Agile Professionals

Mapping Out a Business & Economics Experience and Becoming a Great Business Leader

By December 2nd 2021

Patrick Colletti, leadership and corporate culture expert, champion for “refounders” and author of the book “Refounder: How Transformational Leaders Take What’s Broken and Make It Better” presented his vision for student success during the Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business & Economics Lecture Series on December 2. During his visit he shared stories from his two decades as President of Net Health and of the remarkable leaders who took struggling enterprises and made them better.  He gave students tips on how they too can become a “refounder,” and provide the leadership to make any organization better – better for employees, better for customers and better for the community.

Patrick Colletti is a leadership and organizational culture expert, business growth advisor, champion for “refounders” and author of the book “Refounder.” He draws on his experience as a technology executive, scaling new and existing ventures, and a passion for creating amazing cultures. His growth-oriented guidance challenges social and cultural norms, both in the workplace and in the community. Patrick is passionate about creating and empowering the next Refounders — generational leaders and entrepreneurs who revitalize the places where they live, work and play.

During the second half of our session, CBE Co-Director Chris Allison gave an overview of The Roadmap, a planning tool for mapping out a business and economics experience that will help lead you to that dream job or acceptance into your ideal graduate school. “The Roadmap enables you to squeeze every ounce out of your educational investment,” according to Allison.

The Roadmap is a discussion guide for students with interests in the broad fields of business and economics. The real world changes constantly, and new opportunities open up every day. We created this guide to help students to start the conversation about their future with their family, Allegheny faculty, staff and alumni along with all of the people they will encounter throughout their college journey. Download the latest version at allegheny.edu/roadmapforbusiness, or stop by Beth Ryan’s office, Quigley #224, for your copy.

The Lunchtime Learning Speaker Series provides students with opportunities to gain valuable information on topics and industries related to internships and careers in business and economics.  Speakers often choose one of two broad areas to discuss with students. The first is career oriented, the second is issue oriented. Both topics enable students to navigate and explore job options, understand the steps necessary to pursue opportunities and learn how to self-advocate for opportunities in the workplace.

Executive Female Talent and Managerial Inclusivity

By October 27th 2021

An Interview with Paola Corna Pellegrini, CEO of Allianz Global Assistance in Milan, Italy and Allegheny President Hillary Link, moderated by Professor of Marketing Gaia Rancati

This discussion held on September 21, focused on inclusivity inside companies through an important reflection on the topic of female talent. Allegheny President Hillary Link joined CEO Paola Corna Pellegrini for a discussion on the ability of both public and private companies to recognize merit as the keystone for women in executive roles. Ms. Pellegrini and President Link explored the roles of the women who over the years have demonstrated the quality of their skills through excellent performance in executive and managerial committees.

Paola Corna Pellegrini, CEO of Allianz Global Assistance

Paola Corna Pellegrini is the President of AICEO, the Italian Association of CEOs, a non-profit association
of people, founded in July 2011 with the aim of promoting the exchange of experiences between
members to generate ideas, innovation and visions on the future, to identify successful experiences and
propose concrete solutions to the problems of companies and more generally of the country.
Always committed to the enhancement of women since 2018, she has been President of the Scientific
Committee of the Winning Women Institute, a non-profit association active in the gender equality
sector that launched the first gender equality certification in Italy, and since 2019 she has been Vice
President of the Forum of Meritocracy with which she launched the Valeria Solesin Prize that she
recounts as the genesis and the ideas in her book, “FORZA RAGAZZE, AL LAVORO! – The word to young
people for a fair, inclusive and meritocratic world. ”

In Allianz Partners since 2011 as CEO, Paola Corna Pellegrini boasts a career that began 38 years ago,
after a degree in Mathematics from the University of Padua and an MBA from the CUOA Business
School, passing from international multinational companies to family ones, which led her to hold top
positions with responsibilities both locally and internationally.

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy. The Lunchtime Learning Lecture Series provides students with opportunities to gain valuable information on topics and industries related to internships and careers. 

Afua Osei ʹ08, 2021 Executive in Residence

By October 7th 2021

Lunchtime Learning event with Afua Osei, from left: Arigun Bayaraa, Noah Tart, President Hillary Link, Kaylin Tang, Afua Megan Dennis, Morgan Douglas, Maya Ginter-Frankovitch and CBE Co-Director Professor Tim Bianco

Afua Osei is a social impact leader with more than 10 years of global experience in creating purposeful partnerships to advance women’s economic participation. As a Co-Founder of She Leads Africa, Afua built a digital lifestyle platform for multicultural women reaching more than 800,000 women across 100+ countries. Afua built the sales team and relationships to execute innovative brand partnerships with brands such as Facebook, Google, Unilever, Visa, Nestle and L’Oreal. Featured in the Financial Times, BBC, CNN and CNBC, Afua has had the privilege of sharing her expertise at high profile global leadership, entrepreneurship and digital conferences across North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Executive in Residence, Afua Osei ’08

As this year’s Executive and incoming Allegheny College Trustee, Ms. Osei visited classrooms and met with students in the Business & Economics and Political Science departments in Quigley Hall as well as the Allegheny IDEAS Center.

