For Ted Lynch ’84, Managing Director at Bank of America, a career in corporate banking was not something he mapped out from day one. Instead, it evolved through curiosity, global experience, and a willingness to adapt during moments of economic change.
An Economics major at Holy Cross, Lynch entered college as the early 1980s were reshaping long-held views of economics. “I was focused on both law and business,” he recalls, and his academic interests did not immediately define his professional path. Early work in Tokyo with Japanese banks, however, sparked a lasting interest in banking and finance. That international exposure, paired with his Holy Cross education, helped guide him toward a career that blends strategy, relationships, and problem-solving.
At Holy Cross, Lynch also gravitated toward history. Together, those disciplines helped him understand how institutions, markets, and people interact, skills he still uses daily. He credits Fr. Anthony Kuzniewski as a mentor whose influence continues to shape how he supports and mentors others.
Today, Lynch’s work as a corporate banker focuses on helping clients stay competitive in a fast-moving market. His week often includes assessing whether a client’s balance sheet and capital structure are positioned for growth, advising on tools to manage risk and strengthen cybersecurity protections, and supporting financing, refinancing, and acquisition transactions. He also stays current by following CNBC and Bloomberg, along with research from Bank of America Securities.
For Holy Cross students, his advice is simple and consistent: focus on people as much as numbers. Empathy, strong communication skills, and an understanding of how different parts of a business fit together all matter. The interns who stand out, he says, are “curious, hard-working, and good-humored.” He encourages students to connect with alumni, ask thoughtful questions, and do their research on the industries and roles that interest them.
When it comes to graduate school and early-career decisions, Lynch believes it is most important to make yourself indispensable. “If times get tough,” he says, “be someone your firm can’t afford to lose.”
Written by Curran Deehan ’28.