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The Lasell Connection

By Rose Hamilton

When lunchtime approaches, Brianna Doody ’21, a product development specialist at TJX Companies, will occasionally send a group text to colleagues who are Lasell alumni to see whether they want to meet up in the cafeteria.

Doody and Jami Pelosi ’21, a fellow alum and co-worker, came up with the lunch idea because they were seeing so many alumni at work — on the elevator, at the coffee machine, and passing in the hallways. At their lunches, the alums talk about their lives, reminisce about their Lasell days, and help each other professionally by sharing work tips and career advice.

For lunch friend Dylan Alves ’21, who joined TJX as a product development design assistant last year, the cafeteria confabs are a way to learn about a variety of fashion industry skills and build his career. “I’m expanding my library of fashion industry knowledge,” Alves says. “This is making my resume better than it was before.”

“It’s almost like we have our own little Lasell community within TJX,” says Doody. “It’s really nice.”

The TJX lunch group is just one of the many examples that illustrate the vibrancy of the Lasell alumni network. Individuals, drawing on their common experiences, lift each other up so they can advance in their careers. The network spans all industries and includes alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, and friends. Through the network, alums help with job searches, mentor newly hired alumni, and return to campus to share experiences and advice with students.

At TJX, Fashionably Supportive

TJX, headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, is home to one of the largest Lasell alumni groups, with more than 80 people listing the off-price retail giant as their employer on LinkedIn.

It wasn’t always that way. Nikki Desalliers ’10, a senior product manager who was the first TJX supervisor for Brianna Doody ’21, recalls that there were only a handful of Lasell grads at the company when she was hired in 2010. She noticed a shift about five years ago, and now sees a steady stream of alumni joining the company. She attributes the trend to the long-established reputation of Lasell’s School of Fashion and to the fashion design and production program.

The quality of the Lasell grads stands out as well. “Brianna, for example, worked for studio1851, and that helped her understand what product development is,” Desalliers says.

A connection Doody made at studio1851 helped her find her position at TJX. During her junior year, Doody befriended Caleigh Hebert ’19 at the student-run retail store. When Hebert graduated, she went to work at TJX. A year later, she reached out to Doody to let her know about an opening at the company.

Hebert continued to support Doody even after she started the job. When Doody was unsure about a process or was uncomfortable sharing an idea with her team, she would turn to Hebert. “When I wanted to just ask a friend, she was there,” Doody says.

Yoldie Rock ’16, a product development designer, credits Chloe Fimlaid ’16 for helping her find a job at TJX shortly after graduation. “I could have applied for a job through HR, but it is so much better when you have someone to vouch for you,” Rock says.

Whenever Rock encounters an alum at TJX — and there have been many instances in the nearly six years since she was hired — there is always a sense of comfort. She is particularly grateful to some older alums who made her feel welcome. “I knew I had an open line of communication with them,” Rock says. “It’s like they were saying, ‘You’ve got this.’”

Now she finds herself enjoying the role of mentor or “old-timer,” as she jokingly refers to herself. She had the opportunity to recommend an alum for a promotion recently and was honored to be associated with the candidate, who has a stellar work history. “I told them they would be insane not to promote her,” Yoldie remembers. “She is fantastic. I was so proud!”

At Matter Communications: Promoting Lasell Alums

During a job search before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sara Roberts ’14 G ’15 zeroed in on a marketing position at a local company. A LinkedIn search revealed an alum worked there, so she reached out.

Although the alum didn’t know Roberts, he was immediately helpful and “coached me on how to best present myself,” she says. The fellow alum provided helpful feedback from the hiring managers. She learned the job would not be a good fit.

Roberts soon found a position as a marketing strategist at Matter Communications in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Now flourishing in her career, she hasn’t forgotten that a member of the Lasell alumni network supported her job search.

“To me, the best way for me to thank him for helping me would be to pay it forward and assist another alum,” Roberts says of her experience. “Someone stuck their neck out for me and I will do the same for someone else.”

Roberts did just that when Corinne Hennessey ’18 joined Matter Communications as an account executive in late 2021.

As part of the company’s onboarding process, Roberts became Hennessey’s “work buddy.” On her second day at work, Hennessey connected with Roberts, and discovered they were both Lasell alumni. The two became work friends and now socialize together out of the office.

“That common background was instant goodwill,” Hennessey says.

Roberts helped Hennessey find her footing at the agency. It can often take a long time to build trusting work relationships, but Hennessey’s connection to Roberts gave her instant credibility.

At DraftKings: A Sure Bet

Evan Andrews ’20 is a customer experience team lead at DraftKings, a sports betting and fantasy sports company based in Boston where several Lasell alumni work. He joined the company two years ago as a customer service representative and now manages a team of 20 people.

Not long after he was hired, Andrews heard from Joe Ratta ’20 G’21, an acquaintance from Lasell’s student-run Sport Management Association (Andrews was president during his senior year). Ratta wanted to learn more about DraftKings, and Andrews filled him in on the nature of the work and company culture.

Ratta didn’t immediately follow up since he was busy completing his master’s degree in sport management at Lasell, but he bumped into Andrews one morning at Dunkin’. As they reconnected, Andrews encouraged Ratta to apply for a customer service job at DraftKings. Ratta was hired soon after.

