Arica Clauson – Page 18 – Career Development Blog

September 17, 2019

Meet Alum Nick Bodurian ’12, Associate Investment Professional at Prospect Capital Management

Name: Nick Bodurian

Class Year: 2012

Title: Associate Investment Professional

Organization Name: Prospect Capital Management

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

I am responsible for sourcing and conducting due diligence on private middle market companies seeking financing from both an equity and debt perspective.

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?

The summer after my sophomore year at Holy Cross I did my first internship at GE Capital as part of the Financial Management Program (“FMP”). This internship opportunity came through the Career Development Summer Internship Program. I did a second internship at GE Capital the following summer, and then accepted a full time position at GE Capital in FMP post-graduation. What made me decide to pursue a career in corporate finance initially was my strong underlying interest in evaluating businesses, coupled with my accounting background from Holy Cross. Second, I really enjoyed the corporate culture at GE, and knew that the company had a strong track record for educating their employees and building future business leaders. Both aspects of my first job/employer came out to be 100% true. I significantly expanded my core technical finance skills and analytical thinking, but also my soft-business skills such as effective and efficient communication and negotiating. All of what I have described were “planned events” through my initial time at GE Capital. However, life always brings unplanned events as well. In my last rotation on FMP, I was given a role in underwriting in a business unit that provides leveraged loans to middle market companies being bought by private equity sponsors. I very much enjoyed this role, and realized that this was the career path that I wanted to pursue (versus traditional corporate finance). However, General Electric, and in particular GE Capital, was going through large changes at the time. There was a meaningful corporate strategy shift to move away from “banking” and focus the conglomerate on industrial businesses. Part of this decision by GE was due to stricter regulatory requirements on large financial institutions after the financial crisis of 2008/2009. While the traditional banking sector overall faced new regulations at the time, there started to be large growth in the alternative asset management sector, such as private equity and debt firms. I saw this trend occurring (similar to other colleagues and friends) and decided to seek my next role at a private markets firm. This led me to my second employer, Partners Group, a global private markets asset manager. The key takeaway from this “career event” for me is to make sure you get the most out of “planned events” in your career, by doing the best you can do at the job you are currently doing, because “unplanned events” will occur which will bring difficult decisions, but also promising career opportunities! How one performs in “planned events” I’ve noticed in my career dictates how one can effectively adapt to “unplanned events” in a career.

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

I was very involved in the Economics department when I was on campus, since I was an Economics-Accounting major. I was part of the Student Advisory Committee for several years, and then was the Chairman of the committee for two of those years. I was also a member of the Economics department Honors Program, in which I spent over a year conducting research and writing a senior thesis on the financial crisis of 2008/2009. I was a member of the pre-business program, and took a class that managed the student managed endowment fund. I volunteered through the SPUD, and was a member of the club baseball team for four years. In my last two years, I was also a tour guide for the admissions office.

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

I majored in Economics-Accounting. While I did not pursue a traditional career in public accounting, accounting is the basis for everything in finance. Any student interested in pursuing a career in finance must have a strong understanding of accounting. But that does not and should not preclude non-accounting majors from pursuing a career in finance. While the technical background has surely helped me in my career, the analytical thinking and quantitative analysis aspects of accounting is what has helped me the most in my career. In my field, it is crucial to evaluate businesses from both a quantitative and qualitative aspect, using fact-based assertions to drive investment theses.

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

Aside from my technical background, one of the most important skills that I developed meaningfully at Holy Cross is my written and oral communication skills. A lot of my job is being able to effectively communicate both internally and externally. From an internal perspective, I have an investment committee that I present my investment opportunities to in order to obtain approval to make an investment. In order to obtain approval, I must effectively communicate the merits and risks of an investment opportunity, through both quantitative and qualitative assertions, written in memos and orally in person. There is always “pushback” from investment committee members—that is their job, to play “devil’s advocate” and ask as many questions as possible. Therefore, it is a continual iterative process when evaluating investment opportunities, and being able to effectively communicate internally is paramount to success. I must also work with external parties, such as management teams and other private equity firms, in order to negotiate the best possible deal terms for my firm. It’s a craft that I am still developing and will be developing over the rest of my career, but Holy Cross established a strong foundation to start building from.

