Hands-on Support Leads Business Major to PwC Dream Job

Growing up only a few miles from the Dominican University of California campus, Leo Pan ’25 briefly considered moving to Southern California for college. Instead, after talking with friends attending Dominican, he decided that remaining close to where he eventually wanted to build his career was the best decision. 

It is a decision that has worked out well for Leo, who graduated from San Rafael’s Terra Linda High School with a 4.2 GPA. His outstanding academic record continued at Dominican, where the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society member is studying business administration with a concentration in accounting.

This coming summer, buoyed by a strong resume of work experiences, Leo begins an internship with Big Four accounting firm PwC. He will work in the San Francisco office’s mergers and acquisitions division.

“Ever since my freshman year of college, interning and working alongside the PwC team has been a dream of mine," Leo says. "Now, with my graduation just around the corner, it feels incredibly rewarding to see that dream come true."

“Over the past few years, I’ve gained invaluable experience as a tax intern and compliance intern and I’m excited to bring this knowledge, along with my strong academic performance and passion for tax law, to PwC.”

Indeed, the first-generation college student has developed an impressive professional and academic resume thanks to the support and guidance from faculty and staff in Dominican’s Barowsky School of Business (BSB). 

Leo’s first tax/accounting internship was in 2024 with Marin firm Bregante + Company LLP. He then joined Ghilotti Bros., one of the largest construction companies in Northern California, first as an accounts payable intern and then working in the job cost and compliance sector. This January, Leo began a tax internship with Macias Gini & O'Connell LLP. 

“I feel that Dominican’s Barowsky School of Business definitely prepared me for real-life experiences and offered a level of support that I wouldn’t receive at many other universities,” Leo says.

Taking a first-year introduction to accounting course with Dr. Yiye Zhang was Leo’s “aha moment.” He immediately connected with the coursework and the concepts and embarked on a course sequence that made him a strong candidate for accounting internships.

Leo also appreciated hands-on courses, especially those that brought professionals into the classroom and provided important insight into the workplace. Both Courtney Budesa, BSB’s director of internships and professional development, and Guilia Welch, director of career development, provided support and encouragement.

“Courtney is the best at what she does, which is helping students get internships,” Leo says. “This in itself is worth so much and she has added so much value to me as a professional.”

Budesa’s key focus is preparing students to succeed post-graduation. This includes helping prepare students for internships and supporting them during the internship search.

“All business undergraduate students participate in a four-year personal and professional development course where they learn about their strengths and skills, explore areas of business, participate in networking events, and listen to alumni panels,” she says. “We also provide one-on-one professional development coaching for students to support them in their internship and job search.”

It was Budesa who introduced Leo to Bregante + Company LLP. Daniel Novak, a partner with the firm, graduated from Dominican.

“They are a public accounting firm with tons of CPAs, and I got connected with them through Courtney when she was reaching out to students for internship opportunities," Leo says. 

"I worked to prepare tax returns for business entities and individuals. This has helped open doors for me. It’s one thing to have a high GPA but another to have work experience in the career that you want to pursue.” 

Leo met the Ghilotti recruiter at Dominican’s career fair. The summer internship turned into a part-time work in the construction company’s job cost & compliance sector. Leo then connected with Macias Gini & O’Connell LLP.

“I got in contact with the tax principal there through Courtney and had a phone and an in-person interview the same day. I was told that day that I got the position.”

Leo landed PwC internship after cold applying for the job last October. This coming fall he plans to start working on his MS Accounting (MSA) this fall. 

“My aspirations are to be able to turn my PwC internship into a full-time offer and work with them after my MSA program,” Leo says. “While working full-time I will be studying for the CPA exam, and plan to take and pass all four sections to receive CPA licensure in California.”

For future business students interested in accounting, Leo advises they connect with career services and network beginning their first year. 

“I found that the connections you make with the professionals you intern for can last a lifetime because the Bay Area is a lot smaller than we think, especially Marin County,” he says. “I could always come back in the future at a company I interned for and work at a higher position after getting years of experience. Anything is possible, which is why internships shouldn’t be overlooked as just a temporary position.”