Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society Blog

February 7, 2025

From Physics to Business: Julia Pelletier ’21 on Career Adaptability, and Leadership

CJ O'Brien Interview Picture

When Julia Pelletier ‘21 majored in physics at Holy Cross, she envisioned a future in research, possibly pursuing graduate studies in engineering or astrophysics. However, the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped her plans. Instead of grad school, she accepted a job offer from her first internship at Dell Technologies, launching her career in business operations. Though unexpected, the transition has suited her quite well.

Reflecting on her time at Holy Cross, Julia credited her liberal arts education with essential skills that benefit her today. While her physics background provided technical and analytical abilities, courses like an Excel lab at Holy Cross gave her an edge in job applications and daily work. She also emphasized the value of effective communication and presentation skills in her role. Much of Julia’s technical expertise came from hands-on experience and self-learning. Exposure to Microsoft Suite and Excel at Holy Cross provided a foundation for her skills, however she also developed industry specific skills on the job.

As a business operations professional at Dell, Julia’s work follows a standard 9-5 schedule, though tasks vary. Some days are packed with meetings, while others allow for independent, focused work. Remote work offers flexibility, but she values in-person office visits. She enjoys the dynamic nature of her projects, which keep her engaged and continuously learning. With technology evolving rapidly, Julia says AI has become integral to her workflow, enhancing efficiency rather than replacing jobs. Her advice to students? Get familiar with AI and learn how to leverage it as a skill in job interviews.

Julia’s extensive background in ice hockey, including serving as a team captain at Holy Cross her senior year, shaped her leadership abilities. Julia says this valuable experience as a Team Captain on the ice hockey team gives her a distinct edge in the male-dominated tech industry. Hockey taught her confidence, teamwork, and leadership qualities that translate seamlessly into her corporate career. At Holy Cross, Julia was also active in volunteer work, particularly supporting Worcester’s immigrant community through English programs. This broadened her perspective and deepened her connection to the city. Although moving away from Worcester has limited her ability to volunteer in the same way, she stays involved in giving back to others by coaching ice hockey and boxing.

For recent graduates, Julia stresses the importance of a routine for mental health and well-being. Remote work can blur work-life boundaries, so she sets limits, like avoiding work communications after 9 p.m. She prioritizes exercise, spending time with her two dogs, and constant social interaction whenever possible. Julia’s journey highlights the unpredictability of career paths. Though her plans shifted, she embraced new opportunities, using both technical and interpersonal skills to thrive. Her advice? Be adaptable, keep learning, and use AI to enhance productivity. Most importantly, balance work and personal life for long-term success and fulfillment.

Julia is an admirable example of the Holy Cross and Jesuit principle, “Men and women for others,” and additionally the Ciocca Center’s motto of “Major in anything, succeed in Business.”

Written by C.J. O’Brien

January 30, 2025

76 Students Participate in Interview Prep and Marketing Communications & Sales Workshops

Group Photo from the Marketing Communications & Sales Workshop

From January 14th to January 17th, 76 students working to complete certificates for The Ciocca Center for Business attended the Marketing & Sales Workshop as well as the Interview Prep Workshop. Over the course of the four days, students were provided opportunities for collaboration, skill-building, and professional insights shared by alumni.

During the first two days, students attended the Marketing and Sales Workshop, which combined a team-based final presentation and sessions on career options led by alumni presenters.

Courtney Quinn ‘96 VP of Brand Strategy at Liberty Mutual and Katie Macdonald ‘07 Director II of Talent Management & Digital Advertising at Liberty Mutual, opened the workshop with a session on Advertising and Branding. Using Liberty Mutual as an example, they explored brand identity and how it can be brought to life. Their session emphasized the importance of identifying a target audience and constructing a brand framework around it.

Next, Catherine Cote ‘18, founder of Project Empathy, hosted a workshop on digital marketing. Cote explained the concept of a marketing funnel and demonstrated how to craft a value proposition for a brand.

John Hartz ‘98, President at Sloane & Company, concluded the first day with a session on public relations. Hartz covered key practice areas, including message and material development, media relations, crisis management, and digital & social media. He also guided students through how to apply these strategies to their PepsiCo projects.

Day two began with a sales session led by Cal St. Denis ‘08, Global Director of Sustainability at Johnson & Johnson MedTech and Founder of Treely Foods alongside Tyler Dooley ‘16, Founder of Wake Up Water and Co-Founder of Celly Hard Seltzer. They shared insights into sales strategies and targeting customers.

