If You Want to Go Far...

One of the things that drew me to the Pittsburgh Fellows program in the first place was the opportunity to build a substantial network in Pittsburgh. It takes a village to carve out a good career path, and I knew that if I wanted to have a career in this great city I would need to connect with locals involved in the city’s businesses. I would need help understanding my own field, finding open positions, and even making critical life choices during times of transition. Pittsburgh Fellows has delivered on all of these things.

First and foremost, the Fellows themselves are an incredible network. With twenty years of graduating Fellows, the alumni alone reach all over Allegheny County and beyond. When I wanted to learn more about PNC, Jonathan (Class of 2015) was able to tell me about his own experience with the company. When I sought guidance on working in sales, I talked to Adam (Class of 2019) who was a great help in understanding the work itself. These Fellows alumni haven’t just been willing to message and stay in touch from a distance, they have all been more than happy to set aside time to sit down over coffee and talk face-to-face. The alumni even formed their own Alumni Association ten years ago and continue to put on events for current and former Fellows, keeping everyone connected throughout the years.

Of course, the alumni are just the roots of the wide network that Pittsburgh Fellows offers. When I expressed interest in working in compliance or HR, our Executive Director, Julie immediately connected me with four different people, all of whom have been a tremendous help in understanding the next steps forward in my career. Community has always been a big part of the Pittsburgh Fellows program, and that community is not limited to one’s own class. With the end of the program in sight, the Fellows staff, former Fellows, and friends of Fellows, have all been a tremendous help in navigating my career beyond the Fellows year itself, and for that I am tremendously thankful.

-Written by Brooks Townsend, Class of 2026

Brooks graduated from Calvin University and works at Land & Sea as a Pittsburgh Fellow.