Mary King

Northeastern University, D’Amore-McKim School of Business

“High strung hot chocolatier with a love for all things finance, triathlon, and social impact.”

Fun fact about yourself: I’ve moved 21 times.

Hometown: Louisville, KY

High School: duPont Manual High School

Major: Finance, Accounting, and Management Information Systems

Minor: N/A

Favorite Business Course: Financial Modeling

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

• University Scholars Program
• University Honors Program
• Scholars Independent Research Fellowship (Spanish Politics)
• Scholars Independent Research Fellowship (Swedish & American gender equality in finance) Teaching Assistant (Financial Innovation Valuation and Private Equity)
• Co-Creator and Teaching Assistant of Fintech course
• Co-Founder, President, and Peer Mentor for Women in Finance
• Triathlon Team Social Chair
• Executive Sisterhood CFO
• Civic Engagement Program (100+ hours volunteer per year)
• Co-op Peer Mentor (former)
• Management Information Systems Club (former Treasurer)
• Women in Business Club (former Treasurer)
• Summer Study Abroad (Argentina, 2015)

Where have you interned during your college career?

• Goldman Sachs – Boston – Client Relationship Management Co-op
• Hercules Capital – Palo Alto – Investment Team Analyst Co-op
• PwC – San Jose – M&A Management Consulting

Where will you be working after graduation? Undecided – should know by March 11

What company do you admire most? I admire Patagonia for its ability to prioritize socially and environmentally impactful values without sacrificing the success of the business. I hope to carry that lesson with me and do the same in my career. I also think it’s neat that they were able to expand beyond an environmentally-conscious customer base, creating impact from customers who wouldn’t normally prioritize it.

What did you enjoy most about your business school? My passion at Northeastern has been taking a leadership role in the development of our Women in Finance program, and it has absolutely changed my outlook on undergraduate education. The support shown from the faculty and administration has been overwhelmingly positive, too. It added an element of social impact to my Northeastern experience that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Who was your favorite faculty member? Heather Hauck has been an incredible mentor to me throughout my time at Northeastern. She encourages me to speak up for myself, act on my ideas, and step out of my comfort zone. She has not only advocated for me, but time and time again, I hear comments from other students about how Heather has changed their lives for the better through introductions, guidance, and lending a listening ear. I couldn’t imagine a more selfless and student-centric leader. Heather has completely changed my college experience!

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? It’s such a relationship-based field that you need to prioritize helping and supporting others as much as you can, and I think that is often overlooked in the finance field. It’s not plausible to always be the smartest person in the room, but it is plausible to be the most reliable, trustworthy, and supportive—that’s something you have control over.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? A lot of your education will take place outside of the classroom—leadership roles, internships, research, community engagement—so take advantage of as many opportunities as you can fully commit yourself to. You will learn a ton and meet incredible people along the way.

“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying…Engineering because it aligns with my academic skill set and interests.”

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? I grew up interested in Finance because my dad took the time to explain (and re-explain and re-explain) market and portfolio management concepts to me until I was able to come up with my own questions and formulate my own ideas. He never pushed me to go into the field—maybe even the opposite—but he was super patient and supportive while I figured out my interests.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I’m most proud of helping to build our Women in Finance program at Northeastern. This group of women is so supportive of one another, and I genuinely think it’s changing the entire culture of our finance program.

Which classmate do you most admire? I am so inspired by Chantel Riendeau! She is the VP of Diversity and Inclusion of Northeastern’s Women in Finance program and has done incredible work in expanding the organization’s programming to be more inclusive and intersectional. This fall, before she held the position, she compiled a comprehensive list of diversity recruiting resources in her spare time to distribute to our undergraduate business school. No one asked her to do it, and she didn’t expect to get any credit for it, but she knew it would have an impact on other students. Thoughtful and generous acts like these make me proud to be her friend and classmate.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? My mom has been so supportive and inspiring. She has a heart of gold and acts as a steady reminder in my daily life to actively be more caring, generous, and grateful. I would be a very different person without her influence. I owe my success to her.

What are the top two items on your bucket list? Do an Ironman and visit Antarctica

What are your hobbies? I am a huge foodie and love triathlon training! If there is hot chocolate within 5 miles of me at any given time, I’ve probably tried it.

What made Mary such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2019?

“I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor as Mary has not only exhibited a high degree of leadership but also has the courage to have a voice on important issues that have an impact on her future and that of so many others.”

 Professor Jamie Ladge