Manning School of Business grad Katie Sanchez 鈥�20 plans to become a chartered financial analyst. Sanchez took a big step toward that goal when she was accepted into Boston Scientific鈥檚 financial leadership development program, a two-year rotation that will immerse her in a variety of roles within the medical device company鈥檚 finance division.
Sanchez, a native of Lawrence, Mass., will spend her first year of the program in corporate accounting. She hopes to rotate to financial planning analysis in year two.聽
鈥淚 wanted to find something that would give me hands-on experience with everything as I rotate within the same job,鈥� says Sanchez, whose start date was delayed three months due to the coronavirus pandemic. 鈥淚 am so grateful and blessed that I still have a job with an amazing company.鈥澛犅�
Sanchez learned about the opportunity from fellow UML grad (and Joy Tong Women in Business member) Sarah Wesinger 鈥�20. Wesinger joined Boston Scientific in January as an internal audit intern after graduating in December with her degree in business administration.
A business administration major with concentrations in finance and marketing, Sanchez transferred to UML from Northern Essex Community College. She made the most of her two years as a River Hawk, participating in an intensive two-week seminar hosted by the Chicago Quantitative Alliance and joining the International Business Society, and .
Sanchez liked learning about the career trajectories of alumni who spoke to the student organizations, especially to the Women in Business group.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 see a lot of women as top executives in finance,鈥� Sanchez says. 鈥淗earing from them really empowered us a lot. Seeing women that we aspired to be like gave us the insight that we need to continue pushing and applying to these roles.鈥�
Sanchez is one of six people in her rotation in the financial leadership development program. Unsure whether she鈥檇 be working remotely or from Boston Scientific鈥檚 office in Marlborough, Mass., Sanchez did as much virtual training as she could over the summer. She also learned some basic computer coding.
鈥淭he way we鈥檙e heading with technology, it鈥檚 essential for me to know,鈥� says Sanchez, who sees herself as a 鈥渟ponge鈥� trying to absorb information in whatever she does.
鈥淢y mom has a saying: 鈥業f someone hires you to make photocopies, you have to be the best photocopier they鈥檝e ever had.鈥� I take that idea into everything I do,鈥� Sanchez says.聽聽
With so much uncertainty in the job market during the pandemic, she says that鈥檚 especially important.
鈥淵ou have to be tough and ready for change,鈥� Sanchez says. 鈥淵ou have to know how to navigate.鈥