From the moment he arrived at Lasell, Anthony Berry ’23 G’24 focused on maximizing his educational experience in and out of the classroom. The criminal justice major committed himself to achieving the highest grade-point average possible and to participating in every class discussion. He applied the same work ethic to his extracurricular activities, completing internships every summer and serving as vice president of Lasell’s Black Student Association and diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for the Student Government Association. Berry was one of nine seniors to receive a Lasell Bowl in recognition of his contributions to campus life. His reward? Boston-based financial services giant Fidelity Investments hired him as a full-time associate in its legal risk and compliance area. While launching his career, Berry is simultaneously completing the requirements for his master’s in project management at Lasell.

Is it difficult to balance holding a full-time job and taking classes for your master's degree?
At first, working and going to school at the same time was definitely challenging, but I adjusted after a month or two and settled nto a routine. Sometimes I was kind of fatigued from my job and it was difficult to then have class, but I pushed through it.

How have you grown as a person while attending Lasell?
I have learned how to collaborate with and lead people whose personalities and perspectives are different than mine. I gained the confidence to operate successfully in environments that were different than I had experienced before. At Lasell, I have grown from a boy to a young man.

Is what you learned at Lasell applicable to your work at Fidelity?
Yes. For instance, business professor Bruce McKinnon often talked about “GSD”—Get Stuff Done. It has stuck with me. It’s easy to get complacent when you don’t feel like doing something, but the work needs to get done. Every year I set new goals for myself and know that I need to adhere to “GSD” to reach them. Lasell does a great job in preparing students so the transition to corporate America is seamless.

How did Lasell's welcoming environment and student-centric focus help you?
At Lasell, there is a culture of supporting students. There is an understanding from faculty and staff that students are not going to get everything right. There is space for learning and development. You can get help anywhere on campus.

Is it important for you to be a role model and support other young men of color?
Yes! It doesn’t make sense for one person to go through a door and then shut the door behind them. I want to make sure that people can enter whatever environment I am in and know they have the same opportunity to achieve success that I did.