The workshop concluded with teams presenting their projects to a panel of PepsiCo judges, including Chris Vandervoorn ‘19, eCommerce Sales Strategy Manager at PepsiCo, Maureen Connolly ‘18, eCommerce Sales Manager at PepsiCo, and Rowan Burgess ‘23, Analyst at PepsiCo.

The Interview Prep Workshop held over the next two days provided students the opportunity to build their personal brand and practice their interview skills.

On the first day, Mimi Doherty ‘02, Head of Human Resources at Sanofi US General Medicines & Founder/President of Future Steps LLC led students through the exercise of building their personal brand, developing a value proposition, and connecting their resume with job descriptions.

Day two began with a session on elevator pitches and interview skill-building hosted by the Center for Career Development. Students identified their key skills, created elevator pitches, and practiced delivering them with peers. This session also covered common interview questions and ways to prepare.

Day two concluded with a session led by Jermey Hill, Founder of Dream Job Network. Hill encouraged students to identify their dream job by reflecting on their ideal day-to-day activities, industries, and roles they want to target, and what excites them most about a job. He shared strategies for identifying potential job opportunities and how to market yourself to employers.

Thank you to all of the alumni for giving back to the Holy Cross community.

Written by Anna Hagan ’27

January 23, 2025January 28, 2025

2025 Corporate Finance & Banking Workshop

Group photo of students at the Corporate Finance and Banking Workshop

From Tuesday, January 14th to Wednesday, January 15th, 33 students, highly passionate about pursuing a career in finance, joined the Ciocca Center for the annual Corporate Finance and Banking Workshop in Boston. On Tuesday morning, students ventured through a windy Boston to visit esteemed alumni at Bank of America, who walked through the financial reports and standings of three companies – Sherwin-Williams, American Tower, and Boeing – to compare and contrast what makes a multinational corporation excel and what causes their downfalls. Students were able to expand their understanding of how businesses raise capital, the differences between commercial and investment banking, and overall business life cycles and trends. Many thanks to Ted Lynch ‘84, Angelo Carbone ‘22, J.P. Cunningham ‘23, Erin Maloney ‘22, and all Holy Cross alumni who presented!

The group then walked through the South Station neighborhood to Fidelity Investments, where Jim Griffin ‘87 provided a detailed and thorough overview of the family history and foundational principles of Fidelity, the various sectors and roles within Investment Management. Students took a walking tour of the Chart Room and Fidelity Center for Applied Technology (FCAT) featuring the firm’s software and innovation technology hub. Mr. Griffin then facilitated a panel featuring Molly Murray ’22, Olivia Shamleffer ’22, Rea Nassif ’24, Andrea Pappey ’17, Madison Ward ’21, where students learned about the recent graduates’ various experiences and career trajectories at Fidelity, including their participation in the rotational Emerging Leaders and LEAD Programs.

Later that night, the Boston Finance Networking Reception, hosted by Bryan Sparkes ’04 and Roger Breslin ’93 at JLL, provided students with an invaluable opportunity to interact with a wide array of alumni from numerous financial firms in the city. Through these open and immersive conversations, students were able to build upon their networking skills and learn more in-depth about prospective careers from alumni who work within Asset and Wealth Management, Corporate Banking, Sales and Trading, Financial Analysis, and more.

On Wednesday morning, the Corporate Finance and Banking Workshop continued at J.P. Morgan, where Chris Stevens ‘06, Rick MacDonald ‘97, Ryan McGrath ‘99, and additional Holy Cross alumni provided an engaging explanation of the incredible products and services offered by the Corporate and Investment Bank, private equity and venture capital initiatives, how to manage a client’s portfolio within the Private Bank, and how to leverage a liberal arts education within the financial services industry.

Finally, the group bussed over to Back Bay to visit Natixis Investment Managers and learn more about the firm from Beatriz Pena Smith ‘87, Nick Elward ‘95, Heather Keaveny ‘92, John DelPrete ‘90, Kathleen Songco ‘17, Molly Gorman ‘05, and Tracy Fagan ‘84. Through an interactive quick quiz that tested students’ knowledge of investment management acronyms and concepts and a comprehensive firm overview, the Corporate Finance and Banking Workshop participants learned an incredible amount about investment management and had a great experience – especially seeing the stunning rooftop views of downtown Boston.

Thank you again to each and every alum for providing extremely helpful information and facilitating fantastic conversations.

Written by Lindsay Julia King ’27

December 16, 2024

86 Students & 50+ Alumni Participate in Fall Break Business Workshops

Finance Boot Camp students group photo

Every fall break, the Ciocca Center holds concurrent workshops for students involved in the Business Certificate Programs to connect with alumni, make real-world connections, learn industry insights and practice presentation skills. 86 students and over 50 alumni participated in last weeks iteration, details below.

