ISA to INDY

Wyatt Gantz

Wyatt Gantz is a 2022 Olivet Nazarene University alumnus. While at ONU, he majored in Corporate Communication with a minor in business. Since graduation, he works in communication as an Associate Account Executive at JDA Worldwide in Indianapolis, IN. 

As he approaches one year after graduation, he has spent time being able to reflect all that Olivet meant to him as a student, but also how it has continued to be a part of his life today. 

Moments of Wyatt’s ONU experience

Hands-on experience behind the camera during a client project for ISA.

Wyatt’s COMMunity, while sharing special moments at his last ONU Communications department banquet.

From agency life in the classroom (pictured left) to real-world agency life (pictured right).

His Life at ONU

Gantz was heavily involved in the Communication Department during his time as an Olivet student. Not only was he involved as a student, but he also spent his time as an employee and leader.   

He didn’t pass on leadership opportunities, rather he committed to the role and gained lots of experience because of it.    

“Olivet provided me with a lot of opportunities that I had to take advantage of,” Gantz said. 

Inspired Strategies Agency (ISA) was a class that he gained a significant amount of experience from. Because of the real-world setting within the classroom, he was able to gain a new perspective of what communication looks like in the professional world. 

To learn more about ISA and the connection it has to the professional world, head over to Anyssa’s feature on ISA and its most recent professional world connection.

With over six semesters spent at the student-run agency, he was able to work his way up to multiple leadership roles. During his time there he was a Junior Account Executive, Account Executive and Assistant Agency Director. 

“It really prepared me and set me up for success,” he said. 

His Life at Work

Gantz wasn’t ready for his agency life to be over. After graduation, he began working for JDA Worldwide.

For him, JDA Worldwide is the perfect fit. He is able to help his clients, while making an impact for projects he is passionate about.

Gantz spends his time multitasking in a variety of roles. He finds himself having to maintain professional communication amongst different groups, both internal and external.  

“My main task at JDA is to communicate with both client and internal team, working as a liaison between the two,” Gantz said. 

As a liaison and communicator, he finds himself having to effectively communicate what the client wants while also finding what is most efficient and effective for JDA. He does this by settings meetings and determining who is the best fit for each meeting. He also sits in on meetings, helping where is needed.  

While at the meetings, Gantz is ensuring that all voices are heard, while everyone’s tasks are being recognized. At the same time, he is determining the next steps that will need to take place. 

Gantz was equipped to be this liaison through his leadership skills and styles throughout his ONU experience. He’s a transformational leader, as discussed in an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

“Transformational leadership is an involved, complex process binds leaders and followers together in the transformation or changing of followers,” the article said.

Gantz works diligently to ensure that the company, as leaders, and the client, as followers, come together for the same, end goal.

Like his variety within daily tasks, the amount of people and who he works daily fluctuates as well.   

“The cool thing about my role, is that I get to work will all departments,” Gantz said. 

His Life Advice

With Gantz’s success within the Communication Department and abroad, he wanted to encourage current ONU Communication students.  

He emphasized that the ONU Communication Department offers a variety of different opportunities and experiences.  

“Take advantage of every opportunity that you can because the real world is not as forgiving,” he said. 

With the daily hustle and bustle of his life now, he encourages students to soak up every moment. 

“Take advantage of the fun moments that are at college, but also focus on the moments where you don’t necessarily want to go a certain class or are unsure of taking another semester of a leadership role because those moments can affect and propel you forward,” he said. 

For more encouragement for current ONU students, head over to Carli Dillman’s article highlighting 2014 grad, Mike Miller.