Stories

Republished from Bronco Exchange

Zach Milkis ’14 took a circuitous route on his professional journey, and his Santa Clara education served him well at every turn. He joined Bronco Exchange to give back to the SCU student and alumni community as a mentor and is a part of the new Humanities and Social Sciences Mentorship Program. Sign in to Bronco Exchange, Student & Alumni Connections, to learn from Zach and thousands of other talented professionals.

We [Bronco Exchange] recently caught up with Zach, who is currently serving as the Director of Marketing at Educative, to learn more about how SCU and the Bronco network set him up for success.

Q: How did your time at SCU prepare you for your career? What would you say is your favorite memory from your time at Santa Clara?
A: There are too many to count, but a few immediately come to mind: Santa Clara Community Action Program (SCCAP) staff retreats; performing with my band at the Hut on graduation night; quality time with community in Dunne and off-campus dark side housing (shoutout to CITRUS); producing the song and music video for “Divest it Like it’s Hot” (don’t search for that on YouTube, please).

Q: How did your time at SCU prepare you for your career?
A: I am a firm believer in the power of a well-rounded liberal arts background, and can personally attest to how transferable it is to a wide range of career paths.

It’s not just platitudes. Your ability to write, communicate, and think critically—and remain growth-minded, curious, and adaptable—will give you a leg up in the job market and help you succeed wherever your career may lead.

I would also be remiss in not mentioning SCU’s strong community orientation and emphasis on social justice. There is no higher calling than to work as an advocate on behalf of others, and I still think of the “3 C’s”—competence, conscience, and compassion—as guiding principles.

Q: Which of your professors has had the greatest impact on you and why?
A: I had a phenomenal experience as an English major, a testament to the quality and care of the faculty (Michelle Burnham, Claudia McIsaac, former chair Simone Billings, and the late Judy Dunbar are just a few who had a great impact).

But a special shoutout goes to Juan Velasco-Moreno, who taught me how to use writing as a way to look inward in a meaningful way for the first time in my life. Not too shabby for a lower-division Poetry Writing class!

I’ll also add a very important honorable mention to Tim Lukes in Political Science for inspiring a vibrant culture of intellectual curiosity and societal self-reflection—and for introducing me to the mastery of Bertolt Brecht and Ornette Coleman, as well as to the banal dangers of kitsch.

Q: Which of your SCU classes have you found most relevant to your professional development?
A: Critical Thinking & Writing may feel like just a box to check… but CTW is probably the single most important component of Santa Clara’s core curriculum in terms of how it translates to professional success. Arriving at SCU as a first-year student, I fancied myself a pretty good writer. I was humbled a little bit in my CTW classes, but in a way that pushed me far beyond what I thought I was capable of achieving. That experience proved immeasurably helpful in my academic and personal development, inspiring me to keep learning, growing, and challenging myself.

Q: What do you see as your role within the Bronco network?
A: My tech career trajectory took me to Seattle, where there is a much lower density of Broncos than in the San Francisco/Silicon Valley area. So, it’s my goal now to be a connector and guide here in the Pacific Northwest!

Q: How do you see yourself and other Bronco Exchange users supporting fellow Broncos along their career journeys?
A: I am happy to help demystify the weird nuances of the tech industry to the best of my abilities—and if nothing else, I hope I can be a useful sounding board to whoever needs it. It can be a tricky time leaving college, and it’s okay to feel daunted and overwhelmed. Believe me, you’re not alone. That’s what this community is all about.

I am in awe of the confidence and enthusiasm of the students I have already spoken with on Bronco Exchange. I wish I was that brave when I was still in school. If you’re already here, you’re on the right track.

Q: What convinced you to join Bronco Exchange?
A: Santa Clara humanities majors (especially English majors) have the perfect foundation to be successful in a variety of professional fields... and yet there is rarely a clear or linear path into any of those fields. My own career journey was circuitous, and although I loved my academic experience at SCU, I do wish I had more resources available to help me evaluate career options and navigate a way forward.

In my own career, I go out of my way to hire and work with humanities majors. They come with a rock-solid writing/editing/research/critical thinking foundation and often tend to be curious/inquisitive/growth-minded people by nature, which typically makes them incredibly versatile, capable, and coachable contributors.

For these reasons, I am thrilled to be able to participate in the program and am otherwise excited to be a resource in particular to Santa Clara humanities majors however I can.

Q: If you had any words of wisdom for your college self, what would they be?
A: Remain curious, open-minded, and open-hearted. Trust your intuition. And keep tuning into the things that fire you up. You’ll get where you need to go in due time!

Reach out directly to Zach and other SCU alumni who are open to networking, mentoring, or making connections based on shared interests, identities, or locations. Join a group, pose questions in the discussion boards, search employment opportunities, or browse the resources tab for more career support. Explore Bronco Exchange!