Alexandra Calderone

It was Rebecca Leslie, captain of BU’s Women’s Ice Hockey team, who suggested her then-teammate, Alexandra Calderone, enroll in Questrom’s M&O Concentration. As a student-athlete, Alexandra’s time was already stretched thin, so she was hesitant to take on more courses. Looking back, she’s glad her captain convinced her to go for it.

“The M&O concentration allowed me to form meaningful connections with both my classmates and professors,” Alexandra says. “For instance, I got to know Lecturers Sandi Deacon Carr and David Stolow on a personal level, and to this day, they’ve been some of the most impactful teachers of my university experience.”

The support of Alexandra’s teachers went beyond the classroom. They not only encouraged her curiosity for learning about social impact and leadership, but also supported her as a person. “They even attended my hockey games!” She says with a smile.

Since graduating from BU, Alexandra earned a Master of Science in Management from Concordia University, and now works in Deloitte’s Human Capital Consulting practice in Montreal, Canada. She enjoys applying what she learned at Questrom to her work projects, helping clients navigate their people-related challenges.

“The M&O concentration taught me how to bring the human side into my work and to think critically,” she says. “Those are skills that go way beyond anything you could just memorize from a textbook and have made a real difference in how I approach challenging mandates or solving complex problems for our clients.”

As an undergraduate, Alexandra co-concentrated in Information Systems. And she’s glad she did, as the intersection of these areas is becoming more important than ever.

“With all the advancements in technology (especially with AI shaking up how we work) the connection between humans and technology is front and center,” she says. “I recently read a Deloitte article that described the future as ‘human-led, AI-enabled,’ which really resonated with me. It highlighted that while AI is a powerful tool, it’s ultimately people who drive the real value. Technology can support and enhance what we do, but it’s our human insights, creativity, and judgment that make the difference.”

According to Alexandra, the most successful people in her organization are those who have mastered soft skills to complement their technical expertise. They build strong, genuine relationships with clients, listen intentionally, and lift up the team around them.

“These skills aren’t always taught in a traditional classroom setting,” she says, “but they are taught in the M&O concentration.”