Inspired by her entrepreneurial-minded parents, Tori Poska is a first-generation college student who will earn a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University’s College of Business this May.
A Lockport native, Poska majored in marketing with a double sequence in professional sales and advanced marketing analytics. Poska, who will begin a career this summer with Ecolab in Chicago, said she has been passionate about marketing for as long as she can remember.
“My dad has passed away, but previously, he owned his own trailer repair and reselling business,” Poska said. “I remember I’d always fold up his flyers and put his business cards in them, so I was used to that aspect of marketing.
“My mom was a beauty consultant for Mary Kay and was a realtor previously, so I feel like growing up, I was surrounded by a lot of marketing and two parents who were building their own client bases and building relationships. That was how it was ingrained in me.”
As a first-generation college student, Poska said she admittedly faced challenges, but she credited her advisors and the financial aid office for providing her with support and resources to succeed.
“I have my whole future, thanks to the College of Business and Illinois State University, because they definitely set their students up for success in so many ways and provide us with all the resources we can imagine.”
Tori Poska
Poska did not hesitate to get involved once she acclimated to college life. Throughout the past four years, she served as the secretary and president of Best Buddies, as the transition seminars coordinator, as executive activities coordinator and president of Business Week, as the professional chair of Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity, and she has been involved with the College of Business Pay it Forward Committee, the College of Business Social Media Team, the College of Business Sales Scholars, and the College of Business Marketing Scholars.
“Becoming the president of Best Buddies was one of the greatest accomplishments and best things that ever happened to me, because I was able to develop personally and professionally,” Poska said. “I was able to combine my passion for business and wanting to grow and learn how to lead a team and communicate, with my passion for inclusion and being an advocate for others, while making connections and creating lifelong friendships.”
Poska has been recognized for her dedication to the College of Business, academics, and her peers in the form of several awards and scholarships. She has received the Paragon Marketing Group Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion scholarship, the Saint Gobain Abrasives Outstanding Sales Student award, and the Professional Sales Institute Alumni scholarship.
She was also the recipient of the Jack North Student Leadership Award, which is given to a College of Business student who has displayed academic excellence, involvement in the school, and community, and civic engagement.
“This scholarship is special because it highlights someone who is involved and whose leadership style is to serve others and the community as a whole,” Poska said. “Additionally, a huge part of the award is that the recipient has strong moral values and great integrity. I think these things are exactly two perfect ways to describe what I have done in my positions and who I am as a person.”
Upon graduation, Poska will begin working in Chicago as an inside sales representative with Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention technology and services. She will initially familiarize herself with products and clients, and eventually, she hopes to become a field-based key accounts representative.
“I feel like ISU has set me up for future success in so many different ways,” Poska said. “In the classroom, I learned about what I’m going into. In my sales classes, I had roleplays that put me in real-life situations and examples of what I’m going to be doing. Outside of the classroom, I learned so much about professional development, networking, being proactive, staying organized, time management, and I’ve learned many skills that are going to be extremely transferable in the ‘real world.’”
Reflecting on her college experience, Poska—who will be the student speaker during this spring’s College of Business commencement ceremony, offers advice for incoming Redbirds.
“Get involved as soon as possible, start making friends, and be comfortable being uncomfortable,” Poska said. “Put yourself in situations that you don’t know what can happen, because that could be the best situation of your life.
“I have my whole future, thanks to the College of Business and Illinois State University, because they definitely set their students up for success in so many ways and provide us with all the resources we can imagine. You just have to go out and find them.”
This story is one of a series of profiles on Redbirds who are celebrating graduation this May. For more information about how Illinois State is celebrating commencement this semester, visit the Graduation Services website.
