On Monday, we welcomed Dawn Mushill, Executive Director of the Troy Maryville St. Jacob Marine Chamber of Commerce, and she brought a message our students needed to hear: Treat CEO like a job. Own your role. Represent the brand. And enjoy the ride.
With so much commitment in the community on a daily basis, Dawn shared that her own “get ready” routine anytime she is headed into an event — loud rock music, windows down, and a Diet Coke from McDonald’s — a little reset before she starts the day. Find what helps you reset. Show up with the right attitude. Then get to work.
Dawn connected the students to the real work of the Chamber — connecting businesses to businesses and people to people. With nearly 99 events each year, networking isn't just something they talk about. It's something they DO. So we asked: What does it actually take to be good at networking?
- Have a firm handshake.
- Smile.
- Bring your positive attitude.
- Ask questions.
- Be genuinely interested in learning about other people.
And one of the biggest takeaways? The better you become at asking questions and learning about others, the easier these moments become.
We didn't just talk about it. Our students practiced it. We did some LIVE role-playing — entering conversations, figuring out how to approach a group, making sure no one is left standing alone, and learning how to connect people who may be able to help one another.
Leadership isn't always being the person in charge. Sometimes leadership looks like noticing the person standing by themselves and inviting them into the conversation. Sometimes it looks like holding the door. Sometimes it looks like carrying someone's things. Sometimes it looks like knowing where a guest needs to go and helping them get there. Hospitality matters.
Dawn challenged our students to watch for a speaker's car, greet them at the door, help with their belongings, hold the door, use their manners, and make guests feel welcome.
When someone walks through that door, our students are representing Gateway CEO. And that representation matters.
Under Dawn's leadership, the Chamber Chamber has hired 271 college interns over the past 25 years. She works everyday to help other businesses connect and build their brand with a great team that works very hard to meet with each member throughout the year. During our Q&A, Dawn shared a few personal lessons, too — including the importance of family dinners with no phones and the honor of being presented with a Key to the City of Troy.
So today wasn't just about business. It was about relationships. Leadership. Hospitality. Confidence. Asking good questions. Showing up well. And learning how to be the kind of person others want to work with. With Gateway CEO, we want to have a lasting impact and each person that comes in contact with us to walk away with a WOW.
And yes we had to include our picture with the Chamber Mobile!! Thank you, Dawn Mushill, for giving our students so much to think about — and even more to practice!
#GatewayCEO #GatewayCEO2026 #StudentEntrepreneurs #Leadership #Networking #Hospitality #FutureLeaders #RealWorldLearning
