Çï¿ûÊÓƵ

Traditional education was never of much interest to Sophia Sestak '24. From a young age, her father, who owns several businesses, taught her about the economy and what it takes to run a successful business. By 14, she was working as a manager. It would have been easy for her to skip college. But Sestak understood the advantages a degree would provide her.

"I needed to get my bachelor's degree to get into a successful role," the business sales major said.

Sestak's college education is already showing its value. As she finished out her final classes and prepared for graduation, Sestak was packing up to move across the country. She starts her post-college career as a manager trainee with Cintas in Fort Meyers, Fla., in June. As for earning her degree, she achieved that in three years while working 20-25 hours a week at Menards.

"Despite a challenging academic load of 18 credit hours per semester, I pushed myself to graduate a year ahead of schedule," she said. "I have always disliked school and wanted to get it done as fast as I could because I already had real-world experience."

Although Sestak already had invaluable business knowledge from her childhood, she says the skills she learned at St. Ambrose have given her the edge she was looking for as she takes the next step in her career.

"I've gained practical skills through role-plays and classroom activities that boosted my confidence for real-world situations. By attending classes regularly and actively participating, I absorbed all the information and built a strong foundation of knowledge."

In the St. Ambrose business sales major, students are immersed in hands-on experiences. Several courses utilize AI robots called RNMKRS to help students practice and refine their selling skills. This provides them with an invaluable and judgment-free environment to bolster their experience. Students put those skills to the test in front of working professionals. Professors bring in multiple companies for live-role play scenarios.

"These immersive and practical experiences have been instrumental in preparing me for the challenges and demands of my future career," Sestak said.

Sestak has natural ambition. In addition to earning her Bachelor of Business Administration in business sales in three years, she also completed minors in marketing and management. Much of the credit is due to her relentless work ethic and drive for success. But the nurturing community she found at St. Ambrose was also an asset.

"St. Ambrose is an incredibly supportive and welcoming atmosphere. The school fosters a community where professors genuinely care about students' success and are committed to helping them succeed," Sestak said. "Whether through academic support, mentorship, or personalized guidance, the faculty at St. Ambrose are dedicated to ensuring that students thrive and reach their full potential."