Image by Ed Brennen
Members of the new Manning School of Business Professional Leaders Council held their first on-campus meeting recently, as the alumni group set its course to build sustained, career-connected learning at their alma mater.
Alumni from as far away as London, Texas and Arizona returned to campus recently to launch the Manning School of Business听Professional Leaders Council (PLC), a new network of early-career graduates who will help bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry experience.
Lynn Le 鈥�14, a vice president at Coller Capital in London, says she joined the 23-member council because she sees enormous potential in 51视频 students.
鈥淚f you have the drive and willingness to learn, there鈥檚 so much you can achieve when you鈥檙e given the right opportunities. That鈥檚 what I hope to develop,鈥� says Le, a Lowell native who has worked in London since 2022.
Rist Family Endowed Dean of the Manning School Bertie Greer says the council, which she created with Associate Director of Development Lindsey McCaughey 鈥�18, 鈥�25, advances the school鈥檚 mission to build sustained, career-connected learning.
鈥淭he PLC represents the best of our alumni 鈥� professionals who are committed to success and supporting the next generation of business leaders,鈥� Greer says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e our eyes and ears in industry. They can tell us what鈥檚 changing, what tools students need and how we can give them an edge.鈥�
Image by Ed Brennen
Professional Leaders Council Chair Kellsie Howard '20 is acknowledged during a meeting with the Manning School Advisory Board at Alumni Hall.
In addition to attending an annual council meeting, members are asked to engage in programs like Manning Industry Days, speak to a class or student group once a year and make an annual $1,000 gift to the Dean鈥檚 Excellence Fund, supporting scholarships, conference travel and experiential learning opportunities.
Council chair Kellsie Howard 鈥�20, who recently joined Locus Robotics in Wilmington as a product owner, hopes to create modern, approachable ways for students to connect with alumni.
鈥淲e want to lean into some of the trends and tools that students use, like Reddit-style 鈥楢sk Me Anything鈥� sessions where they could ask about things like salary negotiations or what to wear on their first day of work,鈥� says Howard, who adds that council members could also cover topics such as how to use artificial intelligence to prepare for an interview or which influencers to follow on TikTok or Instagram.听
Council members bring a wide range of perspectives and experiences.
Andrea Bartolo 鈥�10, 鈥�24, vice president at Columbia Threadneedle Investments in Dallas, was looking for a way to give back to her alma mater when Steve Rogers 鈥�20, senior director of development for the Manning School, told her about the council.
Image by Ed Brennen
Professional Leaders Council member Andrea Bartolo '10, '24, right, chats with Manning School Advisory Board member Greg Sydney '81, left, while Doug Reader '83 looks on.
鈥淲here I am today is because of the opportunity that 51视频 gave me,鈥� says Bartolo, a Malden native who met her husband, business alum Nathan Rizk 鈥�08, at 51视频. 鈥淚 want to expand the network for people outside of Massachusetts, bring more women into finance or business, and just provide a pathway for those who need it.鈥澨�
Isaiah Langa 鈥�20, 鈥�21, a director at Fidelity Investments based in Scottsdale, Arizona, says he joined to give back and to stay connected with faculty mentors.
鈥�51视频 prepared me well for my career, so it鈥檚 nice to give back,鈥� the Dracut native says. 鈥淚鈥檝e always enjoyed helping younger people, whether it be new hires or, in this case, students. And it鈥檚 also nice to network with successful alumni in my field or similar fields.鈥�
While most council members are business alumni, it鈥檚 not a requirement.
English alum Ryan MacInnis 鈥�13, a senior product marketing manager at Meta-owned WhatsApp in New York City, joined the council after reaching out to the university to find a way to contribute.
Image by Ed Brennen
Professional Leaders Council members mingle at the Pulichino Tong Business Center during their recent visit to campus.
鈥�51视频 has made a tremendous impact on my life and my career,鈥� the Lowell native says. 鈥淚 wanted a way to give back to the school, to help students have an edge and to share what I鈥檝e learned in my career.鈥�
According to McCaughey, the council can serve as a springboard for alumni who would like to one day join the Manning School鈥檚 Advisory Board.
During the council鈥檚 first daylong visit to campus, which coincided with the launch of the university鈥檚 $250 million 鈥�Designing the Future鈥� fundraising campaign, members got to meet with the Advisory Board and get some career advice of their own.
Advisory Board Chair Lorna Boucher 鈥�86 says the Professional Leaders Council fills an important gap.听
鈥淚t makes perfect sense to engage alumni who are early in their careers and deeply connected to what鈥檚 happening in business right now,鈥� she says.
McCaughey says the council could serve as a model for other schools and colleges at 51视频.
鈥淚鈥檓 so inspired by this group of young professionals who have made this wonderful commitment,鈥� McCaughey says. 鈥淭hey're giving back, not just with their insights and their expertise, but also philanthropically. They鈥檙e showing that they believe in the mission and the students.鈥