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

If you are interested in pursuing a career in finance, your GPA will be the first criteria that a company will look at from both an internship and entry-level job perspective. In other words, make sure you are getting it done in the classroom first! Second, I would recommend taking quantitative classes, such as accounting, economics, math, or pre-business/investment classes. Holy Cross students largely have strong communication skills, due to the rigorous liberal arts curriculum in place, but it is important to develop quantitative reasoning skills in order to be “on par” with competing students from business programs at other colleges and universities. Third, develop a strong interest in reading the Wall Street Journal or New York Times business section. I’ve probably learned the most about financial markets, the economy, and businesses from reading the WSJ. Pick topics that interest you, and read as much about them as possible. Read the articles critically, and if a concept does not make sense to you, don’t just move onto the next article, figure out the concept because that is how real learning takes place. Lastly, it is absolutely crucial to understand what it means to have a career in finance, and there are many different types of careers in finance. Talk with as many people as possible, ask them what they like and dislike about their jobs. People love talking about themselves, so “pick as many brains” as possible.

September 17, 2019

Meet Alumna Stephanie Schaefer Ford ’11, Senior Marketing Copywriter with Rue Gilt Groupe

Stephanie Schaefer Ford

Class Year: 2011

Title: Senior Marketing Copywriter

Organization Name: Rue Gilt Groupe

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

As a Senior Copywriter, I am responsible for crafting the stories that support Rue La La’s marketing initiatives, whether it be as straightforward as writing clever subject lines and push notifications for our daily sales, or as in-depth as conceptualizing an entire holiday campaign.

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?

After graduation, I accepted a summer fellowship through the International Radio & Television Society in New York City. My spot was sponsored by The Hallmark Channel/Crown Media Networks and its CEO (Bill Abbot, Class of ‘84). It was an amazing experience and exposed me to the ins and outs of the industry.

Through the program, I interned in the marketing and publicity department of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, assisting with the promotion of films like The Help & Cars 2. During the course of the summer, I also attended seminars hosted by IRTS and media executives in various positions, ranging from ad sales to production. These meetings confirmed that I wanted my next role to involve creativity and writing, which eventually led me to pursue a position as an Editorial Assistant at an online magazine.

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

I was the Vice President of the English Honor Society and Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Purple Literary Magazine during my senior year. I also was involved with the Campus Activities Board (CAB), volunteered at Friendly House in Worcester through SPUD, and contributed articles to The Crusader Newspaper.

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

I majored in English, with a concentration in Creative Writing. I remember right before graduation, one of my favorite professors, Leah Cohen, asked us to respond to an article that said, “graduating with an English Degree is like going out into a storm without a coat.” I believe my response was something along the lines of “I’d rather go out coatless than wear one that isn’t my style.” Through my Holy Cross courses, I realized I wanted a career that would fulfill me creatively, but I wasn’t quite sure what that would be. English majors may not have a direct path, but that’s half the fun!

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

I’m fortunate that I get to hone the skills I developed in college every day. Holy Cross taught me to think outside of the box and express my voice, whether that be in an extensive 20-page thesis paper or a three-line poem for a Creative Writing class. These abilities are certainly valuable when you’re a Copywriter writing for a variety of different mediums.

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

Learn from every experience, big and small. Also, I think it’s important to be adaptable, but always stay true to your passions. Luckily, in today’s digital world that’s easier than ever. For instance, in my spare time, I contribute to Writer’s Bone, a podcast and website my husband co-founded, dedicated to writing. I’m fortunate to have a creatively fulfilling day job, but interviewing authors and screenwriters for the podcast allows me to hone a different set of skills. In addition to signing up for courses and extracurriculars that you’re passionate about, I’d encourage students to pick up a side hustle, start a blog, or do whatever it is that fuels your creative spirit.

August 7, 2019

Meet #CrusaderIntern, Caitlin Tzimorotas ’21, Marketing intern at HGTV Magazine

1. Tell us about your internship and the work that you are doing this summer.

This summer I am working as a marketing intern at HGTV Magazine. Some of my responsibilities include writing copy, overseeing marketing executions (such as sweepstakes and contests), communicating with brands featured in the magazine, negotiating partnerships with influencers, and helping to plan HGTV Magazine’s Blogger Block Party event in New York City.

2. What is the coolest thing about your internship or the company/organization where you intern?

I have really enjoyed seeing the “behind the scenes” of everything that goes into publishing a magazine. I have been able to communicate with brands and partners directly, which has given me so much hands-on experience and knowledge about the field of marketing.

3. What has surprised you about being an intern?

I am surprised by how much freedom I have. At first, it was a little nerve wracking to send emails with the “HGTV Magazine” signature at the bottom, but I have come to really appreciate the responsibility I have been given.

4. How has this internship influenced your future career plans?

This internship has helped me to see that I really enjoy working in a large and creative corporation. It has also shown me that I thrive in collaborative team environments.

