Binghamton University

05/16/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/16/2024 03:58

His grandfather taught him how businesses make social change. Binghamton helped that lesson lead to a career

Daniel Croce's most treasured business lesson came from the example set by his grandfather, who grew up poor in post-World War II Southern Italy but successfully became an entrepreneur after emigrating to America.

It's a lesson, Croce said, that has guided him throughout his years at Binghamton University's School of Management (SOM): "Business is one of the best ways to enact positive social change."

Croce, one of two SOM seniors chosen for Poets and Quants' Class of 2024 Best and Brightest Business Majors list, has overcome challenging leadership decisions and mental health struggles while tackling projects that elevate classroom concepts into real-world professional scenarios throughout his academic journey.

After graduating May 10 with a bachelor's degree in business administration with concentrations in leadership and consulting and management information systems, Croce's next stop was the mid-sized professional services firm RSM in Manhattan as an associate within its strategy management consulting practice.

While he's eager to build upon the skills he sharpened during his internship there last summer, Croce takes pride in having seized many opportunities throughout his time as a student to put his grandfather's guidance to good use.

"I believe there's an innate power within a corporate entity to do good things," Croce said. We all have to work, and I'd rather be part of creating a positive place to work that empowers its employees. I think many companies have the ability to do that."

<_o3a_p> Croce named his work as chief financial officer of the Student Association and OCCT among his favorite accomplishments beyond the classroom. He took on that role as a sophomore, and one of his first challenges was finding a constructive way to handle allegations of inappropriate behavior within the organization.

This forced some difficult staffing decisions but led to a positive turnaround in workplace culture. However, it enabled him to double student employees to 86, help land the first student wage increases since 2017, and invest more in student employee benefits.

"I've always been the perfectionist type, but my mentors in SOM have shown me there is nothing wrong with thinking outside the box when you're strategizing, even if it fails," Croce said. "The second thing they made me realize is that to lead effectively, you can't just dictate. It's much more powerful if you tell stakeholders, 'Here's the problem I've identified. How do you think we should solve that?' Because then you can guide people to what you think is the best solution while also letting them be part of developing it."

As a student, Croce quickly learned how SOM fostered the kind of mentorship and supportiveness he cherished most about his relationship with his grandfather. Entering college at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic meant the need for such a positive learning culture was greater than ever, and the desire to keep that momentum going played a significant role in where he would take the first step of his career.

As his grandfather taught him, fostering a positive workplace culture only helps businesses make a more meaningful impact in the community they call home, whether that's a small town like Binghamton or a sprawling city like Manhattan.

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Posted in: Business, Campus News, SOM