Path to Purpose hero image showing wall display

We're all on a path to purpose

Along the way, you carve your own path. We give you opportunities to prepare you for success, and you embrace them. And you make them your own.

Whether you’re a current learner, an alum, faculty, or staff, you have left your mark or are leaving your mark, and you will continue honing your purpose for years to come.

Share your path

We’d like to hear about your “Path to Purpose.”

We realize your journey is always evolving, but we’d love for you to share where you are now and how you got there – whether you are working toward a degree/certificate, graduated years ago, or are serving our learners through your work or donations.

By sharing your story, you inspire current and future learners and set an example for others. Everyone’s path is different, and we want to highlight and celebrate the broad range of paths within our Gies Business and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign community.

We will share stories in a variety of formats, including the digital wall in our all-new, state-of-the-art learning center, Steven S. Wymer Hall.

The submission link will allow us to send you an email to fill out a form. Follow the prompts to submit your “Path to Purpose” profile to inspire and encourage others.

Hear from alumni

Passionate alumni shared their “Path to Purpose” in this video series. Learn about their journeys and what inspired them along the way.

For Todd Lillibridge ‘78, his experiences at Gies were foundational in providing him a place to grow. He describes how his path to purpose was founded on relentless humility, empathy, and a drive to improve the lives of others.

Doniel Sutton’s experiences at Gies enabled her to explore a wide variety of career opportunities, leading to a realization that she had a passion for human resources and using that to help people overcome obstacles.

For Cortlon Cofield ‘14, graduating college is not the end of education – it is the beginning. He describes his drive to successfully launch a financial planning company that focuses on young people to give them the advice they need to achieve their financial goals.

Al Goldstein ‘02 finds his purpose and motivation on building things that are new and transformational and watching people emerge in their careers and become leaders. He brings that back to the university by helping future entrepreneurs become successful.