5. Any internship advice to pass on to other Holy Cross students?

One of the most valuable aspects of my internship has been the ability to speak to people in all different departments, from Managing Editors, to Salespeople, to the Art team. My biggest piece of advice is to talk to as many people as you can and establish relationships with those people. It can be as simple as asking them to grab a coffee, or asking them a few questions about what a typical day in the life in their position is like.

July 17, 2019

Meet #CrusaderIntern, Caroline Babinski ’20, Digital Intern at NBC Nightly News

Meet #CrusaderIntern, Caroline Babinski ’20, Digital Intern at NBC Nightly News

1. Tell us about your internship and the work that you are doing this summer.

This summer I am a Digital Intern at NBC Nightly News! My day to day tasks include scheduling posts for our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts that correspond with daily broadcast. I am learning so much about creating a digital presence for a brand and more advanced functions of social media platforms.

2. What is the coolest thing about your internship or the company/organization where you intern?

The coolest part of my internship is my office environment! Along with working in 30 Rock, the NBC Newsroom is an amazing environment to be in. I am surrounded by a fast-paced environment that changes constantly due to the news of the day.

3. What has surprised you about being an intern?

In the past, I interned at the United States Senate and at ELLE Magazine which were incredible experiences that eventually led me to my current internship at NBC. One thing that has surprised me throughout my internships is that there are so many jobs I never knew about. Through learning about all of the different positions I have been exposed to, I have gained a greater sense of what I want to do after graduation, along with affirming that careers do not have to be linear.

4. How has this internship influenced your future career plans?

During my time at Holy Cross I often would often say, “I’m interested in a career in media,” but I never actually knew what that meant. After my internship on Capitol Hill and an internship in publishing, I knew I wanted to explore news. My internship at Nightly News has given me the insight into social media and news that I wanted and now I have a deeper understanding of this industry. My internship experiences have given me a broad sense of what type of career I want to pursue, and this summer specifically has helped me confirm that a job in media is my goal for after graduation.

5. Any internship advice to pass on to other Holy Cross students?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Since we are usually focused on grades and schoolwork, it’s easy to think that we should not make mistakes and we should know what we are doing, but internships are for learning, not to do things we already know how to do. Always ask questions when learning new tasks in your internship since it’s better to do things correctly by asking questions rather than assuming you’ll know how to do something.

June 26, 2019

Meet #CrusaderIntern Jullia Pham ’20, Global Merchandising Intern at Coach

1. Tell us about your internship and the work that you are doing this summer.

This summer, I am working as the Global Merchandising Intern for the Men’s Outlet Leather Goods team at Coach. Within this job position, I will be assisting Samantha Moor ‘15 and her team. This includes working with different departments like design and product development to produce a new line of products for upcoming seasons. Currently we are working on spring and summer 2020!

2. What is the coolest thing about your internship or the company/organization where you intern?

One of my favorite parts of this internship is that I get exposure to all three of Tapestry’s brands including Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman. Everyday I get to see new and existing products from the brands all around me. Specifically on the merchandising team, I get to see products for future seasons before they launch in stores!

3. What has surprised you about being an intern?

One of my biggest surprises is the difference in culture across different companies. I previously held internship roles at Hearst Magazines in NYC and the Boch Center, a non profit in Boston. Throughout my time at all three companies, I have experienced different workplaces and their approaches to their intern programs. I have been able to learn from every experience which has helped me tremendously in identifying what type of company I want to work for post graduation. Having internship experience not only helps you to see if the role is a great fit, but also lets me explore different work cultures and company values and what type of people I want to work collaboratively with.

4. How has this internship influenced your future career plans?

This internship is my first role within the fashion and retail space. It not only allows me to understand and learn from Coach but also from a new parent company (Tapestry) that has acquired Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman as well. In addition to introducing me to a new industry, my position within the merchandising team will allow me to understand the lifecycle of a product and the development of new and existing products for months ahead.

5. Any internship advice to pass on to other Holy Cross students?

Talk to alumni and leverage the Holy Cross network! This is advice we always hear but is absolutely one of the best advice to follow. Even if they are not at the current company you are interning, reach out for coffee or a phone call! Alumni are more than willing to share their career trajectories with current students. We are so fortunate to have an alumni network that will go out of their way to help us through their personal connections from their company, but also through their generous donations to resources like the Crusader Fund. My internship at Coach is sponsored through the Crusader Fund and my manager is alumna Samantha Moor ‘15. Without the help of alumni this wouldn’t be possible!

