Katherine Twombly ‘30
News Editor
The 21st annual Women in Business Conference was held this past Sunday, Nov. 1. There were well over 200 attendees, including Holy Cross alumni, current students, and faculty. The conference aims to provide guidance to current students about how to succeed post-graduation in a variety of fields, including business, law, and finance. Similar to last year, there were various opportunities for attendees to network and get to know others at the conference, as well as breakout sessions and a Keynote Interview. This year’s Keynote Speaker was Susan Jurevics, Class of 1989, who was interviewed by her former classmate Marybeth Reilly-McGreen ‘89. The ongoing connection between these two women was a testament to the opportunities offered at Holy Cross for both current students and alumni.
Susan Jurevics currently has an executive residence at Pix Media and was formerly the Chief Brand and International Officer at Audible, as well as holding various positions in companies such as Viacom, Mattel, Sony, and Pottermore. She began her undergraduate education as a visual arts major at Holy Cross and eventually received her master’s from New York University. When asked what skills she learned from art and art history classes that transferred to her business roles, she stated, “Being able to articulate a position with confidence and gravitas.” Jurevics’ emphasis on the fact that no matter what someone majors in, they will learn valuable skills from a liberal arts education spoke to the message of the conference as a whole.
The idea of the importance of continuing relationships was also addressed by Jurevics directly when discussing how she came to be involved in the company Pottermore. She achieved this by maintaining her connection with J.K. Rowling after stewarding her relationship with Sony: “Part of the work is maintaining those relationships… every successive job had been through somebody I knew.” This statement gave the audience a renewed understanding of the importance of attending the conference and the possibilities that could come from those they met that day.
Jurevics concluded her address with a reassuring message to the young audience that if they “do beyond the best of [their] ability for everything [they] can do,” something will work out for them. However, she also mentioned something that is commonly on the minds of students who are looking to narrow their career options and stated that “these choices are not reversible.” The freedom to pursue an opportunity and awareness that it can still teach valuable lessons even if it doesn’t directly lead to a long-term career is an important message to those just starting.
Beyond the keynote, the workshops also focused on a variety of different areas of interest for students interested in business. These workshops included Beyond Business: From Stage to School to Service, Negotiation Skills and Career Confidence, Consulting: Cracking the Case on Success, Real Talk: Life After Graduation, and Women in Real Estate and Architecture. What was particularly notable about these different workshops was the options they represented, while including women of various ages and stages in their careers. These workshops offered both the valuable perspective of someone more experienced, giving the audience a wider understanding of the career path as a whole, and key advice for students just starting in the field.
This annual opportunity is a unique part of the Holy Cross program and is able to communicate the importance of continued connections and open-mindedness in one’s interest in the business world after graduation.
Copy edited by Claire Flynn ‘29 11/3/26
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