Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society Blog

March 21, 2023

HC Launch Student Group Host Local Serial Entrepreneur

This year, HC Launch has been connecting with the local Worcester startup community. Recently, the club visited MultiScale Systems, Geisel Software, and is planning a visit to Redemption Rock Brewery later this spring. As with many startups though, one of the companies we were working with only had a desk at a coworking space. This, we decided, wasn’t suitable for a site visit so we pivoted!

On Monday, March 20th, the HC Launch student group hosted local serial entrepreneur, Jonathan Lincoln. Rob Murner, director of the Ciocca Center and entrepreneur in residence, started the conversation and students were able to learn from Jonathan’s three ventures: Continue reading “HC Launch Student Group Host Local Serial Entrepreneur”

March 20, 2023

Students Pitch Solutions for Local Business at Innovation Challenge

On Sunday, March 19th, HC Launch hosted its first in-person Innovation Challenge event since the pandemic. It was also Launch’s first event in the newly-built Prior Performing Arts Center. The challenge was coordinated with a local business, Giesel Software Inc. (GSI), and some of the real-world problems they are facing. Students pitched in response to one of two challenges; 1) to develop a product or 2) propose a real-estate solution for a rapidly growing business.

GSI’s CEO and founder, Brian Giesel, sat on the judging panel, along with alums Will Spangenberg ‘22 and Ted Pidcock ‘88. Continue reading “Students Pitch Solutions for Local Business at Innovation Challenge”

March 3, 2023

Students Learn Business Etiquette Over Dinner

Julia Posillico ’25 shares her first-hand experience during the Business Etiquette Dinner on March 1, 2023.

Last night the Holy Cross Sales Club organized a business etiquette dinner run by a managing director and two recruiters from Northwestern Mutual. Nearly thirty students were in attendance and were served a three-course meal while getting advice on networking, interviewing, and etiquette at business meals. So what were the main takeaways from the event?

When it comes to networking, do your research before you attend an event and know who is going. When you get there make sure you are conscious of who you are talking to with your limited time, and focus on quality over quantity. Making connections with people who already have a lot of connections can be helpful since they can then make additional introductions for you. Also, have easy conversation starters and ways to end one, too. For instance, start with comments on a neutral topic such as why you attending the event, and to end a conversation you could introduce them to someone else. Make sure you have a short but informative elevator pitch and listen more than you speak. If you have a name tag, be suer to put it on your right side so that when you shake hands with someone it is visible.

Continue reading “Students Learn Business Etiquette Over Dinner”

March 1, 2023

Student Shares Three Significant Takeaways to Land an Internship

Robert Posillico ’23 shares his thoughts on the internship search process.

It was the start of 2021, and the world was still figuring out what a post-Covid, new normal would look like. Holy Cross finally allowed students back on campus, locked in our dorms, doing online classes. I had set up my first meeting with the Center for Career Development (CCD) over Zoom to discuss important steps I should be taking as I began to think about a future career. Many internship programs were moved virtual and, in the case of many sophomore programs, shut down completely. I was advised to network and reach out to alums to learn about different career paths and opportunities. Looking back over the last few years, there are three significant takeaways; applying is a numbers game, starting early is key, and network network network!

Many internship programs were moved virtual and, in the case of many sophomore programs, shut down completely.

Read more for advice on landing an internship in the CSJ.

February 27, 2023

The Benefits of a Certificate in Business Fundamentals

Tess Meehan ’24 shares her first-hand experience in the Business Certificate Program and the value it offers.

When I arrived at the College of the Holy Cross, like most freshmen, I was uncertain about my career path and major. How do you choose something you will do for the foreseeable future when you are interested in everything? Business was the one career trajectory I had zero interest in pursuing. My roommate, however, saw things differently. She was convinced that earning a Certificate in Business Fundamentals was an important component to any career. Eventually her sound reasoning of “try it, you might like it” convinced me to join her at the Fullbridge Program, a weeklong exposure to basic business fundamentals within a simulated work environment. By week’s end, I had gained a new appreciation for the value offered by the Certificates. Currently, I am a sophomore double majoring in political science and economics with a Certificate in Business Fundamentals. The Ciocca Center offers several pathways including-business fundamentals, finance and banking as well as entrepreneurship. Eventually, I chose the fundamentals program since it augmented my theoretical understanding of economics by offering classes and workshops to understand the components which comprise business such as marketing, sales, supply chain, ethics, etc. Additionally, the program offered multiple opportunities to engage and network with alumni.

The Business Certificate Program offers something for everyone.

The Benefits of a Certificate in Business Fundamentals

February 23, 2023

Entrepreneurship Club Visits Local Startup

Experience shared by Alexander Christie ’24, Administrative Director of HC Launch.

This week I was one of fourteen Holy Cross students accompanied by the Ciocca Center director and entrepreneur-in-residence, Rob Murner, to get off campus to visit a local stuartup on February 21. HC Launch, the entrepreneurship club within the Ciocca Center, organized a site visit to Geisel Software, a software development company focused on robotics and artificial intelligence located in Worcester. We were able to hear from a number of different people within this growing company including the office manager, a few engineers, and the founder/CEO, Brian Giesel. Feedback from students was that this site visit was an extraordinarily positive experience.

