Forging her own path: Trulaske student finds confidence, connections and career success

Written by Sara Diedrich

When Victoria Borkowski visited the University of Missouri for a campus tour in the spring of 2021, the high school senior was thrilled to see students bustling between buildings and gathering in outdoor spaces. After months away from in-person schooling due to the pandemic, seeing Mizzou’s campus alive with activity — students wearing face coverings and practicing social distancing — felt like a breath of fresh air. 

For Borkowski, who had struggled with the isolation of COVID-19 restrictions, it was reassuring to witness the university's efforts to safely return to a more normal campus experience.

 “I was happy to see that Mizzou was going the extra mile to get students back in the classroom,” she said. “I think it’s so important to make those in-person connections – at least it is for me.”

Once here, Borkowski embraced every opportunity to spread her wings and make good on her college moto: You get out what you put in. On Friday, the native of Inverness, Illinois, will graduate from the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business with a degree in finance and banking, along with minors in Spanish and political science, and a certificate in risk management and insurance. 

“I thought, if I can help people manage their money while also learning how to handle my own, it would be the perfect blend of my interests — a mix of analytical work that suits my introverted side, along with the opportunity to connect with others. It felt like an ideal career path for me,” Borkowski said. 

She is currently in the final rounds of interviews for several finance jobs. 

Making connections

Thanks to her many AP courses in high school, Borkowski arrived at Mizzou with a head start — already holding a year and a half of college credits. She recognized that her biggest challenges in college wouldn’t be academic but social. From day one, she made it a priority to actively manage her social anxiety and fully engage in campus life.

Just days into her freshman year, Borkowski attended Clubbing Night and had a breakthrough moment when she met Lindsay Hing, advisor for MU’s DECA chapter and assistant director of Business Career Services (BCS) at Trulaske. The two immediately connected, and by the first weekend of November, Borkowski was off to Austin, Texas, to compete in her first of many collegiate DECA conferences, which provide members with opportunities to grow through leadership development, community involvement and competitive events. 

Today, Borkowski is a three-time state DECA champion and in April, she claimed the international title in her male-dominated category of corporate finance – proudly wearing a pink shirt to make a statement. Hing was there to celebrate her mentee’s victory.

“Lindsay has been such a great resource and friend,” Borkowski said. “I’ve known her for three and a half years, and every time we talk, I walk away with a new life lesson. She has been instrumental in both my professional and personal growth.”

Spreading her wings

Through her involvement with DECA, Borkowski was asked to be the financial officer for Matchbook Marketing Agency, a student-run organization dedicated to connecting local businesses with students seeking hands-on experience in digital marketing. In this role, she manages the group’s finances, collects dues and prepares comprehensive financial statements each semester.

This past summer, Borkowski expanded her horizons by participating in the Trulaske Study Abroad program in Ireland. Inspired by her experiences abroad, she returned to campus as a cultural ambassador for the university and now mentors a student from Korea, sharing insights and fostering cross-cultural connections.

“I have a lot of social anxiety naturally which might not be apparent now, but when I was a freshman, it was tough,” said Borkowski, who added that pushing herself to get involved and learning how to balance her responsibilities has been instrumental in developing strategies to manage her anxiety. “I’ve learned that it’s OK to slow down – and that’s a big one for me. For people who come to college with a lot of ambition, it’s hard to take that step back. The support system I’ve developed has helped me take time for myself.”

Staying true to herself

Borkowski is also learning how to maneuver in the male-dominated world of corporate finance without losing sight of herself – or her femininity. She’s learning to pursue what she wants and to embrace her ambition.

“Having ambition is not a bad thing,” she said. “I want other girls to know that they can chase their dreams while still embracing their femininity. We can compete by being true to ourselves and utilizing our own unique strengths. Embrace what comes naturally to you and make it work for you — don’t try to fit into a mold that others expect you to. It’s challenging, especially in male-dominated fields, and it can feel intimidating to step into those spaces. But you don’t have to be a man to succeed in those spaces. Femininity is a strength, not a weakness.”

Borkowski’s advice to incoming freshmen is to take the time in college to explore your interests and find out who you are – then go after what you want. 

“Of course, you can still be ambitious while learning about yourself,” she said. “But having that foundational understanding of who you are and how you work really sets you up for success.”