A common theme that the Missouri Colleges Fund student scholars heard during the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day was that many people start down one career path toward a destination but end up somewhere they never expected. Folks like Vanessa Stewart and Judy Lamb talked to the students about how their lives started out in one job and winded and turned until they ended up where they are today. Vanessa starting in the lab and ending up currently working on the business sales end of the company… Judy once working for a major brewery and now in charge of Novus’ product registration. These twists and turns and how you have to be ready for what life deals you has not been lost on the bright scholars touring the facilities at Novus, Pfizer and Monsanto.

While we were waiting to get into the Pfizer and Monsanto portion of the tour, I struck up a conversation with Ben Shea, a freshman studying biology at Fontbonne University in St. Louis.

He said he was really interested in how so many people at Novus started out in one career but ended up in another.

“I didn’t realize that a person could go from a chemistry degree to working in the business field.” He said he was really impressed with how diverse the people at Novus seem to be. Shea might be young, but he understands that versatility is key to making yourself valuable to an employer.

He added that he is very appreciative to have an opportunity to see firsthand and meet people who are working in a career field he might one day find himself in.

Listen to my entire conversation with Ben here: BenShea1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set.