Tuesday, October 12, 12:40 to 1:30 pm
“Afua Osei ʹ08 – A Remarkable Allegheny Journey”
Quigley’s Henderson Auditorium, Q101

Wednesday, October 13, 12:40 to 1:30 PM
“Should Government be in the Business of Entrepreneurship?
Quigley’s Henderson Auditorium, Q101

The Executive in Residence program is a co-curricular activity sponsored by the Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics.  The event is designed to connect Allegheny students and faculty with prominent business executives who spend several days on the Allegheny campus speaking about their life experiences in business, paths to success and lessons learned.

Financial Literacy & Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) Certification

By October 5th 2021

Gene & the Wealth Management Club Board from left: Kylie Kasavage ‘23, Gene Natali, Morgan Douglas ’23, Jacob Dukman ‘22, Morgan Libell ’22

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business & Economics and Wealth Management Club welcomed back Gene Natali ’01 on Thursday, October 5 in Quigley Auditorium. He is the CEO and co-founder of the fintech company, Troutwood. Prior to starting Troutwood, Gene spent 17-years working with large retirement plans and institutional investors.

He is an award-winning author (The Missing Semester Series) who has key-noted investment and education conferences across the country and spoken in over 500 high school and college classrooms. He is a part-time lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh where he teaches Personal Finance. Gene is a Chartered Financial Analyst, holds an MBA with a concentration in finance from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in economics from Allegheny College.

His second book in the Missing Semester series addresses the most overlooked subject in financial-literacy education-investing. Primarily addressing students and recent graduates, its lessons are not laden with jargon; its focus is topics and choices that apply to most young people, not just a few, and not those relevant only late in life. The Missing Second Semester presents a call to action: You’re in charge. Understand the opportunity, and make the choices.

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy. The Lunchtime Learning Lecture Series provides students with opportunities to gain valuable information on topics and industries related to internships and careers. The Allegheny College Wealth Management Club (ACWMC) is designed to create a structured educational environment for the Allegheny community. The primary purpose of the club is to offer participants a collaborative environment in which they can openly discuss and learn about topics relating to personal finance. ACWMC organizes seminars, panels, and excursions on issues related to investments, real estate, and credit.

Marketing Monday – Agile Neuroscience: Using remote tools to capture immersive consumer experiences

By October 5th 2021

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business & Economics Marketing Monday lecture series for October featured Jorge Barraza, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of the Practice of Psychology, and Co-founder & Chief Technology Officer at Immersion, a company that provides a truly agile neuroscience tools that predict what people love.

He is a professor of Consumer Psychology at the University of Southern California (USC), specializing in applying psychology and neuroscience to understanding and predicting consumer behavior. He has published numerous articles on emotion, decision neuroscience, and the use of stories to influence decision making. He teaches Consumer Psychology, Pro-Seminar, and Treatise at USC.

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy. The Lunchtime Learning Lecture Series provides students with opportunities to gain valuable information on topics and industries related to internships and careers.

Gator Day at Quigley: Professional Experiences with the CBE Fellows

By September 20th 2021

Allegheny College students can participate in a wide variety of summer experiences over the summer months including internships, research, volunteer work and self-designed learning experiences. 

To celebrate Gator Day, the CBE Fellows organized a panel discussion and networking event on Wednesday, September 22, from 11:30 am until 1:00 PM in Henderson Auditorium to share their experiences in the Business and Economics field with ideas about how students can make the most of their summer!

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy. CBE Fellows are a select group of motivated students that function as a leadership team to support CBE programming and act as student ambassadors. Gator Day is offered every fall semester and features programs and workshops that highlight educational opportunities at Allegheny, that prepare students for life after graduation, and that help to create a greater sense of campus community. Gator Day is set aside as a day with no scheduled classes or extracurricular activities, so that students are free to take advantage of the opportunity to explore what Allegheny has to offer.

CBE Summer Experiences with Arigun Bayaraa ’21

By September 8th 2021

Allegheny students come to Meadville from around the world. Due to  COVID restrictions on international travel last year, CBE Fellow Arigun Bayaraa ’21 found himself working in the late evenings and early hours of the morning on ZOOM from his home in Mongolia. We were grateful that he was able to return safely to campus,  and curious to learn more about his summer internship. We asked…

How did you spend last summer?

Arigun: Last summer I completed my marketing internship at Tavan Bogd Trade Group in Mongolia. It is one of Mongolia’s biggest companies with over 11 thousand employees, 14 subsidiaries, and 4 investment companies. I worked there as a marketing intern and worked on projects like brand awareness, market research, and mystery customer surveys. It was definitely very interesting to work there in these uncertain times because I had the opportunity to work both in-person and remote in the Tavan Bogd Trade Group to see how the workforce is shifting and adjusting with the pandemic.

