Smith Profiles
Alumni Profile
Leading and Learning by Trusting Others, A Career at Morgan Stanley
Allison Lucchese ’08
When Allison Lucchese ’08 began her career at Morgan Stanley over 14 years ago, she put her trust in others to find her way forward. Now in a leadership role, Lucchese is paying it forward and leading others on their journey.
Alumni Profile
Succeeding in Data Science With Technical and Business Acumen Learned at Smith
Shweta Kamble, MS in Information Systems ’15
The Smith School focused on giving us a more holistic view of the corporate environment. My classes included business transformation courses, disruption technology, network effects and technical concepts like database management, machine learning, etc. I loved my class on building a digitally transformational app.
Alumni Profile
How Kenny Cheung ’05 is Driving Change at Hertz
Kenny Cheung ’05
Not many executives can say they helped a company pivot from Chapter 11 bankruptcy to one of its best earnings years ever in their first two years, but Kenny Cheung ’05 can.
Alumni Profile
Zig Zagging A Path to Success in Tech
Meredith LaBonte ’01
“I recently became familiar with some new language in the people and HR space called a zig-zag career.” Meredith LaBonte, Vice President of Corporate Business Solutions at Novant Health Digital Products and Services, thinks she’s a pretty good example of it.
Alumni Profile
Leading Digital Transformation as a ‘Velvet Hammer’
Carol Houle ’93
There’s a book entitled “The Velvet Hammer” that describes the moniker of a woman who gets things done and done well by leading with grace and eloquence. Author Elaine Allison says this woman has let go of trying to make what works for her male counterparts work for her.
Alumni Profile
Planting Deep Roots
Lisa Kidd Hunt ’97
Lisa Kidd Hunt didn’t exactly leave Smith after graduating with her bachelor’s degree in finance. Not in a Matthew Mcconaughey à la “Dazed & Confused” kind of way, but she’s the kind of person who sticks around, cultivating the relationships and roots she’s planted.
Alumni Profile
Taking Risks and Finding Professional Success
Neal Shear ’76
Want to know how to climb the corporate ladder? Bet on yourself and take risks early in your career, says Neal Shear ’76.
Alumni Profile
Motivating the Next Generation of Women In Tech
Kendall Holbrook, MBA ’01
As an African American woman CEO and working mother – in information technology, an area heavily dominated by men - Holbrook understands the weight of her words. One thing she’s learned is that “companies and clients are really all about people.”
Alumni Profile
Lifting Others up and Going Viral on Social Media
Ava Cyruli ’22
Ava Cyruli ’22 needed an outlet to fill the void left by stepping away from her dancing career, so she turned to weightlifting. Now, she’s sharing what she’s learned along the way with thousands of people online.
Alumni Profile
Turning Pandemic Related Uncertainty Into a Career Advantage
Alexis Hogarth, MS in Business and Management ’22
The Master of Science in Business and Management program felt like the best foundation for me to gain more business knowledge, while also easing back into talking to people face to face in a professional way again. I would have been too nervous about doing that if I’d chosen to work right after getting my bachelor’s degree.