heir own path Three grads share
“We were mentoring, we were working together, we had this kind of grit,” she said. “Having that experience was really, really meaningful to me.” She also found her own incredible mentors at Central. Her management instructor, Dr. Bill Provaznik, encouraged her ambitious spirit while reminding her to prioritize taking care of herself, too. Penwell was the first student to struggles and successes behind their careers BY TARA ROBERTS
A Passion for Personal Finance Julie Penwell (’19) fell in love with personal finance when she learned about the compound interest formula in a high school class. She realized a career in personal finance would fit her in - terest in business and allow her to help others. Determined to start her studies, she enrolled in Cascadia Community College through the Running Start program at her school in Kenmore, Washington. She graduated high school with an associate’s degree in hand, but the effort left her without much time to enjoy being a stu - dent. At CWU’s Wildcat Welcome Day, she found a fresh spark. “I was really excited about all the opportunities, and so pas - sionate about this whole idea of ‘I’m in college, I get to do all these things,’” she said. As a first-generation student, Penwell didn’t know much about college options, but her focus on her future career led her to CWU’s personal financial planning program. She was part of the first group to enroll in the program, which qualifies students to sit for the Certified Financial Planner examina - tion—the only curriculum of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. “We were so motivated. We went through these classes together, we went to conferences, we studied together,” she said. “We still talk about that program. We all understood how impactful that program was and what it meant to be the first class in it.” Penwell dove into the college experience, double-majoring in financial planning and forecasting economics, and minoring in accounting. She was founding president of the Financial Planning Club and president of the Women in Business Club. She enrolled in Management 200, a class that brings together students and peer mentors to learn essential business skills. Within her first year, Penwell served
participate in CWU Business Mento- ring , which connected her with Julie Back (‘92), a principal and advisor at the wealth management firm Private Ocean (now Wealthspire Advisors). The two talked monthly about college and preparing for a career. When Penwell asked Back for ad - vice on finding an internship, Back arranged an interview at her firm. Back said she was impressed by Penwell’s communication skills and teamwork.
“She never lost an opportunity to try to learn something,” Back said. “She never lost an opportunity to help somebody out if someone needed some extra help on something.” After her internship, Penwell was hired full-time. She is now a senior advisor associate at Wealthspire Advisors. “I’m helping people every day,” she said. “Every single day,
Julie Penwell and Julie Back
I’m talking to folks that are really benefiting from what we’re doing and the knowledge that we’re giving them.”
as a student mentor, a research assistant, and director of mentor development, leading the student mentors in weekly discussions of leadership and life.
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