The annual Global Supply Chain Management Workshop helped 45 students understand that everything we wear, eat, drive, and consume comes through an organized supply chain from different parts of the world. The alumni presenters included Pete Mondani ’79, Roger Lobo ’04, John Burke ’10 and Conor Moynihan ’13 – all practitioners in the field. They shared the inner workings of a global supply chain and how it manages the distribution of various goods and services. Teams of 4-5 students met with Holy Cross vendors, spanning from coffee to sweatshirts, to understand the inherent political, cultural, and ethical issues. They even got off campus to experience a working supply chain during a company site visit to Polar Beverages with a tour by Chris Crowley, executive vice president of the company.

Concurrently, the annual Finance Boot Camp brought 41 students to NYC to meet alumni on Wall Street as part of the Finance & Banking Certificate program. Starting with an alumni-led current event discussion and professional communication overview, students were prepped on campus for the overnight trip to the city. Alumni at JP Morgan, Piper Sandler, CIBC, KeyBanc and Morgan Stanley hosted the cohort to share industry insights, interview tips and discuss the various fields within the industry including sales and trading, investment banking, and wealth management.

Maeley Nakamura ’26, Megan McFarlane ’26, and Lindsay Julia King ’27 shared their student experience on the College’s Instagram account, which can also be seen on @holycrossbusiness.

Congratulations to all of the student participants and a big thank you to all of our alumni who are giving back to Holy Cross, like so many have done before them.

November 13, 2024

The Power of Continuous Learning: How Matt Bellomo ’13’s Holy Cross Education Shaped His Career

Kevin and Matt

After sitting down with Holy Cross alumnus Matt Bellomo ‘13, I gained valuable insights into how a liberal arts degree can pave the way for a successful career in business. His journey perfectly illustrates the power of a well-rounded education in today’s competitive business landscape. Matt is currently an Associate at Bentall Green Oak, a real estate private equity firm headquartered in New York City.

Matt graduated from Holy Cross in 2013 with a degree in Political Science. From there, Matt began his professional career by landing a job with Commonwealth Financial Network, where he spent most of his time in back-office operations. After almost eight years, Matt decided he wanted to transition into the Real Estate world. After utilizing his Holy Cross alumni network, Matt found himself at Bentall Green Oak.

He began by explaining that his classes at Holy Cross ignited his curiosity and instilled in him the ability to learn independently. This foundation allowed him to explore any topic that piqued his interest after graduation. He described how this passion for continuous learning was particularly impactful as he transitioned from financial services to real estate.

When I asked Matt how his liberal arts education prepared him for a career in real estate, he shared a thoughtful response. He began by explaining that his classes at Holy Cross ignited his curiosity and instilled in him the ability to learn independently. This foundation allowed him to explore any topic that piqued his interest after graduation. He described how this passion for continuous learning was particularly impactful as he transitioned from financial services to real estate. Matt believes that studying at Holy Cross cultivates a lifelong desire to seek knowledge, giving students an ongoing curiosity to expand their knowledge.

Matt highlighted how his experience at Holy Cross has shaped him into a more well-rounded individual and made him a stronger candidate in the job market. He emphasized that the diverse and comprehensive education he received provided him with a unique edge over peers from business schools, where many students followed the same narrow curriculum. This broad perspective, he believes, has been invaluable in his career.

Matt elaborated on how real estate is fundamentally a people-driven industry, where the ability to build and maintain relationships is crucial for success. He reflected on the exceptional interpersonal and communication skills he honed during his time at Holy Cross, emphasizing how these abilities have been instrumental in his career. The diverse interactions and experiences he had at the College prepared him to connect effectively with a wide range of individuals in the field.

Matt is yet another Holy Cross graduate who exemplifies the endless possibilities of pursuing a successful career in business.

Written by Kevin Birenbaum ’26

November 11, 2024

Curiosity, Confidence & Connection Inspire at 19th Annual WIB Conference

WIB Committee and Keynote Speaker

This past Saturday on November 2, Women in Business hosted their annual conference attended by nearly 200 alumnae and students. The conference kicked off with keynote speaker Joanna Geraghty ‘94, CEO of jetBlue and sociology major at Holy Cross, interviewed by Professor Susan Crawford Sullivan of the sociology department. “Curiosity is what makes a strong business leader, and that comes from a liberal arts education.” Geraghty shared.

