This year, the Saint Anselm community commemorates 50 years of co-education at the college. The yearlong celebration has included a series of events honoring the thousands of women who have called the Hilltop home, including the Celebration of Women in Leadership event held this spring, and hosted by the 50th Anniversary Committee in collaboration with the Women in Business club, the economics and business department, and the Office of Alumni Relations.
The two-part event featured a panel- style question-and-answer session, followed by a networking session. The committee welcomed seven alumnae back to campus to participate in the panel, all of whom have forged impressive careers in the business world since their graduation.
Professor Jennifer Kelber ’01 served as chair of the Business, Industry, and Innovation working group within the 50th Anniversary Committee, and was tasked with creating this historic event. In her opening remarks, Kelber said, “Even today, in 2024, to achieve success, women face a steeper climb. It takes courage, grit, and determination. But I believe it also takes compassion.”
She noted that these traits were evident in each of the panelists in attendance, contributing to their success at the college and in their careers. The question-and-answer session connected Saint Anselm women past and present; each panelist was paired with a current female student, ranging from first years to seniors. The students, who shared an interest in business, prepared interview questions, as well as a brief biography to introduce the alumnae to the audience.
Student interviewers included Tara Donohue ’24, Rachel Marinofsky ’25, Sophia Faria ’26, Aquinnah Allain ’26, Roseanna Piroli ’27, Melanie Hoyt ’25, and Gina Gaccione ’26.
“The students’ performance that night showed the skills of future leaders,” said Kelber. “It was inspiring to see the work they did come together.”
Each panelist relished the opportunity to give advice and words of encouragement to the future generation of female leaders in the room. The discussion covered a range of relevant topics, such as practical career advice, choosing one’s career path, establishing a healthy work-life balance, navigating the challenges of a male-dominated field, and utilizing the skills learned at Saint Anselm in one’s everyday life.
“Overall, it was clear the skills that Saint Anselm provides our students, and women in particular, are key to successful careers,” commented Kelber.
After the event, and in honor of the college’s milestone, Portraits took the opportunity to ask each of the panelists for their thoughts on women and leadership—and how the Hilltop uniquely prepares women to lead. Here’s what they had to say:
Jennifer Kelber, Ph.D. ’01
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Economics and Business, Saint Anselm College
What does leadership look like to you?
Leadership means inspiring and empowering others to be the best version of themselves. It means fostering collaboration and trust among a team to achieve goals. Leaders must learn to effectively communicate, adapt, and problem-solve while seeking the common good.
How does Saint Anselm College uniquely prepare women to become leaders?
As I mentioned in my opening remarks, women must have courage, grit, determination, and compassion to achieve success. These characteristics are cultivated by a Saint Anselm College education. The college prepares students to think critically and to write well, and the value of these skills cannot be overstated.
Jeannette Davila ’83, H.D. ’99
Chief of Operations, Independent Services Network, Inc.
What does leadership look like to you?
Leadership is about working with people, keeping a positive attitude, and trusting your intuition.
How does Saint Anselm College uniquely prepare women to become leaders?
In 1999, on the 25th anniversary of the college’s historic decision to open the liberal arts program to women, I gave the commencement address. That day, I stood as one of 5,000 women who have the privilege of calling themselves Saint Anselm alumnae. We are all blessed in ways we could not have imagined because we chose Saint Anselm. As I said in my commencement address, the liberal arts education at Saint Anselm College challenges women to wrestle with questions that really matter—the difference between good and evil, and the historical, political, and social conflicts that have shaken humanity to its core—all while holding onto their faith. These questions shape students into compassionate and educated leaders.
Mary Ann Polad ’88
Director of Environmental Compliance Health and Safety and Sustainability, Boston Beer Company
What does leadership look like to you?
Leadership is the art of creating a safe and opportunistic workplace for your colleagues and your team. If I had to think about the aspects that are most important to my team, it would be emotional and tactical availability, transparency and openness, a willingness to enable problem-solving, and a recognition that we all learn best through our failures. Good leaders learn how to lead through storytelling and engagement with their teams.
How does Saint Anselm College uniquely prepare women to become leaders?
Saint Anselm makes you feel like the world is your oyster. You feel empowered to do anything while you are there. My professors noticed my individual strengths, and opened doors for me that helped me continue to grow as a human being. They pushed me toward opportunities where I would shine: working on a presidential campaign, running for student government, and taking on a senior thesis project. Saint Anselm taught me the value in taking advantage of the opportunities available to you that allow you to grow.
My professors noticed my individual strengths, and opened doors for me that helped me continue to grow as a human being.
-Mary Ann Polad ’88
Lisa Fossella ’92
Senior Director, Value Chain Strategic Planning & Analytics, New Balance
What does leadership look like to you?
Effective leadership means creating and fostering a positive environment for your team to work in. To achieve this, I encourage open and honest communication, and value having strong relationships with each of my team members, focusing on mentorship and their professional and personal growth. I also believe in collaboration and the power of a collective IQ.
