BOAS Strategic Advisors founder speaks with students on career possibillities

MEDIA, Pa. - Mike Boas, a member of the Penn State Brandywine Advisory Board and founder and principal advisor of BOAS Strategic Advisors LLC, spoke with Penn State students from Brandywine, Beaver and Hazleton about broadening their perspectives on career possibilities and transferable skills on March 5.

Hosted by the Penn State Brandywine, Beaver and Hazleton Computer Science Consortium Industrial and Professional Advisory Council (CS-IPAC) and the Brandywine Technological Excellence and Digital Learning Committee, the virtual event brought together students, faculty and professionals for a deep and engaging conversation on skills students can learn that can be valuable in any field.

During the talk, Boas encouraged students, particularly those in engineering or technical disciplines, to broaden their perspective on career possibilities. He highlighted how foundational skills such as problem-solving, data-driven thinking, teamwork and adaptability are highly valuable across pharmaceutical roles, from drug development and clinical trials to manufacturing, supply chain operations, regulatory affairs and marketing.

Boas also underscored the significant presence of life sciences companies in the Philadelphia region, noting that more than 1,200 pharmaceutical and biotech organizations operate within a 60-mile radius of the Brandywine campus. This concentration creates substantial opportunities for internships, entry-level roles and long-term career development.

In addition to sharing career insights, Boas expressed interest in collaborating more closely with Penn State Brandywine to provide students with real-world connections. As next steps, he offered to help organize potential field trips to major industry sites, such as AstraZeneca, GSK and Bristol-Myers Squibb, or to invite company representatives to campus for further engagement.

Mohammad Hoque, a student from Penn State Brandywine, said he enjoyed Boas' talk because he was made aware of all the opportunities in the Media area.

"Mike mentioned how the Media region has many pharmaceutical jobs available, which I found fascinating because many people go to bigger cities for more opportunities, but really we have them right where we are," he said.

"I also loved how he mentioned that just because you choose one major in college does not mean that your whole career path has to be based on that, but rather you can explore throughout your life and see what career path really suits you in the end. The summary is, it's the skills you build along the way that matters."

Kevin Yaurincela, a student from Penn State Hazleton, said one thing he learned from Boas' talk is that it's never too late to switch career paths.

"One thing I got out of the talk was that choosing a career early on does not mean you are stuck with it forever," he said. "I liked hearing that people can switch careers and still use the skills they built in previous roles. It showed me that it is never too late to go after what you really want to do."

George Eleftherakis, associate professor of computer science and leader of the Brandywine, Beaver and Hazleton CS-IPAC, was one of the organizers for the event. He noted how valuable the event was to students, allowing them to broaden their perspectives on different career paths.

"This event not only expanded our students' understanding of career possibilities, but it also highlighted how interdisciplinary thinking and curiosity can open doors to impactful and fulfilling professional paths," he said.