April 12, 2019

Meet Alum Doug Moringiello ’11, Trade Support Analyst at GMO

Name: Doug Moringiello

Class Year: 2011

Title: Trade Support Analyst (Fixed Income Trader’s Assistant)

Organization Name: Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co (GMO)

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

Analyzing and confirming all fixed income and derivate trade details between GMO and external parties (brokers, custodians, vendors, etc.)

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 was fortunate at Holy Cross to meet alumni who I admired and respected who worked in finance. After speaking with upperclassmen and alums who worked in the industry and getting a better understanding of what they do I became interested in working in finance. While a fair amount of networking and job searching was ad hoc I am excited that the Career Services department is working to develop a robust Finance Community, I think this will serve students and alumni well with a formalized network.

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

Varsity Track & Field, Work Study Program (Kimball and Athletic Department), and Habitat for Humanity

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

Major: History. History seems to be an unconventional major for someone working in finance, but the skills I developed through my major, specifically understanding and weighing multiple points of views, building an argument based on historical analysis, and being able to distill volumes of reading into short, concise assertions have been invaluable. Being able to consume mountains of research, connect an investment thesis with specific transactions, and constantly re-evaluate the impacts of current events on financial markets are skills I use every day, and I am uniquely positioned to do so because of my time majoring in History at Holy Cross.

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

Persistence – The best traders I’ve met aren’t the best traders simply because they’re smart; they are the best traders because they’re driven and relentless in their pursuit to improve and constantly challenge themselves. Holy Cross is incredibly challenging academically and you may feel like your grades are not reflective of your effort. The ability to persist and challenge yourself to improve everyday is a unique skill Holy Cross students are able to develop. Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable – In any profession you’re going to have to be able to perform under pressure. On a trading desk you’re going to have to get comfortable in a constantly changing environment. Every day is going to be different and its essential that you be able to adapt. I learned a lot about myself living in a cold Boyden Street apartment for two years – if you navigate your time socially and academically at Holy Cross you’re going to develop the skills needed to succeed.

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

Be honest with yourself about what interests you and what you are passionate about. Be sincere with both your peers and people you meet in the industry. Leverage the Holy Cross community as much as you can. I’ve found alumni are always eager to share their story with students who take the initiative and are sincerely interested in learning.

April 12, 2019

Meet Alumna Alison Cheung ’06, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Space Systems and Technology Division

Full Name: Alison Cheung

Class Year: 2006

Title: Engineer, Space Systems and Technology Division

Organization: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

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

My job entails designing and validating software to control and collect data from space surveillance sensors (optical telescopes and radar) that observe, track, and characterize space objects.

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

At Holy Cross, I was involved in the Holy Cross Chamber Orchestra, the Goodtime Marching Band, Calculus Workshop Tutoring, Society of Physics Students, SPUD, and Appalachia.

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

I was a double major in mathematics and physics. This provided me with a strong foundation to go in a variety of science directions. I never had a specific path in mind so this gave me lots of options.

4. 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?

During my sophomore year, I received an email about an opportunity for physics students to apply for an internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory funded through the Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium. I didn’t expect it, but jumped on the opportunity, put together a resume and cover letter, and had phone interviews with potential mentors. I spent the summers after my sophomore, junior, and senior years at JPL and knew this field and environment was what I wanted. After completing graduate school, I called my mentor and said I wanted to return to JPL as a full-time employee. My internship, that came about because of Holy Cross, got me my internship at JPL. My performance during that internship allowed me to return subsequent summers and ultimately lead to my first full-time job where I worked on mission operations for the Cassini spacecraft that was orbiting Saturn.

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

Holy Cross helped me develop confidence in my abilities by being in a small setting where professors could suggest opportunities that I would not have pursued on my own. One of these opportunities was independent study during the academic year where I was able to develop research skills. Particularly useful was the ability to navigate dead-ends and uncertainty in where an approach might lead.

April 12, 2019

Meet Alum Christopher Pichay ’95, Family Physician, Circle of Life Family Medicine

Full Name: Christopher Pichay

Class Year: ’95

Title: Family Physician/DO, President/Co-Owner of Circle of Life Family Medicine

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

As being a family physician who co owns a private family practice with my wife who is also a physician, my job entails providing health care for patients of all ages while at the same time dealing with running a business.

2. How do you balance life and work?

I balance my personal life and work through the grace of God and with the support of my family. There is no other way!

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

While I was on campus I was involved with intramural sports (Basketball and volleyball), a martial arts club, SPUD, and ALANA

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

I majored in biology and minored in visual arts. I had already made up my mind to become a physician before enrolling in undergrad studies and I believed biology would help with the pre med concentration and my application to medical school. Majoring in biology prepared me to teach biology and Anatomy & Physiology to high school students.

5. 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?

