BGSU business students experience ‘day in the life’ at O-I

The full-day event provided career insights and industry connections at global headquarters

Bowling Green State University junior Stephanie Miller and more than a dozen other business students recently spent a full day gaining career insights from industry leaders at locally headquartered global glassmaker O-I Glass, Inc.

The event, which included a company tour, presentations and a leadership panel, began with an idea from Miller and became a reality with enthusiastic support from O-I, one of the University’s gold-tier corporate partners.

“This event was so unique because it was intentionally designed around many of the majors of the students who attended,” said Miller, who is pursuing a degree in finance in the nationally-ranked Schmidthorst College of Business. “We received really valuable insight about our potential career paths and how to leverage our education and experience to build successful careers.”

Partnerships are vital to the University’s commitment to supporting students’ career success by connecting them to a robust network of industry professionals and are a driving factor in its reputation for excellence as the No. 1 public university in Ohio for career preparation.  

BGSU partners with regional and global companies across multiple sectors, providing students with exclusive access to internships, co-ops and direct connections with industry leaders, giving them a distinct edge as they navigate their career paths.

"It's one experience to learn about a career path in the classroom, but it's another experience entirely to step into a company and see it firsthand,” said Brad Bozzo, corporate engagement specialist with the Kuhlin Hub for Career Design and Connections. “That is why these partnerships matter; they give students a real sense of what's out there and how they might fit into the workplace. O-I Glass stands out as a partner because they understand that career engagement is not just about hiring — it's about investing in future talent by making mentorship, leadership development and industry exposure a priority."

Miller, with help from two-time BGSU alumna Erin Schwiebert ‘02, ‘10, operations organization development leader and HR business partner at O-I, organized the event for the BGSU chapter of Women in Business Leadership. Students from the University of Toledo and the University of Findlay were also invited to attend.

In addition to getting a firsthand look at the day-to-day of various careers, students learned about the highly sought-after soft skills recruiters seek, manufacturing innovation, company culture and efficiency. They also had an opportunity to ask O-I professionals at various levels of leadership questions during a panel discussion.

“As an alum of BGSU, it was especially fulfilling to see so many young women from my own university community taking part in this event,” Schwiebert said. “As someone who is deeply passionate about supporting the next generation of women leaders, it was an honor to coordinate an event that champions these future trailblazers.”