Patricia Roe
Strada Education Network
Indianapolis, IN USA
"Knowing what you don’t want to do is just as important as knowing what you do want to do."
Career Roadmap
Patricia's work combines: Business, Non-Profit Organizations, and Helping People
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Business Administration and Management, General
Indiana University Bloomington
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Vice President, Philanthropy:
Bachelor's Degree: Business Administration and Management, General
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana.
2.
I was a very good student in high school and graduated as salutatorian of my class—as a result, I got a full scholarship to college, which was unheard of at the time for an African-American woman.
3.
Attended Indiana University Bloomington, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in business administration and management with minors in accounting and marketing.
4.
While I was in college, I worked in the General Electric factory for a short time—this experience inspired me to finish my degree because I realized I didn’t want to continue working in a factory.
5.
After graduating, I struggled to find work and had to move back in with my mother for about a year before I found a job.
6.
A friend encouraged me to apply for a job at USA Funds, where I began working in customer service and later transitioned into a role in human resources.
7.
In 2000, my husband died of cancer, which forced me to reevaluate my work-life balance—I decided to start working in a role in philanthropy that gave me more flexibility.
8.
For the last 40 years, I’ve watched USA Funds grow into Strada Education Network, where I’m now the vice president of philanthropy, focusing on postsecondary student success.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
Accountants are just number crunchers.
How I responded:
I initially thought I wanted to be an accountant, but after looking into a bit more and asking people about it, I realized that it wasn't for me. I changed my major and career goal focus as a result. Hearing this feedback really helped set me on the right path and prevented me from going down a path that wouldn't have made me happy.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
In college, I was initially an accounting major, but after speaking with my professors about what that work is really like, I decided it wasn't for me. I switched my major to business administration and minored in accounting and marketing.
My husband was diagnosed with stage-4 cancer and died in 2000. Overnight, I became a single parent and the primary bread winner of my family. It was a devastating loss and radical change in my life.
As an African-American woman, you inevitably face challenges. I had to learn to adopt the mindset that I am no better and no worse than anyone else.