Claire Schiller (Cost Productivity Specialist for 3M)
- During which years were you an active member of BPA?
I joined BPA as a high school sophomore. After serving as a multi-term Minnesota State Officer, I was a National Officer into my freshman year of college.
- What was your most memorable moment or achievement during your time in BPA, and why does it stand out to you?
I have two favorites!
My junior year, I placed 1st at NLC. The pride I felt, after an incredible amount of effort, was indescribable. The year following, another member asked if I'd be willing to provide some insight on the event. Connecting throughout the year, I shared my learnings from competing and intensive preparation. That year at state, we both competed in the event. She went home with a first place trophy, while I went home with my first experience in professional mentorship. While it felt like a defeat at the time, it wasn’t sum-zero and showed me what has become one of my favorite phrases - “all boats rise with the tide”, or, we'll all be more successful over time by supporting and cheering each other on.
My senior year, another Minnesota state officer and I made it a personal mission to connect with other state officers. After scouring state web pages, we found them on social media. We traded tips leading up to our state conferences, shared in the excitement of preparing for nationals, and even connected a bit personally, too. Getting to the conference, it felt like meeting up with old friends! It showed me what networking can look like - broad connections, bonding over shared interests, and if done right, simply fun! Many that we'd connected with ultimately served as voting delegates as I campaigned for national office, reinforcing the value of a network.
- Can you share your current profession and how your experience with BPA shaped your career path?
I've spent the last eight years of my career at 3M, a Fortune 500 global manufacturing company. My first roles were managing supplier relationships across various commodities. One of the individuals who introduced me to the work and was an incredible mentor to me, I had actually first met as a state officer in another CTSO! Since then, things have come full circle back to BPA. I rediscovered my passion for the finance/accounting space, using the same skills I first learned competing in accounting events! I now work on the corporate financial planning and analysis team and am pursuing my MBA with a specialization in finance.
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In what ways did your involvement in BPA help prepare you for your future? Are there specific skills or experiences that have been particularly valuable?
While opportunities to practice public speaking top most lists here, the experiences of taking end-to-end ownership of projects were just as instrumental in preparing for my future. During my senior year, we had a goal as a state officer team to increase the number of Torch Award participants at NLC. We mapped out a full project plan, including timelines and deliverables, beginning with building enthusiasm and awareness during regional conferences. I vividly remember sitting at the Torch Award reception at NLC, beyond thrilled to be counting a meaningful increase in the number of Minnesota names listed! -
In what ways do you continue to stay connected with BPA, and how has your involvement evolved since graduating?
I volunteer every year at SLC. Last year, I had the opportunity to join some members in New York City, where I’m pictured on the floor of the stock exchange. More recently, I have been guiding a middle school chapter as they prepare for their first SLC. We are ALL getting so excited! - What advice or words of wisdom would you offer to current BPA members who are looking to make the most of their experience and prepare for their futures?
Take ownership of a project, from ideation to tracking impact. There are options galore in BPA - it could be an initiative as an officer, a chapter project, or, a team event. While you'll be able to practice leading a team, setting timelines, and actioning deliverables, more important is simply practicing being a ‘do-er’. It can sound simple, but the ability to move an objective along is tremendously valuable. Be known as the one who can get stuff done!