What made you choose to pursue your dual major in Business and Management and Finance at Simmons?
I wanted to be in a city, but I knew I would do better in a small school. When I found Simmons, I was set on it. I knew that business was the best choice for my major, but I wasn't sure what I would do with the degree. My first finance class really clicked with me, and my professor was extremely encouraging and said that I should be a finance major. My advisor, Assistant Professor Erin DeCurtis, encouraged me to pursue a dual major, as that provided a wider breadth of classes and would result in a broader degree when entering the job market. Knowing that Finance is transferable across industries, I believedI would get a job somewhere after graduating.
Tell me about your current role.
I work in the finance organization at The Hartford Insurance Company. I support the financial analysis in our Middle and Large Commercial business segment. I also work with internal customers including the sales team, strategy team and data analytics team.
Each month I perform analysis on where we landed and where we are headed. I'm constantly problem-solving with my team or with other teams at The Hartford. My role also has a large focus on process improvement; if my team experiences any inefficiencies, data issues, or extremely manual work in the process, I help try to identify the source of that pain and implement a solution in order to improve our job.
What do you find most rewarding about this work?
I've always loved problem solving and process improvement, whether in or outside of work. Being able to see a project all the way through while simultaneously making someone else's work easier or making our end product better is especially rewarding.
Was there a particular class at Simmons that prepared you for this work?
In general, Simmons really taught me how to learn, whether that was learning from other people or actively learning as you solve problems. This is a valuable skill that I use every day. One class that was influential was organizational behavior taught by Adjunct Professor Mary Shapiro; we did a project focusing on a change we wanted to see at Simmons, starting with a proposal and seeing it through to the end. I also learned project management skills at Simmons that I use every day, making sure that my stakeholders are involved in all of my projects. The capstone course, Strategic Management, taught me how to strategize with people with a variety of perspectives. I'm never working with someone who thinks the exact same way that I do, and Simmons prepared me to work in diverse groups.
Beyond the classes, the professors at Simmons had a huge impact on me during my time in undergrad. Assistant Professor Erin DeCurtis was coaching and mentoring me through everything at Simmons, and we're still in contact, today. Also, [now retired] Professor Cynthia Ingols guided us through everything our senior year, preparing us to transition from college to the real world. Two of my best friends were in the School of Business, and we were in Professor Ingols' office constantly. She was phenomenal. I don't know if she knows the amount of weight she held in our lives during that time. I recommend anyone at Simmons try to build their relationships with their professors early on, it's helped me get to where I am today.
How did Simmons prepare you to be a leader in your field?
I found my voice at Simmons. Growing up, I was timid and shy and not sure when to share my opinions or join in on a conversation. At Simmons, I found myself in a safe space with peers and professors and that helped me become confident. In my Capstone course in Finance, where we acted as financial analysts for a company of our choice, there were only three of us in the class. There was no choice but to be engaged in the discussion. I got so used to actively participating in class that it became a habit — it became who I am.
Now, I bring that confidence to work. Every day, I'm in meetings with VP's, CFO's, and Business Partners and I'm able to share my thoughts. I value myself and what I bring to the workplace. Both the insurance and finance industries are historically male-dominated fields, so having a voice as a female is vital. I wouldn't have that if I hadn't gone to Simmons.
I was an intern at The Hartford the summer before senior year, and soon after the internship ended I received an offer to return full-time after graduating. It was a huge relief, and also gave me a different perspective in my classes my final year, using them as a way to build on what I already knew I was going into at The Hartford, and how I could use what I was learning. Now I have the chance to manage my team's intern. I know how it feels and what he's going through, so I'm able to coach him through starting his career, finishing college, and knowing how to value yourself when looking for a job.
Initially, I was anxious about moving from a women's-centered college to a huge company with over 19,000 employees. I expected to experience culture shock. Fortunately, The Hartford is known for being an extremely ethical company that supports women in the workplace, and has won awards for their DE&I efforts, including the global Catalyst Award. What I learned and experienced at Simmons directly transitioned to my work at The Hartford.