Erin Deadmon           

Boston College, Carroll School of Management

“Confident gay woman who sets lofty goals and always pushes to achieve them.”

Hometown: Mocksville, NC

Fun fact about yourself: I’m a competitive powerlifter.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Boston University; BA (Biology)

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? DrugDev, an IQVIA Company; Senior Project Specialist

Where did you intern during the summer of 2020? Fidelity Investments, Boston, MA

Where will you be working after graduation? Fidelity Investments, Project Manager, Financial Leadership Program

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:  

Volunteer: Red Cross Food Pantry, Boston, MA

Leadership Roles: President, Stand Out at Carroll; VP of Alumni Relations, Graduate Management Association

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Academically, I am most proud of a semester-long group project that culminated in a final investment thesis. The project required substantial individual research in which I learned about different investment strategies. Our group members spent hours on Zoom calls finalizing a presentation we gave to multiple endowment managers. Despite being unable to meet in person, our group worked together to complete a 25-page investment thesis and an entertaining 20-minute presentation.

Outside of the classroom, I’m most proud of my leadership in Stand Out at Carroll, the first LGBTQ+ affinity group within the graduate programs at Carroll. In one year, we tripled the number of students participating in the group. This increase in participation showed me we were meeting a need that had already been there. The presence of Stand Out at Carroll allows for more students to feel welcome in the Boston College community, and it helps the University move in a more progressive and accepting direction.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I authored my first peer-reviewed scientific research paper when I worked in clinical research at Massachusetts General Hospital. First, I identified a potential area of interest for research using one of the many databases we managed. Then I cleaned the data, ran statistics, and interpreted those results before finally writing a paper that expressed those results in an interesting and important way for the clinicians in that particular field. This process tested my problem-solving capabilities and allowed me to interface with a team of clinicians who are at the top of their fields. I learned how to accept critical feedback and use that to revise and improve my writing. It was a great learning opportunity, and it ultimately felt fulfilling to see my work printed in a research journal.

Why did you choose this business school? When applying to business school, I was already thinking of what I wanted to do post-graduation. My goal in completing my MBA was to completely switch industries, and I knew networking was going to be one of the biggest tools I would use in order to achieve that change. In discussions with recent alumni, current students, and the admissions team, I heard about the Carroll School’s expansive alumni network. Since I planned to stay in the Northeast after business school, I knew having support from the BC network would be beneficial for years to come.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? George Wyner taught Data Analytics II, which mainly focused on SQL coding. It wasn’t the most exhilarating topic for me, but Professor Wyner made the subject matter engaging and memorable. He is a brilliant man and a helpful professor who treated all of his students with respect and compassion. On top of that, Professor Wyner created a Spotify playlist that played before each class as students walked in and took their seats. Students could add songs to it at any time. One of my best moments of the semester was when one of the songs I added played at the beginning of class. For his ability to engage his students, the respect he showed to each person, and his epic playlists, George Wyner was my favorite professor.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? The Graduate Management Association has a tailgating spot on the top deck of one of the main parking decks on campus. Members of all Carroll School graduate programs are invited to attend prior to each home football game. It is a fantastic way to meet other students, relax, and show BC pride. The tailgates I attended reflected the supportive and cohesive culture of the BC MBA program. Students slowed down and spent time getting to know each other. Football game tailgates were my favorite tradition because they helped me build bonds that will last long after I graduate.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? The professors I encountered at BC have unique experiences and backgrounds. If I could do one thing differently, I would have made more of an effort to connect more with professors, listen to their advice, and develop long-lasting relationships. The changes in our environment since COVID began have made networking even more difficult, but I still have one more semester to turn this regret around.

What is the biggest myth about your school? I heard this saying “BC people love BC people” a few times during my application process and found it to be true. I first noticed it when I started networking and recruiting for a summer internship. Each time I reached out to someone who was connected to BC, especially the Carroll School, I received a kind and supportive response. The Carroll School is small enough that the environment fosters deep connections between peers. Those connections impart a strong desire to remain loyal to the institution and larger BC community.

