Q:Where is your hometown?
A:Concord, Massachusetts
Q:What are you studying at the D'Amore-McKim School of Business and when do you plan to graduate? When did you begin the program?
A:I began the part-time MBA program in Fall 2015, pursuing an interest in non-profit management from a business perspective. I thought an MBA would enable me to provide business expertise through a lense of understanding the needs of non-profits that I developed during my career. My studies however have opened up my mind to new interests and possibilities. I realized I have a keen interest in entrepreneurship, business intelligence, and market research. I hope to gain more insight and develop some specialities by the time I graduate.
Q:What do you do in your current job? What are your responsibilities?
A:Currently I work in fundraising for a large academic medical center in Boston on a team that raises funding from corporations and foundations. We raise money for all of the hospital's needs and medical specialty support research, capital needs, patient care, and medical innovations. I am responsible for facilitating education grants, working with multiple partners across the hospital and parent organization to make sure beneficiaries of the grants receive funding for the continuing education of hospital faculty and staff. I also support my team by creating reports to show our fundraising efficacy and help leadership make strategic decisions.
Q:How has being enrolled in the program impacted your current job?
A:My enrollment in D'Amore-McKim School of Business has made me more attuned to understanding the business decisions of my department and organization overall.
Q:What skills are you building at D'Amore-McKim that you are using in your current job or will use in your future career?
A:Studying at D'Amore-McKim School of Business has enabled me to build so many skills that help me currently and in my future career. The most important one so far is financial literacy. In my current role, I'm always trying to gain insight from financial documents of my own organization and funders. Knowing what to look for and understanding what it all means has given me the ability to make better informed opinions about financial information.
Q:What has been your most valuable experience so far?
A:Working through the challenge of maintaining a career while meeting the demands of rigorous coursework has been one of the most valuable experiences for me during my enrollment at D'Amore-McKim. The demand has given me the ability to distill what's important to me and prioritize my goals in a way that will make me successful forever. Also, proving to myself that I can succeed, despite the challenges I've faced has given me a lot of confidence to achieve.
Q:Why did you choose D'Amore-McKim?
A:I chose to enroll in the D'Amore-McKim School of Business because I completed my undergraduate studies at Northeastern University and I have experienced the true value of Northeastern's results-driven style of education. To me, there was no better place to go back to school.
Q:What would you say to a prospective student considering D'Amore-McKim for their business degree?
A:Before I decided to pursue my business degree, I consulted a lot of people including graduates of D'Amore-McKim, of other schools, and other people who provided insight. I would tell a prospective student exactly what they all told me: You'll never regret getting your MBA because it's one of the most valuable things you can do for your future. Also, don't worry about the expense of school because you will learn to work hard and gain skills needed all over the world so you will earn the tuition all back before you realized you even missed it.
Q:Where do you see yourself in 5 – 10 years?
A:I've always been personally driven by learning and expanding my abilities so that when new opportunities arise, I'm ready to run with them. I've been able to grow a lot within each organization I've been part of, taking on a variety of roles and increasing responsibilities, which enabled me to provide increasing value at every turn. In five to ten years, I hope to follow the exact same strategy, connecting with more organizations where I can continue to grow and take on more challenges over time. I hope to remain nimble and flexible, continuing to expand my knowledge and abilities so I'm able to influence results and ultimately build a long-term career.