Author: Arica Clauson

Name: Ines de la Fuente

Class Year: 2025

Title: Deals Associate

Organization: PwC

 

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

I help companies maximize value from business deals by analyzing the companies being bought or sold, preparing for deal close, and supporting how businesses are integrated or separated post transaction.

 

2. What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross? How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you? 

A mix of planned and unplanned experiences led me to PwC. Being involved in business clubs at Holy Cross, including Women in Business and the Finance Club, exposed me to consulting and encouraged me to network with alumni to learn more. I became particularly interested in consulting because of its people-oriented nature and the variety of work across different projects and industries. PwC’s sophomore summer internship program, Start, gave me the opportunity to explore that interest early on. Through that experience, I gained exposure to its collaborative environment and range of work, which showed me how quickly you’re exposed to different business challenges and how no two projects are the same, constantly providing new opportunities to learn.

 

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

Office of Admissions Tour Guide, Student Program for Urban Development (SPUD), Finance Club, Women in Business, Spring Break Immersion Program (SBIP)

 

4. What was your major and how did it affect your career decisions?

I majored in Economics, which helped me understand decision-making around how resources are allocated to meet different needs and how those decisions impact interactions between businesses, governments, and individuals. I learned that behind every decision or plan, there are trade-offs, competing priorities, and real impacts on people. I wanted to be closer to that process and support decision-making in practice, and I saw that reflected in the advisory work in consulting.

 

5. What are one or two skills that you developed at Holy Cross that you use in your work?

One key skill I developed at Holy Cross was a strong appreciation for teamwork and community. The environment really emphasized building relationships and working closely with others, which translates directly to consulting since it’s such a people-driven business. Another skill I developed was adaptability which has helped me quickly adjust to teams, business needs, and industries.

 

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

My advice would be to focus on developing your soft skills, especially how you listen to and learn from others and how you build genuine relationships. Be kind, be curious, be engaged, and be someone people can rely on. The technical skills will come with time and are important, but your ability to connect and contribute to a team or a client is what really sets you apart.

 

7. What are your thoughts on how AI has impacted or will impact your industry? What advice do you have for students as they prepare to enter a professional world where AI is prevalent?

AI has had significant impact on consulting by making it easier to analyze large amounts of data, generate insights more quickly, and automate routine or repetitive tasks.

Name: Makayla Doherty

Class Year: 2025

Title: Senior Benefits Coordinator

Organization Name: NFP an Aon Company

 

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

Consulting internationally headquartered companies with U.S. offices on employee benefits, working with carriers to secure plans that meet client needs.

 

2. What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross? How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you? 

I knew I wanted a people-facing role such as HR but wasn’t sure exactly what path to take. A family friend and Holy Cross alum introduced me to the benefits field and connected me with others in the industry. Through those conversations, I realized it was the path I wanted to pursue and he suggested I apply to NFP. Since starting at Holy Cross, I’ve always wanted to do work that helps people and makes a positive impact on their lives. Benefits play a critical role in supporting employees and their families, and being able to contribute—even in a small way—to providing those resources is incredibly rewarding.

 

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

Women’s Club Ice Hockey, Business Certificate Program, Campus Rec Employee, and in SPUD

 

4. What was your major and how did it affect your career decisions?

I was a psychology major and have always been interested in understanding how people think and act. Up until my senior year, I thought I wanted to go to grad school to become a psychologist, but I was also drawn to the corporate world. Consulting felt like a great fit because I enjoy helping people and my classes at Holy Cross gave me valuable insight into why people behave the way they do. In my role, I work closely with my account team on various projects while building strong relationships with carriers and clients.

 

5. What are one or two skills that you developed at Holy Cross that you use in your work?

Holy Cross’s tight-knit community taught me the importance of collaboration and how to work effectively with others. Whether in classes or extracurriculars, I was constantly working with people and learning how they operate. Collaboration is central to my job—whether with coworkers, clients, or carriers—and understanding how each works helps me support them effectively.

 

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

My biggest advice is to take advantage of every opportunity, even if it’s outside your comfort zone. You never know what you’ll learn or who you’ll meet.

 

7. What are your thoughts on how AI has impacted or will impact your industry? What advice do you have for students as they prepare to enter a professional world where AI is prevalent?

The people I’ve spoken with about AI feel job security remains strong—everyone needs insurance, and many aspects still benefit from human explanation. Right now, we’re exploring ways AI can make our work easier, like drafting emails or cleaning up meeting notes. For someone entering the workforce, it’s a great time to learn about AI, understand how it applies to your industry, and seek trainings that help you stand out, even though the field is still evolving.

Name: Shane Bridges

Class Year: 2025

Title:  Consulting Analyst

Organization Name: Kraft Analytics Group (KAGR)

 

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

KAGR provides data-driven recommendations to inform pricing and marketing strategies for sports and entertainment companies. Some of my responsibilities include data analysis, industry research, and notetaking / presenting work in meetings with clients.

 

2. What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross? How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you? 

I am lucky to have had opportunities to work with Campus Rec for three years as well as the Worcester Red Sox through the Academic Internship Program (AIP) as a Business Analytics intern. Both of these experiences, with their fun and energetic work environments, fostered my interest in the sports industry. I didn’t know what type of work I wanted to do after college, but really enjoyed the multidisciplinary course work at Holy Cross. Consulting seemed like the perfect balance for me of quantitative and qualitative work, and I’m still benefitting from doing a little bit of both!

 

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

Dance Ensemble, Club Swim, and the Office of Campus Recreation.

 

4. What was your major and how did it affect your career decisions?

Mathematics, with minors in Statistics and Education; I’ve always been passionate both about math and helping others understand the subject, but wasn’t dead set on one over the other. I’d spent years analyzing “clear cut” quantitative data, but it wasn’t until my senior year at Holy Cross that I was introduced to qualitative research through my Education minor capstone. That class opened my eyes to a completely different approach to data analysis that I hadn’t fully understood previously. In my work now I have already analyzed both quantitative survey data and expert interviews, so having a well-rounded skill set to pivot between research types has been helpful.

 

5. What are one or two skills that you developed at Holy Cross that you use in your work?

Active listening and oral presentation skills.

 

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

Two things:

Take as many different types of classes as you can; I especially recommend dance and acting classes where you can put yourself out there and add more movement into your school week! You may discover a new interest (or several!) and can learn a lot about yourself and what you’re capable of.

Don’t stress too much about the job search process (if that’s even possible). There were many times where I felt behind as more of my peers secured post-grad plans, but now I’m almost six months into a job I look forward to going to every day! You will find something that’s right for you in due time.