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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 ŮٱƵ 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 decisionŮٱƵone that would provide real access to opportunities and resources to help me stand out in the business worldŮٱƵI 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, andŮٱƵmost importantlyŮٱƵbeing 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 BoardŮٱƵan organization run through the Pforzheimer Honors CollegeŮٱƵIŮٱƵve 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 discussionsŮٱƵcontributing directly to my goals for a future career.
What inspired you to create Women in Lubin?
A ŮٱƵWomen in Business SocietyŮٱƵ was the first thing I searched for when I came to Pace, and I knew we had to have oneŮٱƵespecially 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 womenŮٱƵs groups, it turned out we didnŮٱƵt have one that specifically represented women business majors or catered to their needs. ThatŮٱƵs 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 rejectedŮٱƵwe 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 couldnŮٱƵt 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, IŮٱƵve learned that resilience is just as important as visionŮٱƵand sometimes, itŮٱƵs 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 IŮٱƵd call a ŮٱƵsmall pond, big fishŮٱƵ environmentŮٱƵwhere IŮٱƵve had the chance to stand out, take on leadership roles, and contribute meaningfully to my community.
YouŮٱƵre 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 shapeŮٱƵand be part ofŮٱƵa team where everyoneŮٱƵs creative ideas are heard and valued. From brainstorming themes to executing final details, IŮٱƵve 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 IŮٱƵd 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. YouŮٱƵd 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 successŮٱƵbut also by those who lift others up along the way. For that, I am truly grateful.
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