Photo courtesy of Nora Grose
Fordham graduate business students will have one more leg up this year, thanks to a $25,000 gift from Nora Grose (GBA ’84).
Grose’s generosity will enable the Graduate School of Business Administration to offer all 1,400 GBA students access to two sessions on CareerLeader, a Web-based career assessment tool. More than 400 leading business schools and corporations use the program to help people find fulfilling work.
Grose, who earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture at Catholic University before pursuing an M.B.A. in finance, said her Fordham experience gave her a more balanced approach to her career.
“When I finished architecture school and began working for an architect, I found that the education I had received was rather focused. It didn’t encompass a lot of general business principles that are useful in your career and in life,” she said. “I enrolled at Fordham because I thought a woman with an architectural and business degree would be unique. Now it’s not as distinctive, but it was unusual at the time.”
After graduating from Fordham, Grose capitalized on both of her degrees by launching a successful real estate career. Now, she said, it’s time to give back.
“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to attend Fordham many years ago. It helped me make my career, and what was—at that time—a very good living,” she said.
“The economy was OK in 1984, so I didn’t encounter an issue finding employment, but I certainly can sympathize with students who are graduating now. My heart goes out to them in this challenging environment.”
Judith Paul, director of career management in GBA’s Office of Career Services, said the CareerLeader test provides students with in-depth reports on their interests, talents and motivations, to better match them with careers.
“Some of them report that the test has given them insight into what fields might be best for them—perhaps areas they weren’t paying attention to before,” she said. “Both the confirmation of students’ original intentions and the raising of questions about what they thought they were pursuing are equally valuable.”
Finding the right job is hard enough in the current economic climate, she said, so establishing a solid connection with an employer is even more important.
“Having a good fit is strongly correlated to job longevity. Obviously, if you don’t fit, you might be one of the first to leave a company if it has to lay off,” Paul said. “We are extremely thrilled and very grateful for Nora’s gift. I’m looking to have her come and visit and meet students.”
