Video Introduction
Major: Marketing and Sport Management
Job Title: Assistant Director, Volunteer Program and Event Logistics at The Jimmy Fund
Company: The Jimmy Fund
Company Description: The Jimmy Fund is a Boston-based nonprofit. Comprised of community-based fundraising events and programs, the Jimmy Fund solely and directly benefits Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s lifesaving mission to provide compassionate patient care and groundbreaking cancer research for children and adults.
Did you have any initial career goals when you entered Isenberg? Were there any key moments or influences (a guest speaker, course, or extracurricular) during your time at Isenberg that changed or confirmed your career goals?
Entering Isenberg as a freshman, I knew I wanted to work in business and I was open to the many possibilities of what that could mean. My internship with the UMass Athletics Department opened my eyes to the wide range of career paths available in the sports industry. That internship nudged me in the direction of majoring in Sport Management, and the opportunities kept coming!
Can you share a favorite work assignment that could help a student understand more about what you do?
The Jimmy Fund team is currently preparing for the Jimmy Fund Walk, taking place on Sunday, October 6. The Walk course runs along the historic Boston Marathon route and requires 800+ volunteers, spread across 8 towns, to operate smoothly. A main objective of my role is to recruit, train and steward all 800+ volunteers. This work is a mix of sales, customer service, coaching and event planning. What I’m looking forward to next is hosting training sessions with our 52 volunteer leads, so they have the tools to manage their volunteer groups independently on Walk day.
Now that you’re in this position, what aspects have surprised you that you didn’t anticipate before starting?
Since starting at the Jimmy Fund, I’m amazed by how many job functions are available in non-profit work. Our Division of Philanthropy has 300 employees — from HR and finance, to marketing and frontline fundraising. It’s been amazing to meet colleagues with such diverse work experiences coming together under a common goal. For me, it’s emphasized that most job functions are needed across industries; finding a mission you care about will make your career most fulfilling.
What inspires you about the work you are doing in your industry?
I often say that participating in a Jimmy Fund event is something you can do when you feel like there is nothing you can do. We hear from our participants that receiving a cancer diagnosis — your own, or for a loved one – is an overwhelming, isolating and paralyzing feeling. For many, participating in a Jimmy Fund event is a positive and productive outlet. We all can’t conduct research or perform patient care, but running, walking, golfing, volunteering (the list goes on!) with the Jimmy Fund is an outlet to move the mission of defying cancer forward. I’m inspired to give people that outlet.
What are some daily challenges you experience in your role?
At a nonprofit dedicated to cancer care and research, my team and I often hear deeply personal stories from patients and their loved ones. While we’re moved and inspired by the openness of our donors and event participants, these stories can also hit close to home. My connection to our mission drives my commitment but can also make the emotional impact of the work quite significant.
Is there anything you wish you had done differently while a student at Isenberg?
I wish I had explored as many extracurriculars, majors, minors, classes, sports, etc. as possible just for the sole purpose of learning what I liked and didn’t like, even as an upperclassman. Pivoting in life is a skill and many people don’t do it because they’re afraid of making the wrong decision. Gathering data about what you love (and hate) gives you confidence to make pivots and take risks. Isenberg is ripe with opportunities to learn about yourself and I wish I took advantage of every single one.
Networking is extremely important but can be intimidating to undergraduates. What tips do you have for getting started engaging with alum or upperclassmen?
Practice! Get in as many reps as you can introducing yourself, not just to alum or upperclassmen, but to professors, fellow classmates, colleagues at your part-time job, etc. Attend career fairs even if only for the purpose of practicing engaging with peers and professionals. The more you do this when the stakes feel low, the more comfortable you’ll be when the stakes feel high.
