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Jim Scully ’87 returned to his alma mater to deliver a lunchtime lecture on the importance of a liberal arts education. This lecture struck a chord with Patrick Madden ’16.
“He had majored in English while at Siena, yet he went on to become the Chief Operating Officer at J.Crew and now serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Avon. One of the biggest things he talked about was how a degree from Siena doesn't define who you are because you can really do just about anything with it. He's a perfect example of that too! An English major with no formal business background becoming the COO of J.Crew? I thought that was pretty amazing!”
Several weeks later, Madden took Scully’s advice with him as he went for an internship interview at J.Crew in New York City.
During his three months with J.Crew, Madden worked closely with the new store opening team to coordinate the launch of new locations. He was responsible for making sure new stores received pieces of computer equipment, following it as closely as to making sure the technology was tested before opening day. He also spent time in the quality assurance lab, ensuring new software updates were clear of bugs before sending them to hundreds of stores. He even had a hand in the retail side of the company, spending a few hours each week at a J.Crew retail store.
“Siena alumni have always been great at opening doors, whether it be for current students to gain internships, or for recent grads to land an amazing job. I think a lot of it ties back to the close-knit community at Siena that stays with people long after they graduate. Siena's an amazing place and I think Siena alumni really enjoy being able to give back in this kind of way. Plus, Siena grads know better than anyone else how capable Siena students are at problem solving, which is something that is tremendously valued in the business world today.”
Madden will continue with the company after graduation, serving as Point of Sale Analyst in New York City.
Congratulations to Patrick Madden and the Siena College Class of 2016! Live photos and video of the Commencement ceremony are available on commencementfeed.siena.edu. Share your best photos, congratulations, and best wishes on social media by tagging them #Siena2016.
