Alumni Volunteer Spotlights
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I am currently a Process Design Project Manager on the Strategy and Integration Team supporting Google’s People Operations. Prior to Google I worked at Disney, managing a project to centralize HR Operations and supported theme park operations and efficiency in an internal consulting capacity. I also have experience in operations consulting at McKinsey & Company and in manufacturing and distribution at Pepperidge Farm and General Motors.
My advice to Booth alumni considering applying for a project is simple: Don’t wait! I wish I had done it sooner. It is easy to come up with reasons why it won’t work. You don’t have time, you aren’t experienced enough, you’re too experienced, you don’t remember the fundamentals of microeconomics. What I can tell you is that the important reasons for being part of BANC go deeper than the immediate impact on the organization you are partnered with. It may be the satisfaction of seeing your expertise applied somewhere new, or in working through the discomfort of the lack of expectation that you are an expert. The lasting impact on you is what will bring you back for the second project.
I am Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Guaranteed Rate, leading the Mergers and Acquisitions Group. My expertise is in predictive analysis, utilizing my unique background in technology and finance.
To anyone who is considering applying to BANC, my advice is: Get involved now! BANC works with great nonprofits, and you will get to meet and collaborate with terrific Booth alums. There are so many wonderful nonprofits in the Chicagoland area. Their need for help currently outweighs our resources. We need more Booth alums to volunteer for this wonderful cause.
I graduated from Booth (GSB) in 1995 with a focus on Business Policy and Behavioral Sciences. My early career included working as an internal consultant in banking focusing on various enterprise-wide projects and later as a product manager in cash management. It was while I was employed by Harris Bank/BMO that I was “loaned” to the United Way Chicago for several months. My mission was to assist corporations in implementing their annual United Way campaigns. This opportunity opened the door to conversations with notable CEOs throughout Chicagoland about the value of United Way in the community.
My advice to people considering a BANC project: Why wouldn’t you do it? BANC projects let you step outside your world and realize there are other things going on in your community. In sharing your talents and your time, you are making a real difference.
I graduated from law school in 1979 and have practiced as a litigation and trial attorney ever since. For the past 35 years, I have been at a large Chicago-based law firm and have represented clients, tried cases, and argued appeals throughout the country. My practice has been focused on intellectual property disputes, executive compensation, dealer litigation and a wide variety of other commercial matters. I represented clients in many different industries, including real estate, software, electronics, financial services, and motor vehicle manufacturing, among others. I also held several leadership positions in my law firm.
Working with BANC has been challenging and rewarding. My teammates were smart, hardworking, and creative; each brought experience and insights that were invaluable. I learned a lot from them. I particularly enjoyed seeing our teams came together over the course of our engagements and create a work product that was better than any one of us would have created on our own. BANC provides wonderful opportunities. I encourage anyone looking for a great community service experience to join a BANC team.
My career is focused on building digital products from ideation to implementation for clients and helping them drive the highest value for the customers. I have worked extensively with multifunctional teams across North America, Africa, and Asia Pacific, and successfully launched products in these markets. Immersing myself in different cultures and environments enabled me to recognize various customer needs, create diverse growth strategies and deliver better business solutions. My experience extends to driving digital transformation with CRM tools to developing new business models and to delivering customers’ personalized journeys.
While it is extremely satisfying to be able to help nonprofit organizations with my professional expertise, what I love the most about BANC projects is that I get to interact with clients, listen to their stories, and get exposed to new perspectives on social problems. To anyone considering applying to BANC, my advice is not to wait. There is no time like the present to make a difference. The projects are both challenging and rewarding, and will grow your network, and provide you with invaluable experience to serve the wider community.