women in business – Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society Blog

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!

April 10, 2024

New Speaker Series: CrossTalks

The first CrossTalks event hosted by the Ciocca Center took place on Saturday April 6, 2024 as part of the College’s celebration of 50 years of coeducation. Cassie Gevry, associate director of the Center, introduced the new series bringing esteemed speakers to give provocative and engaging presentations to connect the community across campus, generations, disciplines, industries and beyond. This event showcased three alumnae: Julie Halpin Anderson ’84, Francine Rosado-Cruz ’94, and Carolyn Risoli ’86. They presented on “Discernment in Action,” highlighting the value that their liberal arts education and various majors bring to their work in business.

Julie Halpin Anderson ’84, a French major, is a brand builder, leadership coach, and creativity accelerator, known as one of the industry’s most recognized and well-respected experts on brand strategy and creative expression. During her talk, she reflected on her journey as a Crusader, acknowledging past feelings of dissonance between her chosen industry of advertising and the Jesuit call to be a woman for others. Julie recounted a pivotal moment when a colleague’s creative idea sparked a realization about the essence of her work in advertising – not just selling products, but facilitating moments of inspiration and creativity for others. This epiphany led her to explore the deeper significance of creativity and its potential connection to spirituality, prompting a shift in perspective towards her role as a facilitator of “goosebumps moments.” She further illustrates this by asking “what business are you in…really?” to help others uncover a deeper purpose and foster a sense of serving others, ultimately affirming her identity as a Crusader.

Francine Rosado Cruz ’94, an English major, is an HR strategist, consultant, and executive coach, considered to be a thought leader, influencer, and subject matter expert on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Francine embraces and embodies Jesuit values of magis, discernment, service rooted in justice and love, solidarity, and kinship, as they are symbolic to the most important values in her own career. She started by reminiscing about her father’s humble origins in Puerto Rico and her family’s multicultural background. She recalled her journey through college, guided by their father’s insistence on a Jesuit education, and how the values such as cura personalis and magis shaped her career path towards DEIB work. Francine recounted pivotal cannonball moments, including experiences with her college roommate, career choices, and health scares, crediting the liberal arts for her ability to stay curious. In the end, she expressed gratitude for the Jesuit values instilled at Holy Cross, which continue to inform her personal and professional endeavors, advocating for a life of dialogue and unity.

Carolyn Risoli ’86, a history major, is a fashion and luxury industry executive with over 30 years of experience. She is a seasoned veteran and pioneer in the field. She starts her talk with the question the interviewer from her first job out of college asked her, “History Major? What are you going to do with that?” Drawing parallels between historical analysis and business strategy, Carolyn highlights the importance of learning to “think critically, speak persuasively, and write effectively” as well as developing pattern recognition as a means to predict consumer behavior. She encourages students not to focus solely on job-specific skills but to embrace the broader perspective and adaptable mindset fostered by liberal arts education, which equips them to thrive in an ever-changing world. She closes with “So what can you do as a history major? Pretty much whatever the future throws at us.”

This CrossTalks event will be the first of many. If you are interested or know someone who might be great at sharing their story on stage in < 15 minutes, apply to be a CrossTalks speaker. We encourage you to take this opportunity to inspire others with the connections you have made between your studies and the value you bring to the business world.

Stay tuned for links to the recorded talks in the coming days!

November 8, 2023

2023 Women in Business Conference Recap

The 18th annual Women in Business Conference at Holy Cross held on Saturday, November 4, 2023 was an empowering and inspirational event for alumnae and students alike. It focused on various aspects of women’s careers and personal growth within the business world. Here are a few key takeaways from the conference:

Empowerment and Inspiration: The conference serves as a beacon of empowerment and inspiration for women pursuing success in the business industry. It aims to encourage women to strive for their goals and advance their careers while networking with other alum.

Diversity: Marybeth Kearns-Barrett ‘84 P22 27, the Director of the College Chaplains, emphasized the importance of diversity in her message. This underscores the significance of inclusivity in the business world.

Holy Cross Impact: Christine Anderson ’99, who is the Global Head of Corporate Affairs at Blackstone, served as the keynote speaker. She discussed the value of her liberal arts education in her career journey and highlighted that success in business is not limited to specific majors. Anderson pointed out that the finance industry, though still male-dominated, is a great place for women to work. She encouraged women to actively participate in discussions and engage in the field. She mentioned that Holy Cross’s mission statement still resonates with her, suggesting that the college’s values of “being women for and with others” continue to guide her in her career.

Networking and Support: Anderson called for students and alumni to support each other and work to strengthen their network at Holy Cross. This highlights the importance of networking and building a supportive community which Holy Cross fosters.

Continuous Improvement: The call for students to always strive to be better indicates the importance of personal and professional growth and development.

Overall, the conference provided a platform for women to learn from successful women in business, gain insights into career development, and foster a sense of community and support among students and alumni. It emphasizes the value of education, diversity, and the importance of women’s active participation in traditionally male-dominated fields like finance.

Special thanks to the conference student organizing committee led by Liz Garfield ’24, Bridget Hayden ’24, Sydney Ives’ 24 and Alexandria “Sasha” Paradise ’24. Your year-round leadership and enthusiasm in bringing together alumnae and students has been notable. Thank you!

Written by Liz Garfield ‘24 & Ariana Clark ‘25.

