Grant Gawronski ’84

Grant Gawronski ’84 was the featured speaker at the April 15 Ruth A. Miller Senior Business Seminar. Gawronski is a retired senior executive who has had a distinguished career working for multiple Fortune 500 companies.

“For the class on April 15, 2026, Grant Gawronski shared his college story and career experiences. I was surprised when Mr. Gawronski said ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ in Korean. He mentioned that he had worked in Korea before, and that made me even more curious about his career journey.” Miyeon Lee ’26

“This week’s class featured Grant L. Gawronski ‘84, a highly successful Thiel College alumnus. Originally from Mentor, Ohio, Grant now lives near Houston, Texas. He chose Thiel for various reasons that align closely with my own: it’s a small school, he wanted to participate in athletics, the business program is strong, and personal relationships are highly valued.” Sara Owens ’26

“He shared stories about his time in Delta Sigma Phi, including the tradition of buying and raising a pig each year as their mascot.” Lorene Byler ’26

“Grant Gawronski shared his career journey and professional advice from his experience as a high-level executive at global companies like General Electric, Eaton, Cooper Industries, and Gates Corporation. The focus of his presentation was ‘Differentiating yourself’ and how to build a successful career path in a changing business environment.” Eunseo Lee ’26

“He also said that one of the biggest advantages of a relatively small school is that professors and students all know each other and can communicate closely. I strongly agree with this point. One of the most surprising things I have felt during my semester at Thiel is that most students seem to know each other. I think having such a strong network and being able to easily build friendships is a huge asset.” Miyeon Lee ’26

“Thiel is so special in his opinion because of the personal connections you are able to build with everyone.” Brett Channell ’27

“I really enjoyed this week’s speaker, Grant Gawronski. He was extremely personable and came well prepared, offering a lot of valuable advice that we can carry into our future careers.” Lorene Byler ’26

“He emphasized that there is no single path to success and no shortcuts to getting there. Instead, he encouraged us to align our expectations with our willingness to work, reminding us that hard work, integrity, and honesty are non-negotiable. His advice echoed what we have heard from other speakers, arrive early, stay late, maintain a positive attitude, and ask questions. Hearing these ideas reinforced again made them feel more real and attainable. It made me reflect on how consistency in these habits can truly set someone apart and help them grow both personally and professionally.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“Another piece of advice that I took away from Grant’s presentation was to learn how to differentiate yourself from others. To differentiate yourself, you need to really focus on your work ethic, performance, and meet your commitments. He gave us plenty of tips on how to differentiate, such as showing up early and staying late at work. By doing this, you prove to your employer that you want to be there and work hard.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26

“I also liked his advice about continuous learning. I used to think that I only needed to study for exams in college, but he showed me that successful people never stop reading and listening to others to stay updated. This changed my perspective on how I should approach my studies and future job.” Eunseo Lee ’26

“Grant noted that you are constantly being evaluated at work. The two most important factors in these evaluations are your potential and your performance, which can directly affect your compensation. I truly appreciated Grant’s unfiltered honesty and advice on preparing for a future career. In his closing remarks, he reiterated the importance of personal relationships, saying, “It’s not about the money; it’s about the relationships.” Sara Owens ’26

“He also addressed a topic we have not heard much on before: remote work. I loved what he had to say about it— being in person develops leadership and teamwork skills otherwise unattainable. Additionally, it allows you to showcase your skills. He explained that most things in corporate America are like a test. You are constantly being watched and compared. ‘Work is a team sport, but there are always higher performers.’ Also, is it really fair for people to show up to factories for a company and produce something, while the office staff stay at home? This was incredibly relatable. Cows do not milk themselves, and even with autosteer, tractors work best with an operator.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26

“One tip he gave us is to reverse engineer your career and find out where you want to end up and it doesn’t matter how big that idea might be.” Brett Channell ’27

