Editor’s note: The article was originally published by Gettysburg College. https://www.gettysburg.edu/news/stories?id=e0678c1d-93df-4011-989c-2fbb9585a2e6
Gettysburg prepares students for career success through exploration, leadership, and mentorship. Students learn to build confidence, enduring skills, and the ability to tell a compelling story as their career paths evolve.
Careers rarely follow straight lines—just ask any Gettysburgian. Through leadership opportunities, academic exploration, mentorship, and hands-on experiences, students learn how to adapt, reflect, and grow as their interests evolve.
The alumni featured here represent diverse industries, including cybersecurity, health care consulting, law, government, and technology, yet they all share a common foundation shaped during their time at Gettysburg. Their stories demonstrate how engagement inside and outside the classroom builds transferable skills, confidence, and clarity—preparing graduates not just for their first job, but for every job throughout their careers.
Ryan Ahern ’20
Biology major, Spanish minor
Senior enterprise account executive at CyberArk
“I didn’t come to Gettysburg just for the academics. I wanted a college experience that was more than just memorizing facts and taking exams.
I was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, worked for Athletic Communications doing play-by-play commentary, and worked at the Garthwait Leadership Center (GLC) as a leadership mentor.”
“Each of my roles at Gettysburg involved peers with different working styles and required adaptation to those styles and various skillsets. The ability to work with people from different backgrounds with various skills is incredibly important in my career, and that is absolutely something Gettysburg helped me hone.”
“CyberArk has been a great home for me. I’ve been able to learn a ton about the technology, as well as how to build strategic partnerships with customers. I have been fortunate enough to be promoted here twice, and I now get to partner with several multibillion-dollar corporations to help them build more secure foundations for their business.”
