Patricia Gunawan’s UWM journey has taken her from an undergraduate degree in actuarial science to seeking a master’s in business administration. So she’s well down the path toward her ultimate career goal of working in the corporate finance industry.
But as Gunawan began work on her MBA, she realized that boosting her professional network and social skills could pay off after graduation. When she learned about Panthers Connect, UWM’s exclusive mentoring and networking community, she was excited by the possibilities.
That’s how Gunawan ’24 connected with Tammy Tucker ’03, who has enjoyed a long career in civil engineering. Tucker is director of markets and senior project manager at CBS Squared Inc., a woman-owned engineering and architectural firm, and is always open to growing her own network. She saw Panthers Connect as a great way to stay up to date on all things UWM, and thought mentoring would be another way for her to give back to the community. They’re both thrilled to have found each other.
Applications for the UWM Alumni Association’s Mentoring Program, now in its fifth year, are open through Oct. 1. It’s an ideal way for students to better prepare themselves for the job market and for alumni to share their experiences and wisdom with the next generation of Panthers. The program is designed to seamlessly fit into participants’ busy schedules, requiring only a total of six hours each semester, and mentors receive guidance on how to help their mentees.
Tucker and Gunawan began their yearlong formal mentoring relationship in the Fall 2024 semester, and it’s worked so well that they’ve continued it into the Fall 2025 semester. “Initially, I was scared – worried about what should I try to talk about or will it be an awkward conversation – because I had never done this,” Gunawan said. “But Tammy was very friendly, and it was a very good first impression. I feel very grateful for her support.”
On the surface, a business student interested in corporate finance might not seem like the most natural mentee pairing for a mentor who’s a civil engineer. But Tucker and Gunawan have focused on developing the type of soft skills that transfer across a variety of professional specialties.
For example, Gunawan is originally from Indonesia, and English is her second language. So she’s emphasized developing her communication skills, and part of that has involved working with Tucker to improve her interviewing and presentation techniques. Tucker also helped Gunawan in other areas, like how to best go about finding jobs and updating her resume.
“I love that I can share my wealth of experience, and then Patricia takes it and runs with it,” Tucker said. “Being able to see her grow and utilize some of these recommendations that I’ve provided, and just supporting the next generation of professionals, I think is really important.”
Gunawan sees the mentoring pay dividends not only in her current internship but also in building confidence and laying the foundation for her long-term career. Tucker emphasizes how easy the program makes it for people to get involved, and the ability to do virtual meetings means it doesn’t matter that Tucker is based in the Green Bay area and Gunawan is in Milwaukee.
“It’s really been neat to see our relationship grow,” Tucker said. “I would say if you’re looking to grow within the community, give back to UW-Milwaukee, and share the skills you’ve learned throughout the years, I just think it would be a great opportunity for you to mentor students.”