Despite a hectic schedule during her day at Purdue, veteran BusinessWeek journalist Paula Dwyer made time to stop by the Communication Department to answer questions from a group of journalism students.

Paula Dwyer talks to department undergrads

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Krannert Executive Forum

Dwyer, the senior writer in the Washington, D.C., bureau of BusinessWeek, graduated from Purdue University in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She returned to campus in April as a featured speaker at Krannert's Executive Forum.

Dwyer said Purdue gave her experience she couldn't have gotten anywhere else. Originally majoring in biology, she began working at The Exponent just because she "needed a paying job."

"If I hadn't worked at The Exponent, I probably never would have found my calling," said Dwyer. "And who knows, I might've just floundered through the rest of my life!"

Dwyer is hardly floundering. Over the years she has covered the Supreme Court, the White House and the Justice Department. Dwyer also spent four years overseas as chief of the London bureau of BusinessWeek, wrote a book about Wall Street and spent years training new writers. She currently concentrates on investigative regulation stories.

Dwyer advised the Purdue students to keep up with world events, take classes in many disciplines "be persistent, and go for the 'big game.' Were you ambitious enough to talk to the person on top, or did you just talk to their PR person?"

Dwyer said the standards are getting higher and it is becoming more difficult to be different. She also insisted, however, that students "be scared inside, and allow confidence to help you do whatever you want to do."

Students take notes during Dwyer's visit to the department

Clare Walters, a journalism senior, said Dwyer gave her confidence by reaffirming "many of the things I thought were important for success. It was just interesting to see how she started out small, took risks, and her almost reckless abandon allowed her to succeed."

For many students who are "starting out small" by working at The Exponent, Dwyer hit a chord with her example of success.

"It was awesome to see that someone working for The Exponent can 'make it' if they have aspirations," said Kori Kamradt, a journalism senior. "Start off small, go big and it can happen!"