We are at our best when we work together through a challenge; collective solutioning provides a stronger result than any one person could achieve alone. With a strong, positive, and collaborative team, anything is possible.
How does Saint Anselm College uniquely prepare women to become leaders?
As a student athlete on the women’s softball team, Saint Anselm gave me the opportunity to cultivate my passion for athletics. My experience in sports played a significant role in the type of leader, teammate, and person I am today, especially in my work in the athletic industry. The support of the Saint Anselm community during my years on the softball team made it an incredibly positive experience for me. My professors encouraged my teammates and I on the field as well as off, giving us opportunities to balance academics and athletics. I also had the support of some amazing friends who I am still close with to this day, and who are extremely successful fellow female leaders. We still share our love for Saint Anselm even as we have grown into ourselves and our careers over the years.
Susan Connelly ’92
Senior Vice President, Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer, Darden Restaurants, Inc.
What does leadership look like to you?
Leadership is a journey of continuous learning and practice. I have worked for great leaders who have used diverse tactics to help me grow and thrive: candid feedback, mentorship and sponsorship, personal and professional counsel. Great leaders understand there is no one right way to lead diverse team members; we need to meet people where they are and then help them grow and thrive. But that journey looks different for everyone.
How does Saint Anselm College uniquely prepare women to become leaders?
Saint Anselm is a safe place to try new things without fear of failure—at least it was for me. I was encouraged to try new things and see where they took me. As I reflect on my time on the Hilltop and how my life and career have evolved, the leadership opportunities I took advantage of while I was a student— and beyond—gave me the strength and confidence to believe I could do “the next thing.” That is a gift I will spend a lifetime trying to repay.
Amy LeBlanc Hackett ’92
Managing Director, Corporate and Institutional Banking, M&T Bank
What does leadership look like to you?
Leadership looks like a combination of skills and traits in an individual—collab- oration, communication, good judgment, transparency, and integrity. These characteristics give people the building blocks to develop solid relationships with other people, take on leadership roles, and perform well in those roles.
How does Saint Anselm College uniquely prepare women to become leaders?
The Saint Anselm liberal arts education prepares its students to become effective leaders. The importance and value of a liberal arts foundation is universally well known and regarded in the working world. Employers in all industries have a keen focus on making sure liberal arts-educated candidates are included in talent acquisition efforts. You can often tell the difference between those who are leaders because of specific subject matter expertise and those who are leaders because their experiences are built on a wider foundation. The benefit of the latter is that those leaders can plug and play in a lot more places than those who are skilled in only one specific area. Many of the leaders who have emerged from Saint Anselm often majored in a liberal arts field, like classics, philosophy, or history. They used the skill set provided by the liberal arts foundation to succeed in a wide variety of leadership roles.
Michaela Scott ’09
Principal and Founder, 401(k)/403(b) Advisor, The Strategic Retirement Benefits Group
What does leadership look like to you?
Leadership means empowering people to work in their unique ability. It means helping people realize the value they bring and the impact that they can have. Great leaders understand their influence and use it to help their teams feel fulfilled while reaching their full potential. It inspires action rather than demanding it.
How does Saint Anselm College uniquely prepare women to become leaders?
Leaders must have confidence in their abilities. A Saint Anselm education builds graduates’ assuredness that they can think critically and solve problems. There is a distinct charisma in being a lifelong learner. This allows Saint Anselm graduates to present themselves in a way that makes other people want them to lead. And, specific to preparing women to become leaders, the Anselmian community has a culture of curiosity that really helps with practicing emotional intelligence. This ability, critical for leadership, often comes naturally to women and is brought to life at Saint Anselm. It teaches them to be themselves and that they can rise to the occasion, whatever the occasion may be.
Good leaders know failure can be a crucial stepping stone to success if there is an openness to learn from mistakes.
- Katelin McSherry ’20
Katelin McSherry ’20
Financial Advisor, Rise Private Wealth Management ®
What does leadership look like to you?
I believe good leadership begins with a strong sense of self-awareness, which to me means a deep understanding of my thoughts and feelings, strengths and weaknesses, and values and motivations. Good leaders know failure can be a crucial steppingstone to success if there is an openness to learn from mistakes. Perfection and leadership do not belong in the same sentence—being a good leader is committing to a lifelong journey to better yourself and those around you.
How does Saint Anselm College uniquely prepare women to become leaders?
Saint Anselm College is unique when it comes to values. I felt that from the first time I stepped on campus in 2016 to present day—there is an incredible emphasis on community, service, and social responsibility. Because these values are so deeply rooted on campus, I believe our alumni network is by far one of the strongest in existence. In fact, I likely would not be where I am today without other alumni taking the time to be present on campus and provide mentorship, education, and networking opportunities. I believe all these factors aid in empowering women to get out of their comfort zones, take a chance on becoming something greater, and strive to make a positive impact on society. I feel incredibly blessed and proud to be a part of the Saint Anselm College community, and hope I can give at least a small part of all the support I have received back to others for many years to come.