Inspired by his Daughter, GW Parent Becomes Dedicated Alumnus

Graduation photo of class of 2013 wearing graduation gowns and caps
Graduation photo of Bill Madway shaking hands
Bill Madway graduating in 2013.

With a resume that includes accountant, real estate professional, MBA, market researcher, consultant, and college professor, there’s not much Bill Madway, GSPM MPS ’13, hasn’t accomplished. So, when this lifelong learner was at a crossroads in his career in 2011, he knew that the best next step in his ever-evolving career path was going back to school himself.

“It would give me the ability to connect or still be involved with a university, but do something different – learn some new skills and create a new network,” Madway reflects.

That’s when Madway discovered GSPM’s master’s in strategic public relations program – a perfect pivot from his extensive background in marketing.

“I was familiar with GW and had visited campus many times because my daughter got her undergraduate degree in sociology there, and a year after graduating she returned for law school,” Madway recalls. “I’d always been impressed.”

Madway not only needed a program that was going to challenge him academically, but was also going to accommodate his part-time schedule and location in Philadelphia – and as luck would have it, GSPM checked all of those boxes.

There was one course in particular that stood out to Madway when making his decision to enroll – a class in budgeting and finances when running a PR firm. This hit close to home for Madway, and was a contributing factor to enrolling in the program.

“I had had my own marketing research company, I had done consulting, but one of the biggest challenges was figuring out how much my time was worth. I think I undervalued that a lot,” Madway reflects. “I had funds to invest in the company and new employees, but I didn’t find that I personally was making a ton of money because I didn’t know how much to charge. When I saw that GSPM offered a budgeting course, that said to me they know what people need to learn.”

Madway’s personal connection to the school was unparalleled. Upon enrolling in May 2011, he realized that if he stayed on pace with all courses, he would be able to graduate with his daughter Brynne Madway, CCAS BA ’09, LAW JD ’13. “That became a driving motivator in getting my assignments done and keeping on track,” Madway says.

For the next two years, Madway kept up with his studies and excelled as a student, especially when it came to connecting with his peers and professors — which he acknowledges isn’t always seen as a strength of online programs.

“I think a lot of people look at an online program and say ‘great, but you’re missing that campus experience, you’re not going to connect with people,’” he comments. “But I feel like I connected much more with people because we did so many group projects online and shared our views through weekly online discussions . . . I formed much more in-depth relationships.”

As a former educator, Madway also recognizes the value of the assignments in the program. “I think it was a great learning experience,” he shares. “The assignments were so well-designed to make you learn and apply the material. And it was just the right mix of theory and practicality.”

After graduating, Madway put his newfound PR skills to the test and started working as a communications professional for political campaigns and, at one point, even ran for political office in his hometown. Now, he serves as a public service campaigns strategist through his own company, Madway Business Marketing, where he helps with purpose-driven campaigns. He credits GSPM for inspiring his activism.

“I came out of the school with a desire to use my newfound skills to help causes and issues I believe in,” he explains.

He also dedicates his time to the Public Relations Society of America, where he serves as chair of the Association/Nonprofit Section, and to the GSPM Advisory Board, where he’s able to advocate for the school and stay involved in its future. He currently helps sponsor research about the political communication process as it relates to social media.

“When I get involved in something I just don’t sit back,” he says. “I really want to take it to the next level and help support some of the issues and things I really believe in . . . It’s just been great to help fund some of GSPM’s discoveries.”

Education has always been a top priority for Madway, and his degree from GSPM has made one of the most lasting impressions on his lifelong learning journey. “It changed the way I looked at the world of communication and persuasion.”

There’s one other thing that made an impression on Madway – achieving that goal to graduate alongside his daughter in 2013.

“We had a joint graduation party down in Washington for family and friends. It was very, very special to me and still remains that way,” Madway reminisces. “It’ll be something that ties us together forever. It’s a real source of pride.”

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