Culture, community and collaboration have always been a big part of Mike Pilato\u2019s (BAcc \u201998) personal and professional life.<\/p>\n
The President and CEO of Jamieson Wellness says growing up in Fort Erie and attending Brock University instead of a big-city institution helped him learn the value of community and connection.<\/p>\n
It led to building relationships that allowed him to successfully progress in his career and shaped how he now leads his own teams.<\/p>\n
Pilato is one of several Brock graduates recognized for their professional achievements as part of Brock University\u2019s annual alumni awards. Pilato is the 2021 recipient of the Brock University Alumni Association (BUAA) Distinguished Alumni Award. In lieu of a traditional in-person awards ceremony this year, articles will be written about each award recipient and posted to The Brock News<\/em><\/a> in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n Early in his life, Pilato knew he wanted to become a CEO. So, when it came to choosing a program to study, his entrepreneur father recommended he specialize in accounting or finance, explaining that if Pilato developed a deep understanding of the metrics that drove a company, it would set him apart and open many possible paths to success.<\/p>\n \u201cI never got into accounting with a desire to be a public accountant, auditor or tax specialist,\u201d Pilato said. \u201cI got into it to become a businessperson with a strong financial background.\u201d<\/p>\n While attending Brock, Pilato built a community of peers who worked together to reach their goals.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had each other\u2019s backs and were all driving in the same direction in a way that wasn\u2019t overly competitive,\u201d he said. \u201cLooking back, I see that this is a key component to a successful career. It\u2019s how you work within an organization, and it\u2019s how you work with a team every day, that ultimately drives success.\u201d<\/p>\n After graduating from Brock, Pilato\u2019s career led him into the consumer goods industry, working for global companies such as Playtex Products, Kraft Foods, The Clorox Company and now, Jamieson Wellness.<\/p>\n Over the past 20 years, Pilato has benefited from the guidance of people in senior leadership roles who saw potential in him.<\/p>\n For example, early in his career, a manager asked him to move from finance to marketing, which Pilato says is the heart of consumer strategy in the consumer goods industry. Another senior leader suggested he refocus his unrelenting passion for driving results to developing culture, which would lead to greater organizational results, and help advance him to leadership roles.<\/p>\n \u201cIn both of these stories, people took the time to guide me and help me achieve my career goals,\u201d Pilato said. \u201cIf you want to reach great heights in your career, it is important that you build a deep professional community with a core set of people you trust to give you honest feedback.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t get here on my own,\u201d he said. \u201cI could give you thousands of stories of people who have helped me get to where I am today. I had to work hard and be determined, but I had a lot of great team members and leaders around me who supported me and believed in me.”<\/p>\n Now as CEO for Jamieson, Pilato is focused on building a positive organizational culture that drives results.<\/p>\n “If you empower people to do their job and you give them the space to really let their strengths shine \u2014 to achieve what they are possible of achieving in the greater good of what the organization is trying to achieve \u2014 you will build a highly engaged and loyal team that produces long-term sustainable results,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Ultimately, Pilato said he wants his team to enjoy working with him and for the company he represents. He says it’s important that people work in an organization that aligns with their values.<\/p>\n \u201cMy goal is to make sure everyone\u2019s favourite night of the week is Sunday and not Friday,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen they wake up in the morning, I want them to love coming to work as much as I do because they believe in what we are trying to accomplish, they feel valued, and they feel empowered to do their job.\u201d<\/p>\n