How difficult was it for you to return to campus from Mongolia?

Arigun: Due to the limited number of charter flights, I had only few available dates to fly out of Mongolia and that made traveling a little difficult, but I managed to arrive on campus on time!

What is your advice to incoming international students?

Arigun: I would advise incoming international students to be active and avoid being passive. Whether if it’s meeting new people or trying out new activities, I would advise them to seek discomfort to truly grow and enjoy their time. Personally, my proudest and most grateful moments were all once my greatest fear or uncertainty, but bursting out of that comfort zone really helped me to make the best use of my time here.

Arigun Bayaraa is a senior from Mongolia, majoring in Business and minoring in Communication & Culture Studies at Allegheny. He is a CBE Fellow, Global Citizen Scholar, and the HRA of Walker. His hobbies are archery, chess, and working out.

CBE Summer Experiences with Sarah Schmidt ’21

By August 31st 2021

Women in Business and Economics Club Vice President, Sarah Schmidt ’21 prepared key research for the Department of Business & Economics through the URSCA program this summer, presenting her findings to the entire Allegheny College campus community. We asked Sarah…

What are your duties?

Sarah: For my summer research experience, I worked with Professor Martin and Professor Ormiston to create a plan to analyze gendered differences in student experiences in the Business and Economics Department. I started my research by completing a literature review to have the necessary background knowledge on gender in the field of economics. We utilized focus groups as a way to gather data about how students interact with the department and the fields of business and economics. One of my duties was to moderate these focus group experiences. We then used qualitative analysis to evaluate the data for common themes and gendered differences. I am continuing this work as my senior comp this fall. The next step is to complete more focus groups to gather more robust and representative data. I am also adding a quantitative section to test for gender difference in students’ attitudes towards economics.

Would you recommend summer research to another student?

Sarah: I would definitely recommend students to take summer research opportunities. Partaking in summer research is a great way to gain research experience that will be useful for future employment, graduate school, and especially senior comp projects. It is also a good way to explore areas of interest that are outside of what is covered in class. Through my work with the Women in Business and Economics Club, I have become interested in the issues faced by women in the field, which this research experience allowed me to explore. Depending on the topic and goal of the research, it is also a good way to make an impact on campus and the surrounding community.

Sarah Schmidt has a a double major in Economics and Environmental Science & Sustainability. On campus, she is involved in the Women in Business and Economics Club, where she serves as the Vice President. She is a member of the Global Citizens Scholar Program and the Economics Honor Society.

CBE Experiences with Morgan Libell ’22

By August 24th 2021

The COVID era has brought many shifts and changes to summer plans for college students, yet many have discovered productive ways to make the best use of their time.  We asked Morgan Libell ’22, President of the Wealth Management Club…

How is your summer going?

This summer I have been working, visiting the wonders of Pittsburgh, and safely traveling around the east coast. The Wealth Management Club Team and I have been hard at work to develop a better website, and successfully launch our financial literacy campaign for the local Meadville high schools. We are also actively planning activities and seminars for the fall, and hope to do further recruiting to grow the club. So watch out for us on social media and the My Allegheny email!

What is you favorite CBE memory?

My favorite memory from the CBE is going to the Women in Economics symposium at the Cleveland FED.

What advice to you have for new students?

My advice is to take advantage of talking to the great CBE professors and staff because they can truly help you understand the various paths.  Also, research what kind of career and industry you want so you can cater your classes to that path.

Mogan Libell is a Junior at Allegheny from Pittsburgh, PA. She is a Business Major and Global Health Studies Minor, and President of the Allegheny College Wealth Management Club. 

CBE Experiences with Megan Dennis ’23

By August 10th 2021

Not all experiences are alike, especially during a global pandemic.  CBE Fellow Megan Dennis found a creative way to make the most of her summer while continuing to broaden her learning experience. Here’s what she had to say:

Megan: Since I did not secure a summer internship due to uncertainty following the pandemic, I embraced a growth-mindset for my summer 2021 activities. Determined to continue my education, I focused on three main areas: language proficiency, knowledge, and travel. This included conversations and practice books in Mandarin Chinese and Korean, visits to New York City’s most famous museums and Colorado’s iconic sites, and a reading list self-curated from the local library. My summer reading list includes: “What Color Is Your Parachute 2020,” “The Defining Decade: Why Your 20s Matter and How to Make the Most of Them Now,” and “The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth.”

For Megan’s full reading list, check out her LinkedIn profile:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/megankdennis/.

Megan is a Junior at Allegheny College from Corry, PA. As a double major in Business and International Relations and a minor in Mandarin, Megan aims to combine cultural understanding with innovative business practices to transform the international market. Specific markets of interest include: music, sports, and the environment. She is currently preparing to study abroad in Asia where she will gain experiences and knowledge to help with the research for her Senior Comp at Allegheny as well as her future career.