Students and alumnae attended concurrent panels throughout the day including Women in Wealth, and Females in Fashion to Game Changers in Sports. Kate Beckerman ‘20, Global Compliance Manager at Boston Consulting Group, presented on a panel titled Beyond the Books: Humanities Majors Thriving in Business. “Our panel focus was on the power of a Liberal Arts education in the workplace” Beckerman shared. “I left feeling energized and inspired by the amazing students and alumnae in attendance!”

Another panel included Women Shaping the Future of Tech hosted by Jamee Herbert ’10, CEO & Co-Founder of BridgeCare and Aine Doyle ’20, Content Developer at IBM. The panel provided first hand insights on overcoming industry challenges. Herbert and Doyle highlighted strategies on navigating obstacles and the importance of mentorship within the tech industry. During round two of the breakouts, Finding your Voice and Communicating with Confidence was presented by Dana McManus ’16, Associate Relationship Manager at Wellington Management, and Baker Earl ’19, Associate, Internal Client Advisor at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. The focus was on practical tips to enhance the tool of confident communication. They highlighted the importance of communication when it comes to empowerment, leadership, and organizational change.

Of the close to 200 attendees, Catherine Cote ‘18, founder of Project Empathy, shared that coming away from the conference she felt “empowered and grateful for this community.” Sharing several of her key takeaways from the event, including “the overarching theme of connecting with others in this community. Every presenter spoke to how other HC women supported them in their career journeys.” Even President Rougeau chimed in on LinkedIn sharing that he was “deeply inspired by last weekend’s Women in Business conference” and that “it’s clear that the next generation of women business leaders is already making their mark at Holy Cross.”

Katie Browne ‘25, a graduating co-chair of the Women in Business Organizing Committee and incoming analyst at Goldman Sachs, shares “As I close this chapter, I carry forward the knowledge and relationships built during this journey. Thank you to The College of the Holy Cross for supporting and empowering women in business through such a meaningful platform!” Another of our graduating co-chairs of the Women in Business Organizing Committee, Ariana Clark ‘25,, would like to thank “everyone who attended, asked insightful questions, and contributed to this powerful day of connection. It was truly inspiring to see so many passionate individuals come together to empower and uplift one another.” Pam McGinley ‘80, Women in Wealth conference panelist and SVP at Morgan Stanley, shared that “all of their leadership is truly inspirational and positively impacts our ecosystem.”

We look forward to seeing you next fall on campus as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Women in Business Conference!

October 11, 2024

Innovative Solutions for Global Issues: Lessons from the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Workshop

This past weekend, I was presented with the amazing opportunity to participate in the Entrepreneurship and Global Innovation Workshop, hosted in collaboration with Ycenter and its USA genius-grant recipient CEO, Dhairya Pujara. Over the course of a weekend, our group of twenty passionate students worked together in teams, each tasked with developing innovative solutions that would address some of the world’s most prevalent issues. My team focused on tackling inequalities in the healthcare system, especially the issue of people being exploited by pharmaceutical greed and systematic corruption.

As we were taught new and innovative ways of thinking about these issues, we brainstormed creative lines of attack against these tribulations in order to make a positive difference in the world. We came to the conclusion that the specific goal we wanted to address would be the issue of pharmaceutical confusion, a problem that, according to the Milken Institute, affects nine out of every ten Americans.

When continuing to reflect on the incredible aspects of this workshop, I realize that even though our ideas were a great start in making a change in the world, we never would have been able to create these solutions if it were not for Dhairya Pujara teaching us the power of creative thinking. This program highlighted the important questions that often escape us as we are both anxious and perplexed by the chaos of the world. We were taught how to identify specific issues then begin solving problems, rather than just providing quick-fix solutions.

As I begin my life in the working world of Public Relations next year, I am very excited to work with my team in order to identify client needs and think of the problems that consumers need resolved. I am very grateful for the lessons provided to us by both Ycenter and the Ciocca Business Center here at Holy Cross, and very much looking forward to standing out in the workplace because of what I have learned.

Written by Aidan Philbrick ’25

October 1, 2024

Leveraging a Liberal Arts Education: Sean Mullaney ’20 on Building a Career in Real Estate

I was given the opportunity to have a conversation with Holy Cross alumni Sean Mullaney ‘20, a distinct graduate of Holy Cross who’s career is a testament to taking advantage of his liberal arts education to pursue a successful career in the Real Estate Investment industry.

