When Peter V. Burakowski ᾽04 reached a turning point in his career four years ago, he looked to former Major League Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent for guidance. It wasn’t the first time.
In 2004, Vincent served as Canisius' commencement speaker. "Fay gave a great speech about coming back from failure,” says Burakowski, who delivered the student commencement address the same day. "At the time, I was interested in working in the music business. Since much of Fay's career had been in entertainment, I tracked down his contact information from the college. Over the course of several phone calls in the weeks following graduation, he gave me some terrific advice.”
Burakowski worked for an independent record label for a year and a half and then shifted away from the music industry and into marketing and public relations. So 10 years after their first conversation, Burakowski again asked Vincent if he had any thoughts or feedback to share with him.
Vincent didn’t pull any punches. He replied, “Frankly, Peter, I thought you would be further along in your career by now. It sounds like you haven’t taken any risks.”
Ouch.
But Burakowski knew Vincent had a point.
“I had not pursued opportunities that had both a high ceiling for success and a significant risk of failure,” he says.
Burakowski served as communications manager for Visit Buffalo Niagara and previously as director of marketing for the Buffalo History Museum. Both interesting ‒but safe.
Then an opportunity to help launch 43North, the $5 million business start-up competition funded by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Buffalo Billion, presented itself.
It was a 10-month contract with no promise of continuation. And, Burakowski’s wife was expecting triplets.
Burakowski took the leap anyway. And he says it was well worth it.
As vice president of marketing and organizational strategy, he leads marketing strategy that includes the recruitment of applicants, media relations, social media, content production and a road show series that publicizes the competition across the country. He also plays a key role in the organization’s long-term planning.
“Since the inception of our competition, 43North has invested $20 million into our companies,” says Burakowski. “Those companies have gone on to raise another $100 million in investment and create more than 280 jobs in our community.”
Burakowski is personally invested and proud to play a role in Buffalo’s comeback.
“Buffalo’s story has shifted momentum in the right direction,” he says. “To contribute to that is very meaningful to me.”
The Hamburg resident enjoys spending time with his wife, Kara and four children, George, 6 and triplets Ada, Rose and Greta, 4. Burakowski also plays in a band, The Larkin Plan, which headlines at local venues including Buffalo Distilling.
