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When Paul Misci \u201913 reflects on his time at Holy Cross, he remembers the foundation it laid for his career, leadership style, and values. Now in a leadership role at GE Aerospace, Paul carries with him not only the skills he learned on the Hill, but the ethos of service and curiosity that Holy Cross helped shape.<\/span><\/p>\n Paul always felt like he would be able to succeed one day in a business role. He credits the College\u2019s business programs and its deep bench of alumni, like John Mahoney \u201873, former CFO of Staples, and Brian Kelley \u201883, former CEO at Keurig, as early inspirations. \u201cThey had liberal arts degrees and built incredible business careers. It showed me that no matter what you major in, you\u2019ll walk away from Holy Cross with life skills that apply to any business path,\u201d Paul says, echoing the Ciocca Center\u2019s motto of \u2018major in anything and succeed in business.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n What stood out most for Paul was how his liberal arts education trained him to solve problems. \u201cThat\u2019s what I do all day,\u201d he said. \u201cEven just thinking back to how you write a research paper, breaking down a problem, analyzing, and coming to a conclusion, it\u2019s the same method I use today, whether it\u2019s with customers, internal tools, or software issues.\u201d Communication is also crucial: \u201cReading, writing, and communicating well is crucial. It\u2019s not just about managing people, it\u2019s about truly understanding them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Now a Director at GE Aerospace, Paul makes it clear that leadership, for him, is about more than deliverables. \u201cAt Holy Cross, there was this focus on caring for the whole person. I bring that to my leadership style, helping people grow, understanding what\u2019s going on in their lives, and making accommodations that let them succeed at work and at home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Paul\u2019s leadership journey has taken him many different routes. One pivotal moment was when he took a two-year assignment in Abu Dhabi as a commercial manager during his time working at Raytheon. \u201cIt was a leap,\u201d he admitted. \u201cA lot of people say they want to go abroad, but few actually do it. It was tough but transformative.\u201d That assignment gave Paul valuable experience working with international clients and taught him to operate independently. \u201cIt changed the trajectory of my career and made me grow in ways I never expected.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Today, Paul leads from a home office, working remotely while managing major relationships with clients like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and the U.S. government. \u201cWe\u2019re a lean organization, so I kick off each day with a stand-up, triaging issues and working through proposals or program updates.\u201d While his job is high-stakes, Paul is excited by the evolving workplace at GE. \u201cIt\u2019s smaller, more focused, and very people-first.\u201d He praised the onboarding culture, particularly the personal \u201cGet to Know\u201d meetings baked into the team dynamic. \u201cYou meet the person before the job title, and that matters.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In a rapidly changing world, Paul is leaning into emerging tech to help him become more efficient and effective.. \u201cIn my role, AI has made our lives so much easier. We deal with massive documents, sometimes 900 pages long, and now we can use GE\u2019s AI platform, Wingmate, to search for certain clauses we need or to summarize them instantly.\u201d For Paul, AI isn\u2019t a threat, it\u2019s a tool. \u201cIt\u2019s not about replacing jobs. It\u2019s about being more efficient so we can focus on adding value. Whether it\u2019s scanning old test data or helping customers use information better, AI is transforming how we work.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n At Holy Cross, Paul felt service was ingrained into campus life. Paul remembers joining SPUD in his first year and working with Nativity School students throughout all four years. \u201cWatching those students grow and seeing where they ended up after graduating was incredible,\u201d he said. That commitment to service followed him into professional life. At his previous job, he helped start days of service. Now at GE, he\u2019s excited about the company\u2019s involvement in National Week of Service. \u201cIt\u2019s still a part of my life. Whenever I have a career break, I use that time to give back, whether it’s at a food bank or with a local nonprofit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Paul credits his continued professional growth to his network and his willingness to keep learning. \u201cMentors matter, and they don\u2019t always have to be older. I learn a ton from peers and younger colleagues, too.\u201d He also encourages staying curious and embracing change. \u201cI read a lot, go to seminars, and push to bring those learnings back to my team. You have to stay sharp, especially with how fast tech and business are moving.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Paul also made the most of his time outside the classroom at Holy Cross. He fondly remembers his acapella group, now defunct, but a key part of his social life and lasting friendships and his unlikely path to becoming Student Government Co-President. \u201cI told my roommate I\u2019d never run,\u201d he laughed. \u201cBut by junior year, I was in.\u201d He credits student government with teaching him budgeting, team management, and leadership, skills he still uses today.<\/span><\/p>\n Remote work has its perks, but it takes discipline, which is why Paul has a daily routine to stay focused and healthy. \u201cI go to the gym every morning, take breaks, and I try to separate work from personal space,\u201d he said. \u201cAlso, put the phone down during work periods. We\u2019re so dopamine-driven now. You\u2019ve got to create those boundaries.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He encourages others, especially early-career professionals, to prioritize relationship building. \u201cBe in person when you can. Travel for off-sites. Build your network. Those connections really matter.\u201d Paul\u2019s career is a reminder that impact comes from staying curious, leading with purpose, and never losing sight of what matters most: people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Paul is an admirable example of the Holy Cross and Jesuit principle, \u201cmen and women for others,\u201d as well as the Ciocca Center\u2019s motto of \u201cmajor in anything, succeed in business.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When Paul Misci \u201913 reflects on his time at Holy Cross, he remembers the foundation it laid for his career, leadership style, and values. Now in a leadership role at GE Aerospace, Paul carries with him not only the skills he learned on the Hill, but the ethos of service and curiosity that Holy Cross … <\/p>\n