Tag: arts career community

Name: Dan McLaughlin

Class Year: 1993

Title: Senior Writer

Organization Name: National Review

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

I write arguments, analyses, and commentary on matters of politics, law, history, and culture for the nation’s flagship conservative publication.

2. What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross? How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you? 

I went straight to law school after doing a semester in DC, meeting Clarence Thomas ’71, and seeing how many lawyers were in politics. I ended up staying in legal practice for 23 years, partly because of law school debts and starting a family, and partly because the work was interesting. I started writing on the internet in 2000, doing a weekly baseball column for a website run by Bill Simmons ’92, who had been the Crusader’s chief sports columnist. After my law office in the World Trade Center was destroyed on 9/11, I got back into political writing. Eventually, I wound up bringing my writing to National Review in 2016, and left the law to take a full-time position as a writer in 2020.

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

I was a weekly op-ed columnist for the Crusader (now the Spire), writing largely about politics. I also did work-study in Kimball, intramural softball, and competed against other schools in debate and quiz bowl.

4. What was your major and how did it affect your career decisions?

History. It was good preparation for law school, and I’ve returned to a lot of historical writing in my work. I’ve written a good deal about Woodrow Wilson, whose intervention in the Russian Revolution was the subject of my senior thesis.

5. What are one or two skills that you developed at Holy Cross that you use in your work?

The discipline of a weekly column with a deadline, no assigned topic, and really nobody I answered to but myself if I didn’t write something on time was great preparation for what I do now. So was taking Constitutional Law and learning to read judicial opinions and think about how the Constitution works. 

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

One, get to know a lot of people on campus. You’ll discover at your reunions how many cool and interesting people you wish you’d gotten to know better. And you never know where people will go: it was mutual friends putting me in touch with Bill Simmons that launched my writing career. I also met my wife at HC. Two, don’t be afraid to stand for something even if it’s out of fashion. People didn’t always agree with my columns in the Crusader, and they don’t always agree with them now, but I’ve always had an audience that appreciated where I stood and how I defended my positions.

Name: Meah Austin

Class Year: 2022

Title: Growth Manager

Organization Name: XOMAD

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

 As a Growth Manager in the Strategic Partnerships division of XOMAD, I support building and sustaining our partners in the public and private sectors by promoting how our technology infrastructure and differentiated approach to influencer marketing can be a valuable resource to their communications strategies. 

2. What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross? How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you? 

It all really happened by chance! I was in the running for a Fullbright ETA in South Africa (a program that was unfortunately canceled). While I was anxiously waiting to hear back about the Fulbright, both a Holy Cross dean and alumni reached out to me about another alumni (Rob Perry, CEO) looking to recruit talent from his alma mater (Holy Cross). I had my first interview with Rob and other XOMAD members and immediately felt the synergy! They expressed a certain level of passion and zeal that I instantly connected with. I also realized that joining the XOMAD team presented a huge opportunity for professional growth and development — even though, at the time, I didn’t really see myself in the business world. In retrospect, I also chose XOMAD simply because I felt like I could be myself, which is super important when deciding on any job, but I think especially your first job! 

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus? 

While on campus, I was a member and captain of the Varsity Women’s Track & Field team, mentor of the Odyssey Program, e-board leader of the Black Student Union, co-founder and co-chair of WOCA (Women of Color Athletes), head mentor of the Academic Services Peer Mentor Program, and work-study student for the Audio-Visual Department. Academically, I was a student-researcher for the Psychology/Africana Studies Department and Weiss Summer Research Program. I also participated in various internships and ad-hoc committees. 

4. What was your major and how did it affect your career decisions? 

I double majored in Psychology and Africana Studies. While I am early in my career, I think (so far) these majors have sparked my interest to be in a workplace that is inherently team-orientated and driven to promote social good. For example, XOMAD is currently working to partner with organizations and NGOs to combat the Opioid epidemic through personalized messaging to the most vulnerable communities. This effort is company-wide — all hands on deck! As a Psychology and Africana Studies major, I have grown to recognize the importance of working together towards a common good, and I think my career choice to work at a company like XOMAD perfectly depicts such. 