Sean began his professional career by landing an internship role at a prestigious brokerage firm, Newmark, going into his Junior year at the college. That Summer, Sean worked as a part of the Capital Markets team in London. The following Summer, Sean stayed with Newmark where he was a Leasing Intern in New York City. Following his graduation from Holy Cross, Sean took a job with Brookwood Financial Partners, LLC, where he worked on Acquisitions as well as Asset management. In January of 2021, Sean took a new role at a leading pure-play commercial real estate investment management firm, Clarion Partners. The Firm is headquartered in New York with a presence in major markets across the United States and Europe. After about eleven months with the company, Sean was promoted to Senior Analyst, his current role.

Sean accredited Holy Cross to much of the success he has had in his early professional career. He spoke extremely highly of the Holy Cross alumni network and explained the importance of utilizing that to your advantage when looking to begin your career: “People from Holy Cross are more than willing to help. If you don’t reach out, someone else will.” Taking initiative was another thing Sean pressed on during our conversation. Getting out there and taking advantage of everything that Holy Cross has to offer is not something you can take for granted.

“People from Holy Cross are more than willing to help. If you don’t reach out, someone else will.”

Communication and the skill to build and maintain relationships are two of the more important aspects of a liberal arts education. Sean talks about how real estate is a people-driven industry, and he has found his liberal arts education to suit him very well in this profession: “Being a man and woman for others. Thinking impactfully. Being a server and a leader. Doing things for the good of doing things, not just for the benefit of yourself.” He goes on to say how he found these traits were often carried by a majority of the students at Holy Cross.

Written by Kevin Birenbaum ’26

September 30, 2024

Cutting-edge Python workshop offered by Beau Lescott ’95

Last year the Ciocca Center was contacted by Beau Lescott ’95, (philosophy major) COO -Public Investing at Silver Point Capital because he wanted to pilot a workshop focused on giving liberal arts students technical skills in the area of coding. “Two of my favorite classes were logic,” starts Lescott, “taught by philosophy professor Karsten Stueber, and a philosophy of mind class that was offered jointly by the philosophy and psychology departments. These classes taught me the power of a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. As an investor, there is nothing more important than to be able to evaluate a puzzle from multiple angles. This ability grows in relative importance the further you are in your career.”

In the spring of 2024, we offered Beyond Excel: Python for Business Data Analytics, a workshop for 15 students from all four classes and a variety of majors. The goal was to help students gain exposure to the python programming language and learn how to approach strategic business questions using data-driven insights through coding exercises.

This year we will offer it again as a two-part series, one weekend in the fall and the second in the spring, to provide students with the foundation to continue self-directed learning in more advanced areas of data analysis and draw on examples from real-world business operations.

September 10, 2024

Student Highlight: Kevin Birenbaum ’26

My name is Kevin Birenbaum ‘26 and I am a junior at Holy Cross from Norfolk Massachusetts. I am majoring in International Studies, with a thematic focus on International Political Economy and a regional focus of Europe. I am also in the process of pursuing my Certificate in Finance and Banking. I have completed the Excel Tutorial, Corporate Finance & Banking workshop, as well as the Interview prep workshop. My experience with the Ciocca Center so far has not only grown my intellectual curiosity, but has also been enlightening in helping me gain real-world business experience. The Corporate Finance & Banking workshop in Boston has been one of the most helpful steps in my early professional career. Having the chance to learn about the various firms we visited and be present in their offices gave me a comprehensive understanding of what each firm is truly about. The other substantial benefit of the workshop was having the ability to meet and connect with a vast number of Holy Cross alumni who work in various roles in the finance industry. I had always heard about how helpful the alumni network at Holy Cross was, but never fully understood, or took advantage of it, until I participated in this workshop. Seeing first hand how eager and willing the alumni are to help us Holy Cross students in our professional careers was inspiring. I am still in touch with numerous alumni that I met during the workshop, and many of them have been extremely instrumental in my personal professional development.

“I had always heard about how helpful the alumni network at Holy Cross was, but never fully understood, or took advantage of it, until I participated in this workshop.”

I just recently finished my Summer Internship where I worked at a Real Estate Investment Firm called the Revival Companies, in their Dorchester, Massachusetts office. Throughout my time here, I worked closely with the Asset Manager and Head of Property Management for a 200-unit portfolio across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. I was given the opportunity to handle budgeting, unit turnover, and new acquisitions. I assisted with the behind-the-scenes of remodeling units, managing permits and contractor coordination, and facilitating rental rate increases. This Fall, I am interning for the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, & Society where I will interview alumni to explore their diverse career paths and professional journeys, connecting their experiences with the liberal arts and its relevance to the business world. I am eager to get to know more of the college’s Alumni that have been able to embark on a successful career in business upon their graduation from Holy Cross.