Driving Force

William “Bill” Finn believes in giving back to his community, including at the College of Charleston, where he plays a role in transforming the School of Business and creating future leaders.

“I have always believed that the School of Business should be at the center of the Charleston business community,” says Finn, who first got involved with the school when it opened its doors in 1984. “It’s a great school with great faculty and remarkable students. It should be the go-to place for internships and a resource for businesses.”

To make his vision a reality, Finn became one of the initial members of the School of Business Board of Governors, and he continues to serve on the board today. He understands the value of having experts to help grow the involvement of the business community. As the chairman and CEO of AstenJohnson for more than 20 years and with an extensive C-suite network, he was just the person to do it.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better partner,” says Howard Rudd, the founding dean of the School of Business. “Bill used his global connections to support me and the faculty. He always asked the right questions and provided the resources to make things happen. Thanks to Bill and other members of the Board of Governors, the School of Business has a Student Success Center, a vibrant MBA program and now an Executive MBA program. These are a great resources both for our students and the business community.”

For Finn, his return on involvement has been exponential. He has seen the evolution of the College as a whole, watched graduates go on to leadership roles in their communities and has had friends from around the country ask about having their kids attend the College based on what he has shared. In addition, through Finn’s leadership, AstenJohnson continues to hire CofC graduates; he has also hosted economic development–related classes at AstenJohnson headquarters as well as in Europe.

Finn’s reason for everything he does at the College is the students, and he found an opportunity to have long-lasting relationships with students thanks to a proposal by Carrie Messal, now associate dean of the School of Business, to get seniors involved with the business community. A gift from Susan and Peter Schottland made the concept a reality, and the Schottland Scholars were formed in 2011.

Messal’s proposal aimed for students to be comfortable when interacting with business leadership; however, she hit a dead end when contacting companies. Instead of reaching corporate leaders, she was steered toward HR and recruiting events.

“Someone mentioned to Bill what I was trying to do, and he said he would help,” says Messal. “Bill became an eager volunteer who was able to open doors. Plus, he had this ambitious group of students who needed a bit of polish — the best canvas to give Bill.”

Finn set to work assigning students mentors based on their needs.

“I could see how the program was impacting the students,” says Finn, whose career with AstenJohnson began through an internship. “They were graduating with confidence because of their experience as a Schottland Scholar.”

Now an integral part of the fabric of the School of Business, Finn remains involved with the Schottland Scholars program as a volunteer and a donor. Over the past 15 years, his institutional knowledge and network have proven invaluable to the three directors.

Finn maintains relationships with Schottland Scholars alumni. Most recently he and the Schottlands met with New York City alumni, who all have a great appreciation for the fact that they are where they are today because of the program.

“Bill was formidable during the initial interview with legitimate hard-hitting questions,” recalls Lauren Tonkovich ’13. After being accepted, she quickly learned that Finn’s seriousness was because of how much he cared.

“Everything Bill does is out of a generosity of spirit,” says Tonkovich, controller at cereal manufacturer Magic Spoon. “As I’ve gotten older and struggle with work/life balance, the time and attention he gave me means so much more.”

At the New York dinner, she was pleased to see Finn supporting the new cohort of students with the same zest he had when coaching her.

Finn continues to share his connections and opportunities with Tonkovich, and she attributes much of her career success to his guidance. He plays such a key role in her life that she invited him to her wedding in 2022.

Finn’s impact on Marita Hansen ’13 was equally powerful. She almost didn’t get accepted into the Schottland Scholars program because of her grades.

“I didn’t really match the profile on paper, and the interview was very intimidating, but Bill decided to take a risk,” says Hansen, who owns Venture in Consulting, a leadership and sales training company. “He trusted his instinct and let me in. For that reason, we have a special relationship. We have stayed in touch for more than 10 years and haven’t skipped a beat.

“Bill sees that our success will have a ripple effect in communities,” she adds. “He wants everyone to be connected and part of the community, and he wants us prepared for the real world. He gave me the ability to network by emphasizing the importance of true, good networking. It has served me well in the real world.”

Finn believes in the Schottland Scholars program so much that he formed the Finn Scholar program at his alma mater, Thomas Jefferson University.

Back at the College, Finn recently created the William A. “Bill” and Prudence Finn Endowed Scholarship for the School of Business – one more way he supports student success.

“I am eternally grateful for the scholarships I received while in college,” says Finn. “I have a great appreciation for the people who didn’t know me and still provided the funding for scholarships. It’s because of them and the students that I give back.”

Meanwhile, Finn continues to look at how to improve the School of Business.

“The business world is changing quickly, and continuing education is becoming more and more critical,” says Finn. “The time horizon on skill sets is becoming shorter and shorter. We will see an incredible change with AI, and the School of Business can play a major role in that change. I see helping people develop the skills to be more relevant as key to the school’s future success.”

The School of Business is very fortunate to have an inspirational, passionate leader like Finn, who has built bridges for the College that span the world.

“I am so grateful to celebrate Bill,” says Messal. “He has had a tremendous impact on the School of Business for the last 25 years. I can’t imagine the School of Business without the force of Bill Finn. He is the infinite mentor. Who could be more VIP than Bill?” – Darcie Goodwin