Lunch with a Leader

Free Your Mind

Andrea Lisher '96, managing director and head of Americas of J.P. Morgan Asset Management, mused that she is an example of a college student who knew what her life would look like and then ended up not as she imagined. She advised students to save the stress of planning their lives because they don't know what opportunities will arise. She shared that while in college, her master plan was to get a job post-graduation, get married at 24, have a baby by 26, and then stop working. She also said that the job she desired was in advertising. However, after interning for two summers in the field, she realized that wasn't the career for her.

In the fall of senior year, she attended a career fair and spoke to a representative from J.P. Morgan, and by Thanksgiving, she received an offer in their investment banking unit. Investment banking was not an area that excited her, but she enjoyed the buy side of asset management and has spent most of her career in that area. Except for a two-year break when she headed to San Francisco to work at a start-up, Lisher has spent her career at J.P. Morgan, moving up the ranks.

Students were impressed by Lisher's seemingly meteoric rise at J.P. Morgan and asked for advice on how to set themselves apart and gain employers' trust to give them responsibilities early in their careers. Lisher said they must have a good work ethic, be a team player, and take the initiative. She also noted that intellectual curiosity is important and something that Boston College fosters. She encouraged the students to take advantage of studying abroad and take classes outside their major that may pique their interests. Lisher suggested they take a psychology class. She said that everything in business is about human behavior, and this understanding will help not only at work but with family, spouses, kids, and every aspect of one's life.

Lisher's parting words to the students were, "You don't know everything; you still have more to learn and experience. Free your mind from the stress of not knowing; you will figure it out."

Winston Center Staff