The Lasell Connection

By Rose Hamilton

When lunchtime approaches, Brianna Doody ’21, a product development specialist at TJX Companies, will occasionally send a group text to colleagues who are Lasell alumni to see whether they want to meet up in the cafeteria.

Doody and Jami Pelosi ’21, a fellow alum and co-worker, came up with the lunch idea because they were seeing so many alumni at work — on the elevator, at the coffee machine, and passing in the hallways. At their lunches, the alums talk about their lives, reminisce about their Lasell days, and help each other professionally by sharing work tips and career advice.

For lunch friend Dylan Alves ’21, who joined TJX as a product development design assistant last year, the cafeteria confabs are a way to learn about a variety of fashion industry skills and build his career. “I’m expanding my library of fashion industry knowledge,” Alves says. “This is making my resume better than it was before.”

“It’s almost like we have our own little Lasell community within TJX,”  says Doody. “It’s really nice.”

The TJX lunch group is just one of the many examples that illustrate the vibrancy of the Lasell alumni network. Individuals, drawing on their common experiences, lift each other up so they can advance in their careers. The network spans all industries and includes alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, and friends. Through the network, alums help with job searches, mentor newly hired alumni, and return to campus to share experiences and advice with students.