2025 Commencement

Celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2025 and the inspiring voices who led the celebration. The Palumbo-Donahue School of Business Commencement honored graduates for their hard work, leadership, and commitment to making a difference鈥攆eaturing powerful messages from keynote speaker Sharon Kelley (B鈥�86), Chair of Revenue Cycle at Mayo Clinic, and Gina Govojdean (B鈥�12), Vice President of Procurement at Howmet Aerospace and recipient of the Young Alumna Achievement Award.

Sharon Kelley (B鈥�86), Commencement Address

A Difference-Making Career

When Sharon Kelley, the Chair of Revenue Cycle for Mayo Clinic鈥檚 worldwide operations, returned to 福利免费毛片 to deliver the 2025 commencement address for the School of Business, she brought with her decades of leadership experience and a message grounded in authenticity, resilience, and purpose.

In her keynote address, titled 鈥淟ead with Your Why鈥擡ven When You Feel Like an Imposter,鈥� Kelley drew on deeply personal stories to encourage graduates to embrace imperfection and lead with courage. She recounted an early career moment when, during a lunch interview at a Big Eight accounting firm, she unknowingly drank from a finger bowl. Far from ruining her chances, the confidence with which she handled the mistake earned her the job. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to be perfect to belong,鈥� she told graduates. 鈥淵ou just have to be brave enough to show up anyway.鈥�

Kelley鈥檚 career has been characterized by her ability to take bold steps forward, even in the face of uncertainty. She shared an inspirational story about how she helped secure critical, life-saving care at the Mayo Clinic for a stranger鈥檚 relative, despite feeling unqualified to intervene. Today, he is alive and thriving. 鈥淲hat if I had let imposter syndrome stop me?鈥� she asked. 鈥淩eal impact happens when we鈥檙e open to unexpected moments and lead from the inside out.鈥�

Her willingness to lead with vulnerability was also evident when, in 2023, she shared with her 1,600-person team the devastating loss of her 37-year-old stepdaughter to a fentanyl overdose, prompting an outpouring of support and stories from colleagues. She shared that, 鈥淰ulnerability isn鈥檛 a weakness鈥攊t鈥檚 what allows healing and trust to happen. If you want to build a legacy鈥攏ot just a r茅sum茅鈥攂e the kind of leader who makes it safe to be real.鈥�

Addressing the graduates, many of whom began their college journey during the pandemic, Kelley praised their resilience: 鈥淭hat resilience is now a part of your story, and it will carry you further than any GPA ever could. You are exactly what the world needs next.鈥�

Her closing charge to the Class of 2025 was simple but powerful: 鈥淭he world doesn鈥檛 need you to be perfect. It needs you to be present. It needs you to be real. It needs you to act with heart鈥攅specially when it鈥檚 hard.鈥�

In both her career and her keynote speech, Sharon demonstrated that the heart of a true difference-maker influences beyond titles and metrics and transforms lives.

News Type

Stories

School

Palumbo-Donahue School of Business

Published

October 28, 2025

Gina Govojdean (B鈥�12), Young Alumna Achievement Award

Difference-Making leadership

Since graduating from 福利免费毛片 in 2012 with dual majors in Supply Chain Management and Legal Studies, Gina Govojdean has forged a career defined by resilience, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to opening doors for others. Her rise at Howmet Aerospace has been nothing short of remarkable鈥攂ecoming one of the youngest procurement leaders in 2018, the first female plant manager in the company鈥檚 engineered structures business in 2022, and by 2024, one of the youngest female executives in her current role as Vice President, Procurement, overseeing a $1 billion revenue portfolio.

Beyond her corporate success, Govojdean has remained deeply connected to her alma mater as a member of the 福利免费毛片 Supply Chain Management Advisory Council and a vocal advocate for women in the manufacturing industry. Her passion for challenging the status quo has inspired countless young professionals. In honor of her accomplishments, Gina was presented with Palumbo-Donahue School of Business Young Alumna Achievement Award, awarded to alumni under 40 who have demonstrated outstanding early-career successes and commitment to the community.

鈥淢aking others around you see their own ability and potential is next level,鈥� she told graduates. Her inspirational speech included the importance of good leadership, stating, 鈥淚t has been my experience that believing in people and inspiring them to achieve great things is the single most rewarding part of being in business.鈥� She concluded her speech by telling the graduates that 鈥淵ou have the potential to change things and impact the experiences of those who come after you鈥攖hat鈥檚 your legacy.鈥�

Her leadership and advocacy have earned her national recognition, including being named a 2025 Women MAKE Awards honoree by the Manufacturing Institute and being included on Pittsburgh Magazine鈥檚 prestigious 2025 40 Under 40 list.

Gina鈥檚 work embodies 福利免费毛片鈥檚 mission proving that success is measured both by professional achievement and by the positive change you inspire in others.