“Quinlan’s Career Week has become the premier opportunity for our students to engage with alumni and learn about their career paths, gain tips for success in business, and leverage their networks to learn about opportunities in dynamic fields,” said Tim Classen, senior associate dean for Undergraduate Programs and Academic Affairs.
Connecting students and alumni
During Career Week, Quinlan welcomed more than 80 alumni who traveled from around the country to speak in classrooms. Alumni spoke in classes covering twelve undergraduate business majors, sharing glimpses into their careers and offering advice and expertise.
The alumni class speakers are “a great idea for people who are unable to network to gain a way to start from the comfort of their own classroom,” said Nabeha Sajid (BBA ’26).
After class, aspiring entrepreneurs attended a panel featuring members of the Loyola community who started their own businesses. Jaime Acosta (MBA ’10), Holly Glowaty (MS ’11), Vaishak Mittur, Dominic Tancredi (BFA/BS ’04), and Diana Toscas (BS ’01) shared their experiences in entrepreneurship, the highs and lows, and how they got to where they are now.
“Hearing their stories, insights, and advice about life after college was inspiring and motivating,” said Yasmine Rea-Carrera (BBA ’27). “It was a reminder that many of them were once in our shoes, and with hard work and persistence, we can reach our goals, too.”
Insights from business leaders
The week was highlighted by two keynote speakers, Kevin Willer and Taylor O’Malley (BBA ’89), who shared lessons from their careers and took questions from students.
Willer, general partner at Chicago Ventures and a Loyola trustee, gave the first keynote speech of the week. He talked about co-founding Google’s Chicago office and serving as the founding CEO of tech start-up incubator 1871, which helps small businesses find the resources they need to thrive.
When asked by students about what makes a job candidate stand out, he identified two factors: networking and doing your research.
“Don’t show up unprepared, and don’t take the meeting unless you truly want the opportunity,” Willer said, emphasizing building a LinkedIn network and preparing for interviews. “I’m not talking about a day or two of research. Just take 20 minutes.”
As the second keynote of Career Week, O’Malley shared lessons learned during his journey to his current role as co-founder and president of Balyasny Asset Management. His company’s assets under management have grown from $40 million in 2011 to more than $28 billion today.
O’Malley highlighted several pillars for success: work hard, build and maintain relationships, listen to yourself, adapt, and have a little bit of luck. He also stressed that business is constantly evolving.
If you think you have it all figured out, “that should be a huge red flag in your head,” O’Malley said. “Nobody is ever stagnant, and markets are always changing.”
Focusing on networking
Networking was also emphasized during Career Week. Students learned how to network over dinner at the Networking and Etiquette Dinner and talked with potential employers at the Supply Chain Networking and Career Fair, which was hosted by Career Services.
“When we commit to career readiness on a massive scale, anyone can see the positive impact it has on our students,” said Ralen Ricardo, assistant director of employer relations at Career Services.
The networking also extended beyond the Schreiber Center walls. In partnership with Career Services, students attended “lunch and learns” at three company offices: LinkedIn, Vrakas CPAs + Advisors, and Wipfli.
