From Disney to HR Leadership — Hospitality, Entertainment, and Finding Your Path

Paving your own path

Welcome to the Season 3 finale of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career. In this final episode, host Beth Gionfriddo, Career Coach at Nichols College, is joined by Charlie Robert—former Nichols Athletic Director, faculty member, mentor, and trailblazer in collegiate athletics. Charlie shares her career journey through higher education and athletics administration, reflecting on her experience as a student-athlete, her leadership philosophy, and what it was like to be one of the early female Athletic Directors at the college level. Together, we discuss the evolution of women’s leadership in sports, the importance of mentorship, and what students pursuing sport management or athletics careers need to understand about both the business and human sides of the field. And a note from Charlie about working in Sport: * Learned skills are transferable  * Network = TEAM (together everyone achieves more) = Develop strong Life Skills AND…      * Volunteer!! The NCAA functions due to professionals volunteering their time to serve on committees and you Get to meet the greatest colleagues & learn sooo much! Rember: Talent x Investment + Strength – CR This episode is full of insight, perspective, and advice for students, alumni, and anyone interested in leadership, athletics, or higher education. Thank you for listening to Season 3—we hope this conversation sends you into the summer inspired and motivated.

So you are interested in a career in counseling.

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, I reconnect with Paul Angelucci, whose career pathn highlights the value of persistence, reflection, and embracing a non-linear professional journey. Paul currently serves as an Embedded Counselor for Residential Well-being at Virginia Tech while also working as an outpatient counselor with National Counseling Group. In addition to his clinical work, he contributes to his community through service on the boards of several nonprofit organizations. Throughout the conversation, Paul reflects on how his experiences in residence life, student leadership, retail management, and higher education helped shape the skills he now uses in counseling and mental health work. He discusses how leadership roles such as being a Resident Assistant helped develop communication, crisis response, and interpersonal skills that translate directly into clinical practice. The episode also explores the role of self-concept and limiting beliefs in career development, the process of pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, and the steps required to become a licensed outpatient therapist. Paul offers thoughtful advice for students who feel uncertain about their career path, emphasizing that success often comes from stacking experiences, staying open to growth, and trusting the process while continuing to take meaningful action.

So, you want to work in Criminal Justice?

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career I talk with Bill Keefe, a retired police sergeant and former Criminal Justice faculty member at Nichols College. Bill has spent years helping students prepare for law enforcement careers, including conducting mock interviews and coaching candidates through some of the most demanding hiring processes in public safety. In this conversation, he shares an inside look at what criminal justice students can expect when applying to law enforcement roles. Listeners will learn about the key stages of the hiring process for local police departments and federal agencies, including written exams, oral board interviews, background investigations, and psychological evaluations. Bill also explains how law enforcement interviews differ from traditional job interviews and why integrity, decision-making, and professionalism are heavily evaluated. Throughout the episode, Bill provides practical strategies for preparing for scenario-based interview questions, researching departments, demonstrating maturity and sound judgment, and avoiding common mistakes candidates make during interviews. This episode offers valuable insights for any criminal justice student preparing for competitive law enforcement hiring processes.

The Wide World of Careers in Sport

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, I’m joined by Aisling Dowling, a Nichols alum and former Student Government Class Officer, who has built an exciting career in professional sports by taking strategic risks and saying yes to new opportunities. Aisling shares her journey from being a General Business major with a Sport Management concentration to starting her career in sales with Fenway Sports Management Group in Boston. We talk about what motivated her to make a major move from Massachusetts to Las Vegas, where she worked with the Vegas Golden Knights, and how that transition helped her grow into partnership-focused roles within professional sports. We chat about how college experiences, student leadership, and internships prepared her for the sports industry. The role of sales as an entry point into professional sports careers. And how networking helped her build relationships and her career. This episode is especially valuable for students interested in sports management, professional sports, sales, partnerships, and business roles within athletics, as well as anyone considering taking a career risk to pursue long-term goals.

From Disney to HR Leadership — Hospitality, Entertainment, and Finding Your Path

In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, I’m joined by Nicole Gawlik, an alum whose career journey spans the Disney College Program, hospitality and luxury hotels, sports entertainment, and Human Resources. Nicole currently works as an HR Manager in the wine and spirits distribution industry, where she leads people operations and recruitment.  Nicole shares how her career evolved over time, including what first sparked her interest in HR and how early experiences, especially the Disney College Program, shaped her professional mindset. We talk about the transferable skills she developed through hospitality and customer-facing roles, and how those skills prepared her for leadership in HR. We also explore: * What students should know about the Disney College Program before applying * Lessons learned from working in hotels and luxury hospitality * Her experience with the Savannah Bananas and the power of fan engagement and culture * Key skills needed for success in recruiting and HR management * Common misconceptions about HR careers * How internships, seasonal roles, and early jobs can help clarify career direction Nicole offers thoughtful advice for students interested in HR, recruiting, hospitality, entertainment, or people-focused careers, as well as encouragement for those still figuring out their path.