Giesel has something for everyone. There were a number of computer science majors in attendance who certainly benefited from hearing about the career experiences of the engineers. Those of us who weren’t specifically interested in software learned a lot about the intricacies of this field, which will only become more important to understand as technology continues to emulate life. Brian also talked about the founding and growth of the company, as well as the challenges that led the company to where it is today.

There are two primary takeaways from this experience for me and according to Brian, these are two of the key ingredients to his company’s success. Continue reading “Entrepreneurship Club Visits Local Startup”

February 20, 2023

Fullbridge Prepares Students for Internships and Jobs

My name is Maeley Nakamura and I am a freshman at the College of the Holy Cross. I plan to declare economics as my major, and I am also pursuing Certificates in Business Fundamentals and Entrepreneurship through the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society.

The Ciocca Center offers students opportunities to successfully incorporate a business education into any Holy Cross major through workshops, events, and clubs. For me, the Ciocca Center presents an incredible opportunity to combine critical business skills and experience, with Holy Cross’ well-rounded liberal arts education, which will help me ethically contribute to society and focus on more than just the bottom line.

For me, the Ciocca Center presents an incredible opportunity to combine critical business skills and experience, with Holy Cross’ well-rounded liberal arts education, that will help me ethically contribute to society and focus on more than just the bottom line.

Continue reading “Fullbridge Prepares Students for Internships and Jobs”

February 13, 2023

Holy Cross Student Investment Fund Attend Stock Pitch Competition in Michigan

McKenna Best ’23 shares details of the recent stock pitch competition on February 9th, 2023 where twelve Holy Cross students jumped on a jet to the University of Michigan to attend the annual ENGAGE Undergraduate Investment Conference at Michigan’s Ross School of Business. This year was a particularly big deal as the conference experienced a post-COVID return to form: in-person networking, live-action presentations, and one-on-one engagement were all finally back. Having access to all of these opportunities provided invaluable insight and expertise to all attendees, arriving from prestigious universities across America and Canada.

The Holy Cross Student Investment Fund could have attended the conference without competing, but thanks to the hard work of the students involved, Holy Cross was chosen among hundreds of applications to compete including Thomas Keane ’24, JP McCarthy ’24, Maddie Ingram ’23 and John (Jack) Daly ’25.

Read more in the College Street Journal.

January 23, 2023

Five Workshops & One Week: 177 Students Explore Business

The spring 2023 semester started off with 177 students participating in five concurrent virtual business workshops. The week of January 18-22 was led by 70 alumni presenters and mentors in the following areas:

- Fullbridge Professional Edge: This simulated workweek provides exposure to the basics of business and an opportunity to collaborate in teams through active learning culminating in a final presentation.
  - - Special congratulations to Team Adidas for the innovative growth idea securing them each the top prize of a $300 Apple gift card! Will Croce ’25, Will Sampson ’24, Ignacio Sanchez ’26 and Thomas Foster ’26 let by cCoach Carmen!
- Corporate Finance & Banking: With virtual tours at top banks and overviews of corporate finance, corporate banking, and asset management, 20 students spent two days gaining a comprehensive understanding of the industry. Opportunities to understand the application process and culture of the industry included a recruiter panel and a virtual networking event.
- The new Entrepreneurship Fundamentals Workshop was led by Bob Allard ’91 and Michael Yatco ’06 where they discussed the entrepreneur’s mindset with 15 students working through business strategy and innovation..
- Interview Prep: Personal branding and a core value proposition are key to successful interviewing. 60 students further developed their elevator pitch and practiced interview skills with the Center for Career Development followed by successful career tips from notable alumnae.
- Marketing Communications & Sales: Alumni led 45 students through the practical exploration of advertising, marketing, sales, and public relations. Teams competed in the PepsiCo Challenge, each tasked with bringing SodaStream to campus for individual use.

Many of the students participated in more than one opportunity as they worked towards Business Certificate Program completion, including the month-long Excel Tutorial offered during the month of January.

December 6, 2022

Women’s Impact on Business World Celebrated at Holy Cross’ 17th WIB Conference

Fireside keynote chat on stage in the Hogan Balroom — (L-R) Nancy E. Andrews, associate professor of classics, and Erin Robert ’06, managing director of impact finance with JPMorgan Chase & Co., sharing their keynote discussion at the 17th annual Women in Business conference hosted by the Carlyse and Arthur A. Ciocca ’59 Center for Business, Ethics, and Society. (Photo by Rob Carlin)

Women’s Impact on Business World Celebrated at Holy Cross Conference
The 17th annual Women in Business event encouraged alumnae, faculty, staff and students to share experiences and learn from each other.

During the keynote discussion, Erin Robert ’06, managing director of impact finance with JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Nancy E. Andrews, associate professor of classics, reflected on their time on The Hill, how it shaped their careers and how they continue to encourage women as colleagues and mentees.

“It’s incumbent on us that when we get to the tables, that we recognize that we’re there and what we can do to continue to open the doors and pull the women in behind us,” Robert said.

Robert shared that she uses her Jesuit liberal arts education to help implement and manage initiatives that incorporate the company’s goals of advancing racial equality, unraveling systemic racism in the financial markets, and combating climate change in emerging markets and putting them into action.