Michele Velasco (’91) is the Vice President for Finance of Sirius XM radio. She encouraged students to work hard and realize that, sometimes, they must start at the bottom in order to make it to the top. “I started as an intern and worked my way up from the very bottom. Over the years, I assumed more and more responsibilities because I was willing to take them on. You have the skills you need: don’t be afraid to take it on, and move forward.” Through networking, she made the transition to consulting, which moved her resume to a Fortune 500 company. She advised students to “get in there and talk to people”, when these opportunities arise.

Velasco realized the importance of her Christendom education in her job as manager of a computer network: “I didn’t think I could go into finance. I had a lot of confidence in my writing, and I expected to make a career out of it. But when I applied for a consulting position, they asked for a writing sample. They couldn’t find any errors, so they decided to hire me.” She also advised students to ask questions and develop their own opinions and positions, closing by stating, “Direct your passion into your work, don’t simply go through the motions. If you do this, results will follow.”