5. What are one or two skills that you developed at Holy Cross that you use in your work? 

Yikes! Only sharing one or two skills is hard (there are so many I can think of). Off the top of my head, I’d say during my time at Holy Cross, I learned how to be self-sufficient and exemplify grit. At my job, there are often times when I need to develop and communicate strategic directions, plans, and insights with minimal direction. In all my involvement at Holy Cross, I was able to utilize resources (whether it be Writer’s Workshop, office hours, or student/alumni mentors) that eventually allowed me to develop autonomy and an ‘I can do this’ mentality. In my current job, I have the confidence to feel like I can complete any task, even if it might seem daunting. And that the next time a similar task is presented, I can take my learnings from the first time, produce even better results, and support other team members as well. 

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

Advice I would give current students is to be open to where their liberal arts education and Holy Cross connections can/will take them! It’s very easy to expect or plan for certain things — but in reality, there’s beauty in the unknown. Do everything on your end (study hard, build relationships, be a part of a team/club, think critically and creatively) and let things fall into place… you’ll be right where you need to be. 

Name: Rose Weiss

Class Year: 2018

Title: Production Assistant

Organization Name: Fever Up

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

My job entails ensuring productions–anything from immersive theatrical productions to candlelit string quartet concerts–run smoothly.

2. What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross? How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you?

The Crusader Internship Fund allowed me the opportunity to pursue an internship at Al Roker Entertainment, a multimedia production company based in New York City, during the summer before my Junior year. This experience was invaluable not only because I gained production and creative development experience, but also because I met some of my most important
mentors who I collaborate with to this day. Eventually, this internship led me to my first full-time job after graduation working in creative development at a production company in New York City. I learned that I thrive in an environment where I can solve problems creatively, and ultimately, that I want to produce innovative new work in a variety of mediums (theater, film, live streaming
services, etc.). Through it all, I have been fortunate to have the support of the Career Development Center; I had countless meetings, during college and following graduation, that helped me discern my interests and larger goals, then map out the practical steps to get there.

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

I was on the Alternate College Theatre E-board and hosted a weekly radio show on WCHC 88.1. Additionally, I acted in the Theatre Department’s productions of Cloud 9 (Edward/Betty), Picnic (Flo), Hamlet (Ophelia), Middletown (Mary), The Royal Family (Julie), and The Skin of Our Teeth
(Gladys).

4. What was your major and how did it affect your career decisions?

I was a Theatre major which, in tandem with my work in production, has led me to pursue my MFA in Devised Performance at the University of the Arts/ Pig Iron School in Philadelphia, PA. I have one year left of the two and a half year program which centers on both devising original theatrical work, and Lecoq pedagogy. As a Theatre major at Holy Cross, I was exposed to all aspects of theatrical performance, design, and technical production, which has directly
correlated to my career path.

5. What are one or two skills that you developed at Holy Cross that you use in your work?

At Holy Cross, my curiosity was ever-encouraged, which has bolstered my exploration of a variety of professional endeavors. While I ultimately am pursuing a career in the arts, I worked on an IT team for a multimedia architectural consultancy for two years in Boston, MA and Washington, DC. I was able to meet this role in large because the Holy Cross educational
experience is so versatile.

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

I would say, first, do not be afraid to explore anything and everything you are interested in. Second, approach your professional work with kindness. So many people in the Holy Cross community and beyond have helped me navigate the professional world; I am looking forward to getting to a point in my career where I can become a mentor to others and hopefully pay it
forward.

Name: Lilse Rodgers McKenna

Class Year: 2011

Title: Founder

Organization Name: Lilse McKenna Inc

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

As the founder of a residential interior design firm my job entails everything from reviewing architectural drawings and overseeing contractors, to drawing furniture plans, designing furniture and scheming rooms, to managing the orders, timelines, and installations for a project. 

2. What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross? How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you?  

During my senior year at Holy Cross I had big plans to go to law school.  At the time I thought that it would be the most logical and practical fit for me, and I took the LSAT class offered at Holy Cross to prepare for the exam.  We were encouraged to take study breaks in between practice tests, and I found myself filling that time with interior design magazines like House Beautiful, Veranda, and Architectural Digest, and countless design blogs.  

After taking the LSAT and starting to pull together my applications for law school I realized my heart wasn’t in it.  Since long before the LSAT I’d enjoyed reading about and discussing interior design with my grandmother, and she and my mother both believed I had shown some innate talent in decorating. My Mom had often suggested I pursue it as a career, but I had the impression that most successful designers had degrees in interior design or a lifestyle that enabled them to open a firm “for fun.” 

