Strong Alumni Connections on Display at Holy Cross Finance Networking Reception

Nearly 100 alumni working in the financial services industry gathered at Bank of America Merrill Lynch five days before Christmas. But it wasn’t a holiday party — they were there for the annual Holy Cross Finance Networking Reception designed to help the 69 students in attendance navigate their careers.

The event, now in its seventh year, was hosted by Jim Probert, head of Americas, Investment Grade Capital Markets at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m., some alums hung around talking to students until almost 9.

“It was a terrific illustration of the willingness of Holy Cross alumni to step up and assist our students without hesitation,” says Amy Murphy, director of the Career Planning Center.

“It was encouraging to see the turnout — the room was packed to the point where there were people overflowing into the lobby,” says Juliana Biolsi ’12, a psychology major. “The enthusiasm of the alumni helped settle my nerves about entering the challenging world of business.”

The event is held the first working day after fall semester final exams each year to accommodate students who do not live in close proximity to New York. Students can then use their time in January to shadow and set up further meetings with the alumni they meet at the reception. All financial services industries are represented, including investment banking, asset management, fixed income, financial planning, hedge funds, insurance, operations, human resources, and technology.

Alumni are keen to offer their assistance to the students

“As someone who utilized the Holy Cross alumni network as an undergraduate and still continues to now, this tool cannot be underestimated in its ability to aid in building connections and cultivating relationships with other ‘men and women for others,’ ” says Meg Moran ’08, assistant program manager, U.S. Global Markets Graduate Development at Barclays Capital.

In addition to doling out advice on job and internship searches, interview preparation, and networking, alumni made sure students aren’t taking Holy Cross’ liberal arts education for granted.

“At the event, I often found myself discussing that a career on Wall Street is without a doubt attainable regardless of one’s major and course of study while at Holy Cross,” says Moran. “While an interest in the financial markets and business is certainly necessary, the ability to think critically and work hard, both skills fostered at Holy Cross, are far more difficult to teach on the job than Excel shortcuts and bond math.”

Given their propensity to helping alma mater, alumni were, not surprisingly, behind the inception of the program.

Members of the Holy Cross Leadership Council of New York initiated the event in 2004 after noticing that students interested in working in financial services industries weren’t always fully informed about the nature of the business.

“Working with Amy Murphy, I started this networking event seven years ago to give students from Holy Cross an opportunity to meet with alumni in the financial sector in New York City and ask the kinds of questions they might not feel comfortable asking in a normal interview setting,” says John Mullman '82, P07, managing director of portfolio manager at Jennison Associates in New York, who has spearheaded the event since its inception.

The event has grown since 2004, when it was first hosted at Morgan Stanley and drew about 40 students and 25 alumni, according to Murphy. The event is hosted by different alums each year.

“I had the opportunity to talk with a number of alumni who gave me great advice — from interviewing tips to book recommendations — and even some insight into the market entering into 2011,” says Biolsi.

She adds: “I left the reception so proud to say that I attend Holy Cross,” says Biolsi. “The network of alumni that I will soon join is amazing. I am so grateful for their active participation in helping current students follow in their footsteps to success in business.”

Related Information:

• Career Planning