LATROBE, PA – Sydney Andrews, a senior marketing major and data analytics minor, gained a wealth of experience serving in leadership roles in Saint Vincent College’s Women in Business, a club that enhances professional development through various initiatives.
After changing her major during her sophomore year and transitioning to classes primarily in the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government, Andrews began hearing positive comments from her peers about the Women in Business organization at the College.
“They were talking about some of the events that they were doing at the time,” Andrews recalled. “It seemed like a lot of fun.”
She joined the club as a sophomore, then was chosen to be fundraising director during her junior year and embarked on the group’s annual New York City trip. A year later, she became Women in Business president and, as part of that position’s duties, enjoyed one of her most memorable experiences as she spearheaded organizing the NYC trip. Part of that process included arranging a visit to Amazon Live Studio and one of the company’s major offices.
“I worked closely with our events coordinator, Josi Dirienzo, and we handled everything from logistics to communicating with professionals,” Andrews said. “It was such a unique opportunity to connect with people working in the industry and see what that environment is like. Since there were so many moving parts, it was really rewarding to see everything come together.”
The process also helped enhance Andrews’ leadership, organization and communication skills, all core aims of the College’s Women in Business initiative.
“It’s been really rewarding to be part of the community that Women in Business has built,” Andrews said of the club. The members support each other in various ways, including through positive social media interactions and outreach from alumnae.
“We have alumni reaching out and saying, ‘Hey, I'm in this position right now. Let me tell my story to your club so that you can have inspiration there,’” Andrews said. “With this networking, we’re able to see that there are so many different avenues you can go within business, and there really are no limits to it.”
Andrews has assisted with organizing other events, including a networking opportunity with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Before attending a baseball game, members heard from women in leading marketing roles within the Pirates organization and US Steel. Additionally, in November 2025, Andrews helped organize a panel discussion during the Institute for Supply Management-Pittsburgh Inc.’s 7th annual Women Who Lead Conference, which was conducted inside the Fred M. Rogers Center on the College campus.
“I’ve loved the position,” Andrews said of her role as Women in Business president, “and I’ve felt so fulfilled with it.”
She has the same feeling about her time at Saint Vincent College in general. When she was exploring postsecondary education opportunities while at Penn-Trafford High School, Andrews was drawn to the College because of its strong sense of community.
“When I visited, it just immediately felt right, and I could see myself here,” she said.
The senior marketing major initially pursued a different academic discipline before making a switch. Thanks to a wide range of faculty and staff embracing the Benedictine Hallmark of hospitality, the transition was seamless.
“Saint Vincent College made it really easy to switch into business and find what I was passionate about, which made a big difference for me,” she said.
Andrews chose to pursue marketing during her sophomore year after enrolling in Principles of Marketing with Dr. Thomas Cline, a professor of business and statistics in the McKenna School. As part of the class, students engaged in a marketing simulation, and Andrews recalled the exercise made her realize she could embrace marketing as a career.
“I loved how it combined creativity with strategy,” she said. “What really stood out to me was how much of it was driven by data and decision-making, and I wanted to be able to understand that at a deeper level. After that, I made the switch to marketing and added a data analytics minor.”
With the switch, Andrews discovered a new slate of professors who helped shape her experience at the College, including Dr. Caitlin Michael, C’17, an assistant professor of marketing within the McKenna School. Andrews described Michael’s digital marketing class as a turning point as she built out her portfolio, tackled website development and earned several certifications.
“Sydney is a wonderful student who exemplifies the College’s mission,” Michael said. “She is an active member of our community who demonstrates hospitality, compassion and a love for learning. Watching and contributing to her development throughout the years has been a great joy.”
The graduating senior also highlighted Dr. Mary Regina Boland, C’10, an assistant professor at the College who teaches in the Data Science program.
“They gave me a strong foundation in strategy, statistics and analytical thinking, which helped me understand the data behind marketing decisions,” Andrews said. “Together, those experiences really helped me become more well-rounded in marketing, where I’m confident in both the creative and analytical sides.”
One of the most profound lessons the graduating senior has learned during her time at Saint Vincent involves getting out of the comfort zone.
“When something feels uncomfortable, it usually means you’re growing,” she said. “Many of my best experiences came from putting myself in situations that felt new or a little intimidating at first, like stepping into leadership roles or taking on bigger opportunities. Over time, I realized those moments are what build your confidence and help you grow the most.”
Andrews hopes to continue that growth as she aims to build a career in marketing and combine the creative and analytical side of the field. In the short term, she’s focused on continuing to learn, gain experience and develop in her role. She recently accepted a position with Kennametal and will begin in July in the company’s Emerging Leaders Program (EMERGE), which includes rotational opportunities across locations in the United States.
Looking ahead, Andrews is excited to begin the EMERGE leadership development program with Kennametal, where she will continue developing her skills and gaining experience through rotational opportunities.