Planned: getting into medical school and becoming a physician.

Unplanned: Having the opportunity to play D1 basketball, becoming a high school teacher upon graduation, marrying a fellow medical student and then going on to have 9 children with that spouse. It just goes to show that sometimes your initial plan is not the correct plan and that the plan you often end up with is the best case scenario! I have no regrets with how my life turned out and feel extremely blessed to be where I am today!

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

I found a renewed strength in my faith going to Holy Cross, a maturation in learning and how to apply what I’ve learned to real work experience, and I realized the importance of the reputation of excellence Holy Cross has established in the outside world and the lifelong camaraderie and networking advantage of being a Crusader!

April 12, 2019

Meet #CrusaderIntern Michael Melch ’20, International Law Institute

Full Name: Michael Melch ‘20

Summer Internship: International Law Institute

1. What were you up to this past summer?

Last summer I interned at the International Law Institute in Georgetown, DC. I was responsible for the preparation of training seminars for international lawyers. My duties included marketing the seminars, coordinating with the experts who taught the seminar regarding the necessary materials, and interacting with participants to ensure that the meetings ran smoothly. As a result, I was able to attend many of the seminars on topics ranging from legislative drafting to anti-trust and competition.

2. What was your favorite part?

I really enjoyed interacting with the participants of the seminars who came from countries all over the world, such as Italy, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Nigeria, and the Philippines, to name a few. The seminars often included site visits, and one of the highlights of my internship was leading a group of Chinese lawyers from the Shanghai Bar Association on a tour of the Supreme Court and US Capitol. Also, the International Law Institute arranged professional development trips designed for the interns to learn about various legal and economic organizations. The visits included law firms, the Federal Trade Commission, and my favorite, the World Bank.

3. What surprised you?

I was surprised by how many different nationalities came to expand their legal knowledge at the International Law Institute to better prepare themselves for their profession in their home countries. The specialized legal education and training may not be available in their home countries so they come to Washington D.C. to advance their legal careers or improve for the career they already have.

April 12, 2019

Meet #CrusaderIntern Juliana Holcomb ’19, The Ana Grace Project

Dr. Noel Casiano, my supervisor (L) and me (R)

Full Name: Juliana Holcomb ‘19

Summer Internship: The Ana Grace Project

1. What were you up to this past summer?

This past summer, I was a research and data intern at The Ana Grace Project in New Britain, CT. Created after the tragedy at Sandy Hook which took the life of Ana Grace Márquez-Green as well as many others, this not-for-profit organization is dedicated to bringing social emotional learning, trauma-informed care, and school-based mental health services into New Britain Elementary schools through their “Love Wins” program. In this role, I analyzed teacher, school administrator, and faculty-reported responses from the ARTIC (Attitudes Related to Trauma Informed Care) measure; collected, organized, and explained trends in disciplinary-related outcomes between 2012-2018 from the Connecticut State Department of Education; and wrote, edited, and prepared APA-style manuscripts for publication. I was able to contribute to three manuscripts that will hopefully be published in the near future and two manuals for the “Love Wins” program.

2. What was your favorite part?

My favorite part was learning about the specific ways in which the “Love Wins” program impacted the elementary school-aged children of New Britain. Through the data and trends I analyzed, I was able to witness the ways in which the implementation of “Love Wins” quantitatively improved school-based outcomes such as in- and out-of-school suspensions and chronic absenteeism. On a more qualitative level, I was able to learn about individual stories of how “Love Wins” impacted the New Britain community which was equally as inspiring. Hearing these testimonials made me very hopeful for the future of school-based mental health services.

I also was awestruck by the strength, dedication, and passion of Nelba Márquez-Green as she worked tirelessly each and every day to improve the educational system for low-income students and students of color so that a tragedy like Sandy Hook, which took the life of her daughter, would never happen again. Her dedication was unlike any I had ever seen before, and I was fortunate to work with her.

3. What surprised you?

I was surprised by the amount of collaboration that took place within The Ana Grace Project. People from all different backgrounds and career paths came together to create this not-for-profit and manage its implementation within schools. For example, mental health professionals such as Marriage Family Therapists, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Social Workers, Psychologists, and Psychiatrists all worked together in order to provide the school-based mental health services to students as well as counsel them individually and in a family or group setting. Teachers, within the many elementary schools of New Britain, were also a critical piece of the “Love Wins” program which I saw when I went to a talent show at one of the schools. The administrators and staff of the school were also highly involved. Seeing this community collaboration was a happy surprise I saw during my time at The Ana Grace Project. They practiced what they preached and emphasized community relations and support in all that they did.