by C.J. Wood, ’27
Through interviews with two professionals, this article reveals how effective business communication bridges gaps, resolves challenges, and drives success across industries.
Business communication serves as the cornerstone of successful operations across industries, acting as the bridge between confusion and clarity while enabling teams to work effectively toward common goals. Through interviews with two distinguished Lehigh alumni, we explore how communication shapes success in different sectors of the business world.
Zach Barket ’13 a private equity professional at Spire Capital emphasized the importance of choosing the right communication channels for maximum efficiency. He noted that while email chains might require 15 minutes to reach a conclusion, a simple phone call often resolves matters more quickly, directly contributing to increased productivity and profitability.
Barket also highlighted the dynamic nature of communication within private equity, where messaging must be tailored across the three distinct organizational levels of a private equity fund. “While your audience and approach may need to adapt based on different stakeholders, the effectiveness of your communication should remain consistent,” he advised. This principle becomes particularly crucial when managing broader audiences while still maintaining communication efficiency.
Thomas Zuewsky ’19 a medical device sales professional at Curonix. Zuewsky brought an unique perspective where effective communication can impact patient outcomes. In his role, Thomas must maintain clear lines of communication with multiple stakeholders including patients, hospital administrators, surgeons and his own company.
“Without effective communication skills, you cannot be an effective businessman,” Zuewsky emphasized. His position in medical device sales is in a niche market, so it requires both high business acumen and clinical knowledge. This dual expertise enables him to communicate effectively with surgeons and patients about clinical implications while discussing financial metrics with C-suite executives.
Overall, business communication is essential no matter what role or industry you are in. Communication can help with things such as problem and conflict prevention, enhanced productivity, increased creativity and innovation, and improved stakeholder relationships. Both Zach and Thomas emphasized that effective and efficient communication represents a fundamental skill in today’s business environment.
