March 19, 2021

March is Women's History Month – and at the Busch School, we're celebrating the vital role women play not just in American history, but also all the work the women of the Busch School do for our future business professionals. Today, we're profiling Dr. Cabrini Pak, Assistant Professor of Marketing.

Cabrini Pak joined The Busch School of Business in 2020. She has over twenty years work experience in research, consulting, and management. She worked for such companies as Deloitte, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, UUNET, and Laboratory Corporation of America. She has also worked for or completed pro bono work for Catholic organizations, conducting research, writing grants, and offering strategic recommendations to leadership when called upon.

Her research interests are broad and diverse. She enjoys studying emerging consumer markets and following innovative technological developments in multiple industries. Integration of personal identity and ethical frameworks in shifting contexts is another area of interest. She is published in the areas of business, trade research, international studies, and military medicine, and looks forward to contributing to the marketing area in the coming years.

Dr. Pak holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, M.B.A. from The George Washington University, M.A. in Theology from Villanova University, and a Ph.D. in Religion and Culture from The Catholic University of America.

Describe a role model or mentor that has helped you through your career.

"I had a friend through my church who was also a very seasoned executive in the health care industry. He coached me through some complex transitions in my career and opened my mind to thinking more creatively about networking. 'It never hurts to have a conversation' was probably one of the most versatile and helpful pieces of advice he gave me, which I follow to this day.

It means that not every networking moment needs to have a material goal in mind (like an interview, internship, or business opportunity). Sometimes just giving someone your time and attention to listen to him or her talk about something that matters to them can be a catalyst for something positive in the future. He taught me to be generous with my time in the workplace, and to always consider the other person’s good before anything else."

What do you want women of today to know about business?

"Success in business is more than achieving status or high income or honors. It means working towards a common good in which everyone can flourish. Sometimes it means having to think outside the box, or pushing others to redraw the lines. It requires tenacity, grit, toughness, and intelligence. It also requires leadership imbued with kindness, empathy, and veracity. Think strategically and critically about the long-term implications of what you are doing today. Don’t be afraid of failure. Learn from it. Grow through it. Help others along the way."