After graduation I applied for jobs in advertising and marketing, but nothing really felt like the right fit.  In a moment of frustration with the job search process I googled the phone number for the office of my favorite interior designer at the time and asked if they needed an intern.  They asked how soon I could start.  

Within the first week of the internship, I knew I’d found the right career fit for me in interior design.  Suddenly all of the knowledge I’d accumulated about interior design throughout my life, which I’d long thought was useless and just a hobby, had real value.  I also started to see the opportunity to put another interest of mine, business and entrepreneurship, to use.  I come from a family of entrepreneurs, and just as my knowledge of interior design had been somewhat subliminal, so too was my understanding of work and business through the lens of an entrepreneur.   Having an understanding of how entrepreneurs think and operate gave me a leg up as an intern, and later an employee, of small business owners.  I soon found out that neither a degree in design nor a large trust fund were necessary to start a successful interior design business. 

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

I volunteered at Dismas House, was a club chair for the Comunications, Advertising & Marketing Club, and interned for the Public Affairs office.  

4. What was your major and how did it affect your career decisions?

I was an English major and I think my creative writing classes gave me some insight into how much I enjoyed creative work.  The time I spent working on the assignments for those classes flew by, even when the assignments were difficult.   

5. What are one or two skills that you developed at Holy Cross that you use in your work?

While I was at Holy Cross I learned to be very disciplined about my time because I found that the school work load would sneak up on me if I wasn’t consistently setting aside time at the library.  In my industry it is very easy to be distracted by the creative part of the job and put the paperwork on the backburner.  Unfortunately that is probably the quickest way to go out of business, so in life as in school I try to set aside specific time dedicated to the paperwork.

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

Trust your instincts when it comes to your future.  Don’t force a career choice, or any choice for that matter, solely because it appears to be the most pragmatic.  If it doesn’t feel right it isn’t, and you should take the time to find what is right for you.  Also, pay attention to what interests you, even the things you think of as silly hobbies or the curiosities you take for granted.  Today more than ever there is value in being an expert in a specialized field, so why not take advantage of that?

Name: Efrain Lozano

Class Year: 2019

Title: Production Assistant

Organization Name: NFL Network

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

As a production assistant at the NFL Network’s Original Content department, my job is to compile footage and media for all projects from the very beginning of the script. Once footage is compiled, it is shared with producers and editors who put everything together to create the final version of the project, which is what ends up going on air on the NFL Network channel or through our various social media channels.

2. What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross?

I had the opportunity to take a class called filmmaking in Spanish with Professor Bridget Franco, this inspired me to get interested in storytelling. From there, I became an intern, through the Academic Internship Program, in the athletic department with the marketing and live production team. Thanks to this and to a Holy Cross alum, I was able to land an internship with the NFL’s Original Content department here in Los Angeles.

3. How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you? 

Through the internship with the NFL, I noticed that they treated me as part of the team and not just any other worker on the network. I was given responsibilities and the trust to run projects that helped with my experience. I was brought back as a seasonal production assistant to the same department, and from there I just felt this is what I wanted to do for a very long time.

4. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

I was one of the founders of HCF1RST Scholars. I was also part of LASO, SGA, and the athletic department marketing and live broadcast team.

5. What was your major and how did it affect your career decisions?

I was a Spanish major. Besides the filmmaking class, my major had nothing to do with the Media or Production industry. However, attending a liberal arts institution definitely helped my case.

6. What are one or two skills that you developed at Holy Cross that you use in your work?

Effective Communication Skills: Attending a school with small classes, you constantly need to be communicating and sharing with professors and your peers. This is CRUCIAL at the NFL, we’re in constant communication with each other at all levels, so you need to communicate well and effectively.

Organizational Skills: With my specific role, I need to keep track of tons of footage and sometimes we even need to find footage from back when the league started in 1920. In order to use our time wisely with our editors, we need to keep everything as organized as possible for the projects to run smoothly.

7. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

Even if there’s no specific major for what you want to do in the future, take advantage of attending a liberal arts institution and find things that interest you, don’t just focus on a specific major but on something you really enjoy.

Also, take advantage of your alumni network!! Thanks to a Holy Cross alumni I was able to land my internship at the NFL, and now I am here full-time. So network and build connections with the HC community.

Name: Midori Marsh