Terriers talk: Ally Manfreda
Allison Manfreda (SAR ’12, Questrom ’17) spoke with the YA Rundown about her experience as a double Terrier and how BU helped her craft a career unlike any she imagined.
Did you always know you would end up at BU?
Yes, I’ve always had a soft spot for Boston. I grew up spending a lot of time there as a child visiting my grandparents, doing duck tours, riding in the swan boats – it was always such a treat to visit from my home in New Jersey. Both of my parents went to BC (my mother was a double eagle) so I only looked at BU and BC. Despite having to leave my BU tour halfway through because of a massive snowstorm, I knew I already loved it and this was where I belonged.
Was there a pivotal moment in your time as a BU undergrad?
I really started to flourish when I transferred to Sargent College my sophomore year. I had started as pre-med in CAS but wanted to explore my options. I knew Sargent had a great healthcare program so I made the switch and focused my program of study on public health and health sciences. I knew immediately this was the right academic fit for me with the smaller classes and the chance to get to know my professors one-on-one. The community I found at Sargent was extremely important to my time as an undergrad and I became a Sargent peer mentor all three years in the program. I loved sharing my experiences of transferring and how they shaped my outlook on the program with freshman who knew exactly what they wanted to do from day one.
What activities or groups on campus helped define your time at BU?
My sophomore year I joined Sigma Delta Tau (SDT) sorority and felt like I had found my campus family. Growing up the youngest of three girls and attending an all-girls high school, I was always surrounded by strong, motivated women and my sorority family was no exception. They encouraged me to become more involved on campus and I became the Panhellenic representative for SDT while organizing several philanthropy events. I also became involved with a tutoring program at Chelsea Community Schools, which was run by a BU student group. During my junior & senior years, I went to Chelsea, MA with a group of BU students every week where we tutored grade school children in math, social studies, science, and reading, and afterward we would have a snack/social time followed by recess or activities that aided in their development, such as taekwondo or kickball. While BU offered me so many opportunities inside the classroom, it was the ones outside the classroom that allowed me to participated in programs that mattered the most to me.
What was significant experience during your time at BU?
Participating in Relay for Life my junior year was one of the most difficult and rewarding experiences at BU. My mother is a breast cancer survivor and at the time had just finished her cancer treatment. I remember how emotional it was to share this experience with my sorority sisters and classmates and to know we were there to support each other.
What made you want to come back to BU for a second degree?
I found my first job at a BU career fair so I knew first hand that BU had the capability to open doors and create opportunities for me. Though my first role wasn’t exactly what or where I wanted to be forever, I was forced to wear many hats and began to learn what it took to run a business. I relied on skills developed in Sargent and was able to move into different opportunities and roles during the three years I was there. What all of this exploration taught me was that there was still a ton I didn’t know and that I wanted to learn about business and the healthcare industry. BU had an MBA program with a concentration in health sector management and I was so sure this was the program for me that I applied early.
How was your BU MBA experience compared to your undergraduate experience?
It was very similar in the sense that BU continued to open doors and provide me with the skills and opportunities I needed to succeed. Through yet another BU career networking event, I met the recruiter for my current employer, Fidelity Investments. I immediately recognized the two alums standing there with them as Questrom grads from the year before. I had zero interest at that time in financial services and always saw myself in the healthcare field. In true BU fashion, they encouraged me to apply anyway and see where the process could take me. Despite a quickly approaching deadline, I applied and successfully moved through the interview process. The final interview was really unique, and the other applicants and I spent a full day of team-oriented experiential interviewing. I had to rely on the skills I had learned at BU in my teaming course and team-oriented projects to navigate my way to an offer in their General Management Apprenticeship program. Now in my third of four rotational assignments, I have had the chance to work across the company and across the U.S. doing everything from managing a team of analysts to strategy roles to working with our teams across the globe.
Why is it important for you to give back to BU and how do you continue to do so as an alumna?
Being independent and working hard was instilled in me from a young age. So many people have this same drive but not all of them have opportunities like I did to use that drive to succeed. My eyes were opened wide at the possibilities available to me at BU – from clubs, groups, programs, and experiences. How could I not want to help other people have the same opportunity? I was thrilled when Sargent invited me to serve as a Sargent young alumni board member. It was my chance to help shape how Sargent continues to keep other young alumni engaged and explore ways to help them give back to the University and current students.