Our Alumni Highlights Blog celebrates the remarkable journeys of our graduates, showcasing the diverse and inspiring paths they’ve carved across industries and around the globe. Check out Nick Popplewell’s journey and recommendations for current UW students and alumni.
My education from UW really put me in a position to be successful professionally. Since graduation, I spent approximately 15 years in college athletics and higher education, working at four different institutions in a variety of capacities. In 2023, I switched careers to banking and I am currently the vice president and marketing director for a $1.5 billion community bank.
I switched from a career in college athletics and higher education once we started a family – raising our kids became the most important thing. I was fortunate to pivot to a career in banking which draws on many of my past experiences and learning. It is impossible to see the future. However, I do think looking ahead 5, 10, 15 years and trying to envision your life is important and when I say life, I mean personally and professionally. Sometimes you can get too caught up in the professional side of things and forget to also have your personal life as part of the equation. Looking back, I didn’t always think about life holistically. That could’ve changed things a bit. In the end though, I’ve been blessed to live the life I have.
It’s been everything. Don’t get me wrong, education, working hard, and being a good person are also very important. However, each one of my job opportunities have come through connections or relationships I’ve had. The saying, “It’s who you know” rings very true. So, invest heavily in developing relationships and growing your network.
In banking, fraud and cybersecurity are significant issues now and will continue to be, especially as financial operations continue to become more digital. At the same time, relationships between banks and customers will be the differentiator (in terms of a bank’s success) – providing a personal approach in an ever-growing digital world. Lastly, the financial industry is heavily regulated so government policies and oversight will continue to shape things.
Be in the moment and enjoy the journey – don’t get caught up in chasing titles and compensation, especially on a specific timeline. Things will happen when they should.
