April 7, 2003 Michael Zawoysky '79, speaker CFO, Footlocker.com "Mike Zawoysky was a 1979 Thiel graduate. He started at the bottom as a junior staff accountant at Cyclops, which was a steel company. He then continued to work hard and landed a job as financial analyst 10 months later. At age 24 he was the assistant controller at Busy Beaver Co. After that he went to Chamber's Waste and thought it was the most technical place to work. He believes that giving 110% at your job is important. He then went to check out a job in Woolworth. This job took a lot of traveling. He ended up staying with this company, which put him in the position of CFO at Footlocker.com." - Stacy Shook, senior accounting and business administration major "It seems to me that it is a good policy to be adventurous in the business world and that is a very important lesson Mr. Zawoysky had to relay to the class. Developing one's career takes perseverance, desire and most importantly to be able to take risks." - Todd Mechling, senior business administration major "Mike Zawoysky has learned through his job experiences that you must have a good personality, be a team player and rely on partnerships. You cannot get the work done by yourself and with the help of others you can reach your goals. He also stressed that you can never change your ethics." - Michael Schiemer, junior business administration major "I asked Mr. Zawoysky the question, 'What advice would you give to someone when they first start their career?' His reply was to believe and be confident in yourself. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Most people probably have the same questions that you do." - Craig Chaussinand, junior business administration major "Mr. Zawoysky was a very charismatic speaker that knew how to accurately convey his message to the group. He explained the structure of Footlocker and their sister companies, talked about marketing strategy, and communicated his management philosophy regarding his employees. He is a successful alumnus and was entertaining and interesting, rounding out an enjoyable evening and a great semester of Business Seminar." - Paul Persic, senior business administration and MIS major