Cultivating Connections
Aaron J. Snyder (HCB, ’87) is passionate about connecting Haslam College of Business graduates with well-suited job placements. After mentoring more than 300 individual students over the past 12 years, Snyder now serves as executive director for strategic partnerships—a newly created position that forges connections with c-suite executives while seeking employment and career opportunities for Haslam graduates.
Snyder brings a wealth of corporate leadership experience and connections to the table from his time at American Express, Blackhawk Network, and Experian. But for him, his new role is all about helping students land their dream jobs. “We are graduating some amazing talent and there’s a need in the business world for that talent,” Snyder says. “My job is to leverage my network with corporations and open up doors of opportunity for students. They are seeking such talent, and we are going to build something unique and amazing. Recruiters are looking for a better solution in terms of talent acquisition.”
With his new position at Haslam, Snyder will expand on the work he has done for years. Ryan Ridley (HCB, ’15) recalls feeling uncertain about his career path on the eve of graduation when Snyder became his mentor. “He believed in me and wanted to help,” Ridley recalls. “It was a turning point for me. I knew he was not just playing a role and working to get his name on something. He genuinely wanted to help me.”
Ridley contacted Snyder after meeting representatives from HCA Healthcare at a business analytics society meeting. “I told him I wanted to work at HCA in Nashville,” said Ridley. “I wanted to go somewhere I could grow, and felt that this was the right place.” Snyder tapped his network, connecting Ridley with someone at a similar organization who met with him and completed the connection to HCA. “I reached out to HCA and said all we’re asking for is giving our student a shot,” Snyder says. “Ryan walked in there and did a fantastic job on the interview. Now, he is incredibly successful and thriving as their director of analytics.”
As a first-generation college student, Kelli Ross (HCB, ’22) was looking for a mentor who could help her navigate a potential career path when Snyder spoke to her class and offered to serve as a mentor for any interested students. “He became my go-to for any career questions and kept me on track to achieving all my goals,” Ross explains. “He is one of the first people outside my family to believe in me and my potential in a way that built my confidence to do bigger and better things.” Today, Ross works as an equity research analyst at Eagle Capital Management in New York.
Snyder believes connecting high-quality Haslam graduates with worthy opportunities is a win-win. “The most successful businesses in America have realized human capital is the most important asset they have,” he says. “Companies spend a lot of money on attracting and retaining talent. If we can match them with students who are a best fit, the result will be a win for the organization and for that student.”
Network with Aaron Snyder at asnyde18@utk.edu
