Welcome to Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, the official career development podcast of Nichols College’s Career and Professional Development Center. Whether you're just starting to explore career options, preparing for your first job, or considering graduate school, this podcast is your go-to resource for expert guidance and inspiring stories.
Join us as we dive into conversations with alumni, faculty, staff, and employers who will share their insights on navigating the professional world.
New episodes are released on Tuesdays. Subscribe now and start building your future with us.
Beyond Sports: Career Growth, Networking, and Knowing When to Pivot
What does it take to build a successful career in the highly competitive sports industry and how do you know when it's time to pivot?
In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, Beth sits down with Nichols College alumnus Dan Saucier '12, Director of Enterprise Partnerships at drvn and member of the Nichols Sport Management Advisory Board. Dan reflects on his journey from student-athlete and Sport Management major to building a career focused on partnerships, relationship management, and business development.
Dan shares insights into the realities of working in sports, including the importance of internships, networking, sales, sponsorships, and being willing to start small while building experience. He also discusses a major career transition moving from the sports industry into a new field—and the transferable skills that helped him navigate that change successfully.
Listeners will gain practical advice on building meaningful professional relationships, standing out in competitive industries, handling rejection, and remaining adaptable in today's evolving workforce. Whether you're pursuing a career in sports or exploring a completely different field, Dan's experience offers valuable lessons for professionals at any stage of their career journey.
27 Oct 2026
The Power of Communication: Building a Career That Connects
What can you do with a communications degree? More than you might think.
In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, Beth sits down with Nichols College alumna Hope Rudzinski, Community & School Outreach Coordinator for the Worcester County District Attorney's Office. Hope shares how her background in English and Communications helped shape a career focused on building relationships, engaging communities, and connecting with diverse audiences.
Hope discusses the wide variety of opportunities available to communication majors and explains why communication skills continue to be among the most sought-after competencies in today's workforce. From public speaking and networking to writing, relationship-building, and professional presence, she shares practical advice for students looking to strengthen these critical skills.
The conversation also explores how technology and artificial intelligence are influencing communication careers, the skills that are becoming even more valuable in a digital world, and what students can do now to prepare for success in communication-focused professions.
Whether you're a communications major or simply want to become a stronger communicator, this episode offers valuable insights for any student preparing to enter the workforce.
20 Oct 2026
Beyond the Badge: Criminal Justice Careers
When most people think of criminal justice careers, they often think of law enforcement, but the field offers far more opportunities than many students realize.
In this episode of Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career, Beth sits down with Nichols College alumna and double Bison Brianna Gill, who earned both her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and her Master's Degree in Counterterrorism before launching a career in security and intelligence. Today, Brianna works in Global Safety & Security Intelligence at Wayfair, where she helps address security challenges on an international scale.
Brianna shares her career journey, discusses how her education prepared her for work in security intelligence, and explains what a typical day looks like in her current role. She also explores the many career paths available to criminal justice majors, the skills employers seek in security and intelligence professionals, and how the field is evolving in response to emerging global threats.
Whether you're interested in criminal justice, intelligence, security, risk management, or simply exploring career options beyond traditional paths, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice for students preparing for their future careers.
Who has been a guest on Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Devin Bailey
Robby Binnall
MaryLynn Skarzenski
Danielle Eli
Emma Murphy
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Contact Bison Breakthrough: From College to Career
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
