Written by Rachel Farrell | Posted January 2025
1839 Society member Lucia Rodriguez (COM’97) took a leap of faith when she left her home in Venezuela to study at Boston University. But it was the right decision, she says—and she’s never looked back.
Since earning her master’s degree in broadcast administration, Rodriguez has climbed the ranks at Fortune 50 companies such as Comcast and JP Morgan Chase & Company. Today, she is an award-winning marketing and communications strategist and the principal and senior consultant of a boutique consulting firm, 7Circles LLC—Strategic Marketing Solutions. Rodriguez is passionate about helping her clients drive growth and gain market share through integrated marketing campaigns.
Her other passion? Mentoring and supporting BU students.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m originally from Venezuela, but my parents are Portuguese. I love Venezuela, but I’ve been in this country for longer than I lived there, so I feel American, too. I’m very settled in the U.S. My entire career has been here, and I’m so lucky that has been the case. It’s possible because of BU—not just because of what I learned or the degree I earned, but because of the whole experience and the doors it opened. It allowed me to pursue my dreams, professionally and personally.
Moving to a foreign country must have been challenging.
But BU is a very multicultural place because of the number of international students and faculty that congregate here. It allowed me to fulfill my dream of learning other cultures. My classmates were from different countries around the world. At the same time, I learned about cultural differences in the United States—what it’s like in the Midwest versus the South versus the East coast. That, to me, was super interesting and enriching.
Did you feel like BU supported you through the transition?
It was unbelievable how BU supported me. I thought BU had an amazing program for international students, and they still do. But my perception at the time was that it was so well put together. We had the same events as the rest of the incoming students, but we also had separate events that were designed to help us get to know each other and meet people from our home countries or other countries. That contributed to me feeling adjusted, making friends quickly, and feeling just so happy.
How did your BU experience help launch your career?
BU’s graduate program in broadcast administration was awesome because it really provided preparation for the U.S. industry. That was key for me. And then I studied management skills and took my first marketing classes at BU. Having a master’s degree from such a reputable institution opens doors, especially for someone from another country. It validates you.
But even before graduating, I was already on that track, and that was thanks to my mentor and my thesis advisor, [Associate Professor Emeritus] Cathy Perron. She helped me understand and extract the value that I could offer to companies in the United States. She was the one who motivated me to pursue opportunities here. That led to an opportunity with the third-largest cable company in the United States. I did an internship with them, they sponsored my thesis, and I had a job offer when I graduated. Looking back, it couldn’t have been more perfect.
What has inspired you to give back to BU?
In 2020, the College of Communication’s new dean, Mariette DiChirstina, sent a letter to all alums asking for volunteers. I replied right away. And then I started helping with the college’s mentorship and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Through that activity, I was nominated for the BU Alumni Council.
The reason I’m doing it is I want to give back. I received knowledge, guidance, and inspiration from mentors throughout my career, and doing the same for the younger generations is the best way I can contribute to humanity. It is extremely fulfilling. What better place to give back than BU?
*Editor’s note: Interview has been edited for length and clarity.