Dilun Wu, a 2015 graduate of Penn State's Smeal College of Business, is the vice president of HSBC in Philadelphia and the co-founder of Go-Go Dog Toys, and enjoys engaging with her alma mater.

While Wu has never held a teaching position, she said she nevertheless is a teacher at heart. She takes her responsibility as an international alumna seriously, especially in her mentorship role.

Wu knows what it’s like to handle unknown situations; when she was 15, she moved from China to the United States and enrolled in high school. Soon after, when she was looking at applying to college, she quickly decided on Penn State.

“I’m not really sure why or when I decided,” she said. “I just knew I wanted to go to Penn State. Something about the culture, the location, the environment … it appealed to me.”

At Penn State, Wu double-majored in marketing and business management. She also worked as a student ambassador with Anna Marshall, and found a special enjoyment in sharing her home culture with her fellow students.

“I found that one of the best ways to blend was to learn American culture,” she said. “It’s really about sharing. While I learned American culture, I also taught Americans about my culture. I think it’s particularly important to expose ourselves to different cultures and broaden our horizons.”

After graduation, Wu got a job as a food supplies distributor in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

“Like 95% of my peers, I was worried about getting a job that would pay me well,” she said. “But I engaged a lot with Career Services — resume workshops, career fairs — and reached out to other alumni for tips on how to prepare a resume and for an interview.”

Wu worked there for a few years before her career took a turn. “I got a job in the financial services industry,” she said. “I’ve been in the industry ever since. Initially, I just followed the path life led me down, but as I’ve stayed in the industry, it’s become my passion. The more I learn, the more I want to learn.”

Passion and authenticity are key for Wu. Being authentic is “the first step," she said. After that, she added, it becomes easier to find and pursue passions.

“I truly believe in finding something you are passionate about,” she said. “If you are not passionate about what you do, you won’t be happy doing it.”

Wu pursues many passions; her job in the financial resources industry is one. She also started a nonprofit dedicated to creating sustainable dog toys out of recycled fire hoses. The toys are then donated to shelters or sold, with the proceeds being used to raise funds for other nonprofits, such as fire houses or dog shelters.

“There is a lot more we could all be doing to better our society,” she said. “It’s amazing to see this program take off.”

Wu also has a lot of passion for mentorship, leadership and empowering the next generation. Even after graduation, she continues to give back to Penn State with her time and philanthropy. She mentors international students and recently was a panelist at a Global Alumni Workshop at Penn State.

“I always talk about the importance of learning new things and finding yourself,” she said. “You need to go through the process of finding yourself, of finding what you are passionate about. For international students, it’s important to get out and get engaged in the new culture and environment.”

Engaging with unfamiliar cultures and situations is key to building emotional intelligence and empathy, two soft skills which Wu emphasizes to those she mentors.

“International students are very focused on being book smart,” she said. “But in the professional environment, emotional intelligence is very important when communicating with colleagues. It’s a skill that’s often overlooked or underappreciated, but it’s a very important one.”

Aside from mentorship, Wu is also supporting Penn State by helping to promote Giving Tuesday fundraising events. Penn State Global has two funds – the “We Are All Penn State” fund, an emergency fund for international students; and the “Study Abroad Scholarship Fund.”

“International students are particularly vulnerable to financial struggles because they are cut off from their families, and they don’t have the same level of cultural knowledge as domestic students,” she said. “Emergencies happen to everyone, and it’s great that we can provide support to our students when they do.”

Wu points out that philanthropy does not need to be monetary — it can come in the form of giving back with time and attention, such as through mentorship.

“Philanthropy isn’t talked about as much in the younger generation, but if we start planting those seeds now, then they will grow with the knowledge that giving back is something they can do.”

Mentorship is both a perk of being an alumna — and a way to give back, according to Wu.

“Being a Penn State alumna offers you connections and foundations with other Penn Staters,” she said. “I personally found someone who worked at my same company that went to Penn State long before I did, and she is now my mentor.

“I’ve been fortunate to have many great mentors throughout my life,” she added. “It’s important to me to be able to give back in a similar way.”