Every year, thousands of students choose Northeastern University for its unique cooperative education model, but here's something you don't hear every day: a first-generation college student like Alex Yang, DMSB'26, with no prior connections in the finance world, landing a coveted co-op at Goldman Sachs.
And it's partly thanks to the game-changing mentorship and professional development he gained through a partnership between the D'Amore-McKim School of Business and Liberty Mutual's Corporate Strategy & Research team (CS&R).
This initiative, now in its fifth year, is part of D'Amore-McKim's F1RST Scholars program, which serves the school's first-generation students. Through personalized mentoring, career guidance, and a robust network of industry connections, the program helps students like Yang bridge the gap between academic ambition and career success, even without pre-existing industry connections.
“The impact and outcomes on our scholars have exceeded all expectations,” says Heather Hauck, D'Amore-McKim's Director of Student Engagement, Affinity, and Inclusion. “F1RST Scholars have incredibly diverse life experiences that add so much to our community. I am proud to be a part of a college whose leadership is committed to cultivating a diverse, inclusive community where everyone can thrive.”
Raised just outside New York City in South Orange, N.J., Yang knew the chance to graduate with hands-on work experience would be crucial for his career. However, as a first-generation college student, he faced unique hurdles, from imposter syndrome to limited professional networks.
“The F1RST program has provided me with mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources that have been instrumental in my academic and professional development,” he says. “It's made me feel like I belong in spaces that I might have otherwise felt were out of reach.”
Beyond guidance
The partnership with Liberty Mutual has been transformative for F1RST Scholars, according to Devaun Bovell, Associate Director of Access, Equity & Engagement at D'Amore-McKim.
“Entering the fifth year of this partnership, Liberty Mutual's CS&R team continues to commit to the personal and professional development of our students,” Bovell says. “The Liberty Mentor Program Team and every mentor has displayed genuine care for our students and interest in supporting their growth.”
“This has been an amazing partnership since its inception five years ago. It has been incredibly fulfilling to be part of the group of founding members, including Northeastern Professor Mark Bernfield and Heather Hauck, who created this unique mentorship model together,” says Steve Lee, Vice President & Head of Operations at Liberty Mutual. “Being able to watch it come to life and continue to flourish today has been a very rewarding experience on both sides.”
Mentors have praised the scholars' preparedness and eagerness to learn while finding their own personal and professional growth through mentorship, too.
By working with D'Amore-McKim students, Laura Malecky, Senior Manager I on Liberty Mutual's CS&R team, has gained a deep appreciation for the unique qualities that first-generation students bring to the table.
“First-generation students often demonstrate remarkable resilience and determination, bringing fresh perspectives that enrich team dynamics,” she explains. As a mentor, Malecky's role is not only to support but also to help students like Yang recognize and harness these unique strengths.
For Malecky, mentorship goes beyond building skills; it's about empowering mentees to thrive as their authentic selves, especially in workplace environments where the pressure to perform can sometimes overshadow individuality.
“I encourage them to present their authentic selves and strive to empower them to succeed in their career pursuits,” she says.
Along the way, she believes guiding mentees has refined her leadership and communications skills, allowing her to approach challenges with empathy and a solution-oriented mindset.
Matthew Shuman, an Associate Consultant at Liberty Mutual, said he was drawn to the program because of his own experiences in college.
“A mentor of mine—through a similar program to Northeastern's—played a large role in my development personally and professionally,” says Shuman, who still keeps in touch with his mentor. “Knowing first-hand how pivotal it can be for a college student to have someone invest a few hours a month to share their experience, I was very excited to see that my team at Liberty had a mentorship program for first-generation students at Northeastern.”
For Shuman, the most fulfilling part of the experience has been witnessing his mentee's hard work translate into real opportunities. “I was so excited to see my mentee start receiving internship and co-op offers and witness how all the hard work she put into the application and interview processes paid off.”
Scott Whitefield, Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Strategy and Research at Liberty Mutual, acknowledges the benefits of this program. “This partnership has been a win-win. Not only are the students gaining new professional skills, but we also have the opportunity to expand our perspectives and learn more about our broader community through this program–something that the CS&R team greatly values. We look forward to continuing this mentorship program with Northeastern for years to come.”
A safe space to grow
The yearlong program equips students with essential professional skills, from resume crafting and interview techniques to business communication. For Yang, the most impactful aspect of his mentorship was the ongoing guidance he received during his co-op search, including frequent meetings that provided invaluable support.
“I was applying to a wide range of positions within finance. It was a great opportunity to have someone explain at a very high level how I should approach my search with different roles,” Yang says.
No matter where his search led, Yang felt prepared. His mentor helped him tailor his resume to highlight the skills and experiences most relevant to the finance industry. Together, they developed networking strategies—“Something I hadn't done much before,” he admits—and with each mock interview, Yang grew more confident. He learned to think on his feet, recall his experiences more effectively, and pitch and advocate for himself in networking situations.
“Having someone in the finance industry help me understand the various opportunities and give feedback on how to present myself was invaluable,” he says. “It gave me a much clearer direction in terms of where I wanted to take my career and how to position myself to get there.”
The mock interviews, which allowed Yang to also make mistakes in a safe space and receive constructive feedback, played a critical role in preparing him for the interview at Goldman Sachs.
“For instance, I learned how to better structure my responses to behavioral interview questions and approach interviews with a more analytical mindset,” he says.
That's the beauty of the program, adds Shuman. “Each student's needs are different as they navigate application and interview processes, but the best insights are often from personal experience and the experience of those around us.”
At Goldman Sachs' Public Sector and Infrastructure group, Yang has hit the ground running.
His role spans advising municipal entities on public-private partnerships, preparing bond rating presentations, and helping clients navigate market volatility through complex financial products.
Looking ahead, Yang aims to deepen his investment banking expertise, focusing on advising corporations on public-private partnerships and project finance transactions.
Meanwhile, Abisola Olaogun, DMSB'23, embodies both sides of the program's impact—having served as a peer mentor for the F1RST Scholars inaugural cohort while participating as a Liberty Mutual Scholar herself. Growing up in Attleboro, Mass., Olaogun credits her parents' emphasis on education for shaping her path to success.
While living her professional dream in New York City, helping to drive high-impact initiatives across the firm as a Core Strategy Analyst at JPMorgan Chase, she easily recalls the nervousness she felt on the cusp of graduation.
“I was moving to a new city for a new job, and I felt a lot of uncertainty about how I would adjust,” she says. “On top of that, I was also trying to balance academic responsibilities and enjoy the final stretch of my senior year.”
During that time of change, her Liberty Mutual mentor was there to help her navigate that pivotal transition.
“There was no judgment, and he reassured me that it was okay to feel that way because it was a major transition. It was nice to be able to have someone listen and also be able to relate to what I was experiencing, which made me feel understood and supported,” she says.
Moreover, the program empowered her to become more comfortable with being uncomfortable “and embrace that feeling as a space for growth,” she says.
Armed with confidence from her Liberty Mutual mentor and equipped with strategies from professional development workshops, Olaogun found the confidence to push past her comfort zone. Today, she's flourishing in her career.
“The program helped me navigate the transition from academia to a fast-paced professional environment, and it taught me how to adjust to new challenges and continue growing both personally and professionally,” she says. “I would definitely recommend this program to other first-gen students!”