“The last tip that I took away from this presentation was that work/life balance is not on my employer, but on me, the employee. He made sure to tell us that when they ask that question in an interview, it is a trap. He gave us some responses to go off when we are asked that question, because at the end of the day, you are getting hired to do a job.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26

“Overall, he made it clear that success comes from effort, attitude, and using the skills you gained at Thiel to stand out. I already knew him from the investment club, so it was cool hearing him speak, and I appreciate him taking the time to present and giving us that opportunity.” Lindsey Pearce ’26

“I also appreciated his confidence in our future success. He repeatedly told us that we will be successful, even millionaires one day, and expressed complete confidence in Thiel’s ability to prepare us for that future. It is encouraging to hear someone speak so positively and without hesitation about what lies ahead for me and my peers.” Lorene Byler ’26

“This evening was a great conclusion to our Investment Club, too. Working with Grant has been a great privilege and opportunity. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, mostly because I participated in something on campus that was not a class. Between the club and his lecture, I learned lessons I know I will reference throughout my personal and professional life.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26

“His closing message, that we all have the potential to be millionaires, was both motivating and hopeful, especially as the end of the semester approaches and the future feels closer than ever. I also greatly appreciate his offer to fund an AI course for anyone in the class, an opportunity I plan to take advantage of. Overall, his presence, encouragement, and authenticity made him my favorite speaker so far, and his message is one I will carry with me moving forward.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“I learned a lot from Grant, it was a lot of the usual things our speakers talk about, but it hit a little bit different this time. He is a very smart and well-spoken man that commands a room. Grant’s presentation was definitely one of my favorites.” Trey Grazier ’27

Lessons Learned

“Think big – there are no shortcuts and no substitutions for hard work.” Trey Grazier ’27
“Show up every day, put in the time, and learn your job.” Preston Lefkowicz ’27
“Ask questions, ask for help, and learn from mistakes (but don’t repeat them).” Lindsey Pearce ’27
“Learn the job you have and be the best at it.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26
“Take the jobs no one wants; it is where you will learn the most.” Sara Owens ’26
“Differentiate yourself.” Eunseo Lee ’26
“Work/Life balance is your responsibility and a matter of priorities. Building a career takes some sacrifices.” Miyeon Kim ’26
“Match your expectations to your willingness to do what it takes to get there.” Giovanna Franz ’27
“Put in the time. Arrive early – stay a little late. Professionals do not work an 8 to 5 schedule.” Miyeon Kim ’26
“Be honorable, nothing is bigger than your reputation.” Brett Channell ’27
“It is okay to move outside of your comfort zone, the people who truly love and care about you will always be there.” Trey Grazier ’27
“Keeping cool is your superpower. Never panic when things go wrong.” Preston Lefkowicz ’27
“Personal relationships matter.” Sara Owens ’26
“Good investments require smart thinking and understanding value.” Lindsey Pearce ’27

Dinner Dishing

“Our class on April 15 was a great evening. The German meal was probably my favorite so far. I went to the store the next day to purchase purple cabbage seeds for my garden! At dinner we had a great discussion about a plethora of things, from gardens and tractors, to ‘borrowing’ trees from local golf courses.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26
“The combination of gnocchi, cabbage, and fried pork on the main menu was something I had never tried before, but it went together well. In particular, the cabbage and sauce reminded me of the Chinese-style dishes that are commonly enjoyed in Korea, which made the meal feel even more familiar and comforting to me.” Miyeon Lee ’26
“AVI once again prepared an amazing meal, and it’s something I’ve come to look forward to each week. The quality of the food and the consistency they bring every Wednesday night really stand out. I’m definitely going to miss being able to enjoy these dinners and the overall experience when the semester comes to an end.” Lorene Byler ’26
“Every week I look forward to writing these for you, Professor Witosky. I originally was planning on not being at dinner on Tuesday, but boy am I glad that I came. It is always a treat to sit with Roberta Leonard. She carries conversation so well and our table never goes dull. It was also neat to sit with our Korean students and hear a little bit more about their culture compared to ours.” Trey Grazier ’27