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Students
Building Her Own Blueprint
Julianna Vukaj
Class of 2026
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Currently Studying: BBA Finance, BS Economics
Member (Clubs): Founder and President of , Investment Team Member, Chief Events Director for Honors Advisory Board (HAB)
Why did you choose vlogƵ and the Lubin School of Business?
Having been born and raised in New York, I always knew I wanted to go to college in Manhattan. Interestingly, my sister graduated from Pace in 2013, so at first, I actually tried to make my own path and looked elsewhere. But when it came down to making a final decisionvlogƵone that would provide real access to opportunities and resources to help me stand out in the business worldvlogƵI found myself drawn to Pace and Lubin. Lubin has a reputation for strong internship and post-graduation career success rates, cutting edge facilities such as our Bloomberg Lab, notable professors who support you every step of the way, andvlogƵmost importantlyvlogƵbeing located at the center of the business world.
How have clubs on campus helped enrich your student experience?
Aside from having the opportunity to found an organization, existing clubs on campus have tremendously enriched my experience. As Chief Events Director of the Honors Advisory BoardvlogƵan organization run through the Pforzheimer Honors CollegevlogƵIvlogƵve had the opportunity to lead a team that creates exclusive events for 750 honors students and contributes to delivering a distinguished honors experience, all while building my leadership capabilities. Additionally, being on the Investment Team has allowed me to surround myself with like-minded individuals I can learn from and engage with in market-driven discussionsvlogƵcontributing directly to my goals for a future career.
What inspired you to create Women in Lubin?
A vlogƵWomen in Business SocietyvlogƵ was the first thing I searched for when I came to Pace, and I knew we had to have onevlogƵespecially since Pace was initially founded as a business school. It only made sense to create an environment where undergraduate women studying business could connect and work toward a common goal: breaking into male-dominated industries. Although I was happy to see we had other womenvlogƵs groups, it turned out we didnvlogƵt have one that specifically represented women business majors or catered to their needs. ThatvlogƵs what led to the idea of creating the organization from scratch.
What have been the major takeaways from your current role as President of Women in Lubin?
One of the biggest takeaways from my role as President of Women in Lubin has been learning how to turn rejection into redirection. The first time my e-board and I pitched our organization, it was rejectedvlogƵwe needed more structure, stronger ideas, and a clearer niche. It was disheartening, but instead of walking away, we took the feedback seriously and spent the next semester building a brand that couldnvlogƵt be overlooked. We developed a social media presence, connected with potential event speakers, and refined our mission to reflect what was missing on campus. After receiving approval and launching 18 successful events in our first semester, IvlogƵve learned that resilience is just as important as visionvlogƵand sometimes, itvlogƵs not about changing the goal, just the approach.
How has being a member of the Pforzheimer Honors College benefitted you?
Being a member of the Pforzheimer Honors College has allowed me to attend exclusive honors events and build close relationships with friends and professors in my honors courses. Most significantly, the Honors College has helped me thrive in what IvlogƵd call a vlogƵsmall pond, big fishvlogƵ environmentvlogƵwhere IvlogƵve had the chance to stand out, take on leadership roles, and contribute meaningfully to my community.
YouvlogƵre Chief Events Director of the Pforzheimer Honors College, what has been the most rewarding part of this position?
The most rewarding part of being Chief Events Director has been the opportunity to shapevlogƵand be part ofvlogƵa team where everyonevlogƵs creative ideas are heard and valued. From brainstorming themes to executing final details, IvlogƵve learned that the best events come from open communication and mutual respect. Helping our team grow together and take pride in what we create has made this role especially meaningful.
What has been your favorite opportunity at Pace?
There are numerous opportunities IvlogƵd characterize as stellar; however, my favorite has been founding and launching Women in Lubin with an amazing e-board. With support from the Office of Student Engagement and the Lubin School of Business, we had a successful first semester and laid the groundwork for a lasting organization.
Do you have any advice for other Lubin students?
My greatest piece of advice for Lubin students is to keep up with events and programs hosted by Lubin and its student organizations. YouvlogƵd be surprised at the opportunities and ideas that can come from simply having conversations with peers and professors in the Lubin community.
What does #LubinLife mean to you?
In my experience, #LubinLife has meant not only being surrounded by people who strive for successvlogƵbut also by those who lift others up along the way. For that, I am truly grateful.
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