Fortune 500 Company Executives Share Insights on Education, Career Growth and Resilience

On February 11, the Mercy University School of Business, in collaboration with the Lauder Institute Alumni Association (LIAA), hosted a special fireside chat panel at Mercy’s Westchester Campus to celebrate Black History Month. This year’s theme, "African Americans and Labor," focused on the pivotal role work has played in the Black American experience, highlighting the accomplishments and milestones of Black professionals in the workforce. The panel featured three Lauder Institute alumni, all current or former executives at Fortune 500 companies, who shared their personal journeys and reflected on the significant moments that shaped their careers.

The event, attended by students, faculty and staff, opened with a discussion on the value of education.

“Our forefathers overcame great challenges and just like they did, we will overcome ours by preparing the next generation to lead with compassion, generosity and resolve,” said Victor Petenkemani, dean of Mercy’s School of Business and a Lauder Institute alumnus, who moderated the panel. “We want to provide you a solid educational foundation that best prepares you to succeed in a highly competitive world. This is one of the reasons why we are here today; to hear the life stories of three phenomenal leaders who overcame challenges, are successful in their endeavors and are fully committed to giving back.”

Panelists were asked to reflect on their college mindset and how those experiences influenced their career paths.

Anthea Kelsick, founder and principal of Nova Impact, shared insights into her upbringing and the lessons she learned from her parents, who emphasized the importance of education as the key to unlocking future opportunities. Driven by a "go, go, go" mentality, Kelsick initially pursued a pre-med track, aiming to follow in the footsteps of many of her relatives. However, a simple course change led her to a new path in social sciences.

It was in this moment that Kelsick learned to be open to new opportunities, something she stressed to students in attendance. "Education was the key," Kelsick reflected, "but for me, it’s really about curiosity—unlocking new ways of thinking and learning. That’s what led me down a very non-linear path to where I am today."

Curiosity, openness, and a willingness to pivot emerged as recurring themes throughout the discussion, with panelists Lindsey Laveaux and Duane Hughes sharing similar experiences from their own educational journeys.

Laveaux, a senior trial attorney with New York County Defender Services, shared how her parents instilled in her the belief that education is also a form of freedom. Like Kelsick, Laveaux found that pre-med was not her calling.

“I went ahead and I pursued other courses, but I had no plan for what I was going to do after graduation,” Laveaux recalled. “But what I did know at that time, and I still am, was that I was curious about the world.” Calling it a "leap of faith," Laveaux encouraged students to trust their intuition and embrace uncertainty.

“My mindset at first, when I was in college, was to work, listen to my parents, and do what was expected of me. But at some point, it just intuitively didn’t feel right. I’m so happy that I listened to that, and that was also a moment of growth,” Laveaux explained. “My mindset shifted to being open and accepting of uncertainty. That really helped the remainder of my time in college and the decisions I made thereafter. That was a really good primer for all that came afterwards.”

Hughes, chair of the UBS Americas Advisory Council, spoke about how his parents laid the foundation for his educational journey, teaching him that continuing education was key to unlocking freedom. Hughes holds a JD, MBA, and MA from the University of Pennsylvania, along with a summa cum laude BA from Howard University. Reflecting on his own path, Hughes shared advice that resonates with today’s college students.

“While I wouldn’t necessarily do anything differently,” Hughes said, “I would have put more emphasis on the value of high-end work experience and how that adds to your profile.”

Although Hughes had the opportunity to work on Wall Street right after earning his undergraduate degree, he chose to go directly to graduate school at Wharton. Though he doesn’t regret that decision, he admitted that lacking work experience at the time placed him at a disadvantage.

“I ended up going to law school, so it worked out for me,” Hughes explained. “But being one of the few students without that work experience was somewhat of a structural disadvantage. Knowing what I know now, I would have given more weight to gaining excellent work experience for two years before returning to grad school.”

Laveaux, who holds a JD from University of Pennsylvania Law School and MA in International Studies from the Lauder Institute at Wharton, also shared insights into the skills needed to succeed in the workforce after law school. “I’ve had to learn the balance between soft skills and hard skills,” she said, explaining that soft skills—such as building community, interacting with colleagues, and developing relationships—are often underemphasized. “I think, at least for me culturally, there wasn’t much emphasis on that.”

Her advice? Recognize the importance of networking and staying connected—not only with colleagues but also with past classmates.

Kelsick, who holds an MBA and MA in International Studies from Wharton and the University of Pennsylvania,​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ acknowledged the many struggles she and her co-panelists have faced, noting that the journey has been filled with challenges. “The struggles have been many,” she said. “For every single person up here, we could spend hours just talking through the struggles. And they’ve been financial, they’ve been professional, they’ve been academic.”

However, Kelsick emphasized the value of recognizing these struggles as part of the growth process. “The wisdom of the struggle is recognizing it,” she said. “And that’s part of the journey—turning failure into success. The second part is asking for help.”

Kelsick recalled a moment during her Organic Chemistry course when she struggled but waited too long to ask for support. “I waited way too long to tell somebody that I was in trouble. In retrospect, I would have recognized that earlier on,” she shared. “Acceptance of being in the struggle is part of the journey, and seeking help when you need it is key.”

The event provided a valuable opportunity for students to hear firsthand from accomplished professionals about the importance of education, perseverance and adaptability in navigating career paths.