Ph.D., M.B.A.

Alexandra’s story sounds like the plot of a fantastic fictional novel. She had an ideal childhood with a father who worked hard to provide opportunities to dream, a mother who was a children’s librarian, and a grandmother who loved books. At family get-togethers, they would read or recite poetry, nurturing a deep love for literature and knowledge.

Growing up with an inclination towards performing arts, Alex majored in music and drama in college. But a socially and politically radical movement in the 1960s challenged her beliefs, leading her to switch to literature while at Bennington. She earned admission to Princeton University for her PhD, and spent a year in France studying medieval manuscripts on a French government fellowship.

The shadow of economic reality loomed, and realizing there were few jobs for PhDs in humanities, Alexandra pivoted to business. Meanwhile, she had sent an audition tape to La Scala Opera in Milan and was accepted. But then she encountered the most fascinating twist of her life—she met Bernard. They’ve been together for nearly half a century.

At age 28, she enrolled in Loyola College for an Executive MBA program—alongside her father, who had missed college during the Depression. They were in the same class and received their MBAs on the same day. This began her remarkable career in M&A and corporate governance, starting as a $12,000/year newsletter editor and eventually becoming Chief Knowledge Officer with a 35-year career.