What surprised you the most about business school? When I was applying to business school, I had a distorted picture of what admissions teams thought the ideal candidate looked like (heavy finance/accounting background). Since I was transitioning from healthcare, I worried that I did not fit that ideal. I didn’t come across that “ideal candidate” during my time at BC either, which I attribute to the admissions team and broader administration. Every student came from such a different background with unique experiences. I have learned a lot from talking to my classmates and listening to their perspectives, reasonings, and opinions during classroom discussions. I’m happy that I was surprised about the varying backgrounds of my classmates because it led to a more fulfilling and enriching experience.

What is one thing you did during the application process that gave you an edge at the school you chose? I attended as many admission events prior to submitting my application as I could. This allowed me to talk with both admission representatives, as well as current students. I was able to paint a robust picture of what the Carroll School was like and how the program could help me achieve my future career goals. I was also able to elaborate on both those points in my application essays and admissions interview.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Dewin Hernandez is not only an incredibly smart and thoughtful student, but he is also an extraordinarily kind and compassionate person. It’s hard to not to smile when he engages you in conversation. He always contributes to class discussions in a thought-provoking and articulate way. Dewin is earning his dual degree (MBA/MSW) and really bridges the gap between these two subject matters. He is involved in many student organizations. On top of all that, Dewin is in a band; he uses his pipes to bring joy to those around him. When he sings you can see clearly why he graduated from Berklee School of Music prior to attending BC.

How disruptive was it to shift to an online or hybrid environment after COVID hit? The shift to an online environment was more difficult than I anticipated. online classes require a slightly different set of tools to be successful. I needed more personal discipline to remain engaged with the professor and the class. Group projects became more challenging to schedule time for, and individual deliverables became vital for success. Connecting with my professors became hard as Zoom office hours were different than in-person office hours, and I could no longer chat with them before or after class. Overall, the move to an online environment wasn’t easy, but once I determined the best practices for me it became less trying.

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? After I decided to not pursue medical school, my wife never let me give up on shifting to a career path that challenged me. She knew what I wanted before I had accepted it. My wife encouraged me to take a GMAT prep class, and she instilled enough of self-confidence in me that I began to believe I would get into business school and thrive in whatever industry I decided to pursue. She is an incredibly strong and bright woman, and I wanted to push myself to be the best I could for her and for our future family.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

• Become a Vice President at Fidelity as fast as they’ll let me
• Become the Chief Financial Officer of a company; currently I have no preference on which company as I’m open to seeing where my career takes me

What made Erin such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2021?

“Erin was an invaluable addition to the Class of 2021 as she has embodied an esprit de corps that is vital to any MBA cohort. From her ability to make others feel welcome to her mentoring of students who came after her, Erin is always willing to take the time to help her fellow students, whether as a classmate or as a leader in the Carroll School’s Graduate Management Association and the Stand Out at Carroll organization.

Pre-MBA, Erin worked as a clinical search coordinator at Mass General Hospital before moving onto a technology company that provides solutions bringing sponsors, CROs, and investigators together to collaborate on trials. She was successful in this client-focused role, which is not at all surprising given her cordial nature. In fact, her warm personality was noted both by potential employers during her interviewing phase last year, as well as by internship supervisors at Fidelity last summer, and where she will be returning post-MBA.

Lastly, Erin has been an integral part of the Carroll School Graduate Admissions Office and has enthusiastically represented BC at recruitment and other program-related events. We could not have asked for a more fitting ambassador. I believe I speak for many in the MBA community when I say that I am grateful for Erin’s energy and her consistent ability to always bring a smile to our faces.”

Marilyn Eckelman
Associate Dean, Graduate Programs
Carroll School of Management

DON’T MISS: THE FULL LIST OF MBAS TO WATCH IN 2021