UIC Business is proud to announce that it was founded by Don Bielinski '71 and his family. Bielinski Family Endowed Faculty Scholarship Fund. This $2.25 million gift recognizes and supports the research efforts of outstanding faculty members who are named Bielinski Family Faculty Scholars.
“The quality of our academic programs and the standing of our university are highly dependent on the international reputation of our faculty,” said Sandy Wayne, dean of the UIC School of Business.
“Creating named faculty through the Bielinski family's generous gift will allow us to recognize and retain outstanding faculty so that they can continue their groundbreaking research and contribute to our institution's reputation on the global stage.” You will be able to increase your
Throughout his career, Bielinski has led businesses of various sizes, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. His expertise lies in new business development, financial management, strategy development and innovation. With a diverse background in management and finance, he has held the positions of CEO, Vice Chairman, Group President, and his CFO in multiple industries and on multiple continents.
Mr. Bielinski currently serves as Managing Partner of SMB Interim Management, a company that provides interim senior executives to small and medium-sized businesses around the world.
Bielinski attributes much of his success to his experience at UIC, stating:
“I was a typical first-generation UIC college student, going to campus all four years and working 20 hours a week,” Bielinski said. “Not working was not an option.
“When I started my career at Grainger, I already knew what it was like to work six days a week, 12 or more hours a day, something many other recruits from Ivy League schools struggle with. While I was working, I was wondering what I should do with all this free time.”
Mr. Bielinski also discussed how the diversity he found at UIC contributed to his success as a business leader.
“At UIC, I spent time with a group of 15 to 20 kids in the Montgomery Ward Lounge in Student Center East. Our group was diverse in gender, race, ethnicity, income, interests, and, importantly, mindset. They were diverse in every way. I understood the value of different perspectives and the power of solutions derived from diverse perspectives.”
Mr. Bielinski's work ethic, combined with his willingness to incorporate diverse perspectives and seek solutions, enabled him to be promoted to vice president at Grainger in his early 30s, making him one of the youngest executives in the company's history. Ta.
Recognizing the impact UIC has had on his life, Bielinski has chosen to give back to his alma mater in a variety of ways over the years.
As Chair of the Business Advisory Board from 2005 to 2019, he provided an industry perspective as the university developed new programs aimed at student success. Since then, he has served as a member of the University of Illinois Foundation Board of Directors, guiding engagement with alumni, donors, and friends to maximize system-wide impact.
In addition to his service, Mr. Bielinski is a long-time philanthropic supporter of the university. He established the Bielinski Family Scholarship Fund in his 2010 and contributed to the renovation of Douglas Hall and the University of Illinois Foundation Philanthropy Center.
The impact of the Bielinski Family Endowed Faculty Scholarship Fund will be transformative and far-reaching. “It is critical for the university to attract and retain the best and brightest faculty who are dedicated to inclusive excellence in education,” Bielinski said.
“These outstanding faculty foster innovation through research and educate a new generation of diverse business leaders, many of whom will be the first in their families to graduate from college.”
Bielinski hopes his gift will inspire other alumni to give back to the university.
“UIC is still a relatively young university,” he said. “We are now at a tipping point where many alumni can look back and understand the important role UIC has played in their success. We need to get them involved. The rewards are staggering. It will be!”
Bielinski offered the following advice to current and future students: Focus on what you need to do. ”