March 27, 2023

WIB Hosts Fiona Boyle ’21 to Share Female Finance Experience

On March 22, 2023, the Women in Business Club hosted an alumna speaker, Fiona Boyle ’21. She shared her experience of being a female in the finance industry. Read more to hear takeaways from the audience, written by Olivia Evans ’23.

Fiona Boyle graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in the spring of 2021. She was an Economics major and Art History minor. Upon graduation, Fiona had to navigate the new world that COVID had created for society when it came to the search for a job. During her senior year at Holy Cross, she connected with an HC alumnus on LinkedIn. Later that year, the same alumnus posted a job opening on LinkedIn for a position at a start-up company in Fintech named Mirador. Fiona then reached back out to the alumnus, applied for the job, and later ended up getting an offer and accepting the job. Mirador is now a six-year-old company.

Fiona shared her day-to-day responsibilities at Mirador. Essentially, she creates financial reports for ultra-high-net-worth individuals; therefore, she is responsible for tracking portfolio performance data and building reports to help clients view and understand their assets. Fiona mentioned that Mirador has an excellent onboarding training program for new employees that many refer to as “Mirador University.”

Furthermore, Fiona wanted the audience of the presentation to leave with three main takeaways. Continue reading “WIB Hosts Fiona Boyle ’21 to Share Female Finance Experience”

June 15, 2021

Think Like an Actress at the 16th Annual Women in Business Conference

The sixteenth annual Women in Business Conference will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2021. The student planning committee is hard at work identifying alumnae speakers, clarifying what exactly a hybrid conference looks like, and the exciting ways to engage students and alumnae from various industries and career stages. We are thrilled to be offering this year’s conference in a hybrid format to maintain the exciting geographical reach of the 2020 virtual conference as well as welcome those interested in joining us in person on the hill.

What can you look forward to? Read on for exciting announcements about the fall Women in Business conference! Continue reading “Think Like an Actress at the 16th Annual Women in Business Conference”

May 22, 2021

Women in Business Committee Thanks Senior Leadership

Many thanks to our graduating seniors for their strong leadership through the transition to virtual and for celebrating the 15th annual conference with such success. When asked to reflect on their four years on the hill, our Women in Business Conference committee seniors shared dorm memories, favorite Kimball meals and most memorable professors/courses. Please join us in thanking and congratulating our graduating committee members! From left to right: Margaret Anderson ’21, Grace Ingram ’21 & Nalani Ramos Ruiz ’21. We wish them all the successes and happiness as they transition to the next phase, and hope to welcome them back for future conferences! Continue reading “Women in Business Committee Thanks Senior Leadership”

May 15, 2021

College Podcast Features Ciocca Center

The Mission-Driven Podcast features conversations with alumni who are leveraging their Holy Cross education to make a meaningful difference in the world around them. Produced by the Office of Alumni Relations at the College of the Holy Cross.

In this episode, modern-day Renaissance woman Yolanda Rabun ’90, recent Women in Business speaker, is joined in conversation with Holly Tente ’23, Student Diversity Liaison for the Ciocca Center. Their inspirational conversation covers a lot of ground. With their shared passion for social justice, they speak about how Holy Cross inspires them to work hard and make change in their own communities.

Listen to this podcast episode.

April 26, 2021

Networking and Collaboration: WIB and Dress for Success Story

The Women in Business student organizing committee welcomed Dress for Success Worcester to their weekly meeting on April 12, 2021. The committee met with Justina Lachapelle, Beth Butler, and Nellie Philius who chatted with the group about Dress for Success’s day-to-day activities and their new ways of supporting women during the pandemic.

Following this informational review of the organization, they offered a fun and thought-provoking workshop on vision boards. The team at Dress for Success shared that they like to create a transformational experience for all the women they service where they help with resume and cover letter writing, offer tips on personal branding, and fit them for an interview suit and a week’s worth of professional attire. The women serviced have to be referred by a Dress for Success Agency Partner, such as the College, are unemployed and seeking work, or under-employed. They help women set up SMART goals, an acronym for: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound goals that the women can work towards.

The vision board served as the perfect way for the WIB student committee to share how they are feeling in the semester and provide a space for the new members and the current members to interact in an interactive setting.

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Thanks to Nalani Ramos Ruiz ’21 for maintaining the Women in Business and Dress for Success Worcester relationship and sharing this committee experience.

December 4, 2020

15th Annual Women in Business Conference Celebrates Around the World

The conference provided opportunities for hundreds to network with and learn from successful women entrepreneurs and executives.

“We were thrilled with the number of registrants from around the world,” said Cassie Gevry, associate director of the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, & Society. “The strong interest from alumnae is a testament to the strength of the Holy Cross network and something we will continue to foster through the Women in Business network, even when we return to in-person events. It seemed that now, more than ever, women were looking for a way to come together to discuss their careers in business, and we were so glad the remote format gave so many attendees the ability to hear our speakers.”

>> Read more in the Holy Cross News Room.

June 3, 2020

Women in Business Student Committee Responds

The Women in Business student committee recently made a video that we want to share with you. The Diversity Student Liaison for the Ciocca Center, Nalani Ramos Ruiz ’21, initiated the response video and the committee was there to support her and the greater call. We are struck by their words and proud to share with you. May we all find ways to be better humans as we strive to connect with what it means to be men and women for and with others.

View the Video: WIB on #BlackLivesMatter (June 2020)