These days, Ratta reaches out to Andrews regularly for advice. “I think it’s the connection and knowing him,” Ratta says. “It’s the comfort level. Lasell is like a big family. Having that connection makes it easier to say, ‘I don’t know how to do this, would you help me?’”

Andrews is more than happy to help. He enjoys supporting his classmate and developing his own skills at the same time. “Being able to mentor him and to get the personal feedback helps me grow in how I coach my team,” Andrews says.

At Fidelity: An Investment in Fellow Alumni

When Daniel Comastra ’21 applied for a job at Fidelity Investments, he reached out to Nick Carlino ’19, who has worked at the Boston-based financial services company for three years.

The older alum was “very helpful during the interview process by informing me of what was ahead and how to get through it,” says Comastra, who landed a job as a customer relationship advocate.

Carlino has helped several Lasell alumni navigate Fidelity’s demanding hiring protocol, which, for him, consisted of four interviews and a self-produced video. He enjoys making the process easier for others.

“I try and provide as much information around the interview process and tips they can use to best prepare,” says Carlino. “If there is anything I can do to help someone or to pave the road, I am first to put out a hand.”

The two alums continue to talk about “career paths and workplace situations,” says Comastra.

Carlino, who has helped two other Lasell alumni find jobs at Fidelity, happily relays insights into his career path.

“There are so many different avenues here,” Carlino says of Fidelity. “Being able to explain what I’ve done and sharing the info I have has helped other alumni narrow the path of what they want to do at Fidelity.”

At Red Sox: Helping Teammates

Evan Roy '19 at Fenway Park

Evan Roy ’19 (left), a ticket service associate with the Red Sox, understands the power of the Lasell alumni network.

A Lasell alum who was in charge of ballpark security operations hired Roy in 2017 while he was still a student. The same alum provided Roy with a good reference when he applied for his current position.

Roy is frequently contacted by Lasell alumni and students on LinkedIn. “I am always willing to help a Laser,” Roy says. “I can’t speak highly enough of Lasell, and I am proud to be an alum.”

He’s happy to share the basics of job searches and frequently connects with alumni via Zoom. Roy understands that “getting a career going isn’t easy.”

“I want to be a resource for others,” he explains. “People did it for me and I believe in karma.”

Many alumni prefer working from their Lasell home

More than two dozen Lasell alumni work on campus in a wide variety of capacities.

“We encourage and welcome alums to apply,” says Julie Groom G’15, Lasell’s assistant vice president of human resources since January. She earned a master’s degree in human resources management at Lasell and set a goal to one day work at the University because of her respect for its faculty and staff.

For hiring managers, the alumni appeal is straightforward: Lasell graduates are career-ready after fulfilling rigorous academic requirements and completing at least one internship.

“Lasell does such a great job of preparing people,” Groom explains. “We want to get them before someone else does.”

Alanis Perez Rivera ’21 G’22 moved directly from a job as a student worker at the Nancy Lawson Donahue ’49 Institute for Equity and Social Justice to a full-time position as coordinator of intercultural engagement and commuter life.

“Now I’m collaborating with the people who used to teach me and that can be scary,” she says with a laugh, explaining that she occasionally experiences “impostor syndrome.”

Margaret Brochu ’20 took a similar career route. As a student, she worked as a graphic designer in the Office of Marketing and Communications and accepted a full-time position before she had even graduated.

Brochu and Perez Rivera recently worked together to enhance the Donahue Institute’s website. They also talk to each other about working at their alma mater.

“It is a different level of understanding,” says Brochu. “There’s a comfort to it.”

Alumni Career Resources

Are you looking for a job, contemplating a career change, or re-entering the workforce? The Center for Career Readiness and Internship Programs at Lasell is available to help — at no charge.

“Whether two weeks or 20 years after graduation, alumni are entitled to our full range of services and resources,” says Donnell Turner, the center’s director.

HANDSHAKE: Access thousands of job listings and related resources, including a blog. Alumni can access Handshake using their Lasell email at lasell.joinhandshake.com/login.

WEBINARS: Check out the center's YouTube channel, which has a library of career-focused webinars.

LINKEDIN: Find other alumni on the Lasell University LinkedIn page, which has more than 13,000 followers.

CAREER COACHING: Take advantage of the center's one-on-one coaching. Contact Turner at dturner@lasell.edu to set up an appointment.

The Lasell Connection

The Lasell Connection

“It’s almost like we have our own little Lasell community within TJX,” says Doody. “It’s really nice.”

At TJX, Fashionably Supportive

"It is so much better [to apply for a job] when you have someone to vouch for you."

At Matter Communications: Promoting Lasell Alums

"Someone stuck their neck out for me, and I will do that for someone else."

At DraftKings: A Sure Bet

"Lasell is like having a big family. Having that [professional] connection makes it easier to say, 'I don't know how to do this, would you help me?'"

At Fidelity: An Investment in Fellow Alumni

At Red Sox: Helping Teammates

Many alumni prefer working from their Lasell home

Alumni Career Resources