Lee Pelligreen
My current role is Associate Director, of Employer Engagement with the Center for Career Engagement. After completing the WashU EMBA program, I pivoted from 20 years in financial services to higher education in career services.
Reflecting on my five years at WashU, I have many fond memories of spending time with not only the undergraduates but also the graduate students, along with the faculty and staff. Traveling with the MBA students on the Global Immersion has been an excellent way to meet them and learn about their backgrounds. Running and hiking were also great ways to connect, discuss student career goals, and partner with the OFC.
Traveling with the SMPs was a pleasure. I went on the Trek to the Bitcoin Expedition 2023 in Jefferson City, met an alum, learned from industry leaders, and networked. Shoutouts to Kim McCabe, GPO, the WAM club, who have assisted me with my role, and many others, such as the career coaches.
Here are a few fun facts outside of WashU:
- Spending time with Misha (wife), Sophia (daughter), and Zoom (our toy poodle who was supposed to have been a cyber dog but was downloaded to St. Louis while I was traveling on a global immersion 😊. We like to travel, and earlier this year, we went to Hawaii, where Sophia and I completed our first half-marathon together.
- Studied abroad in Madrid for multiple years; fluent in Spanish.
- I worked on an ecotourism small ship at sea for a year doing adventure tours in Antarctica and Alaska. This included crossing the Drake Passage with National Geographic photographers. I can still feel those 40 ft waves.
- Completed the MR340 in a two-person canoe, a 340-mile paddle on the Missouri River from Kansas City to St. Charles, MO. Kudos to Misha and Sophia for supporting team Rocinante along the two-lane roads and crazy hours and supplying the canoe.
- I regularly run and swim throughout the week and walk to and from work daily all four seasons 😊.
I’ve been fortunate to work with the graduate students and the Olin community. As we hear in the EMBA program, I highly recommend stretching and getting out of your comfort zone. The MR340 was rewarding and a fantastic team-building exercise.
I look forward to seeing you on campus, on the trails, or walking down Wydown Blvd. As the CCE point of contact for employer engagement, let me know how I can assist. My office is in the atrium, one level below the GPO offices.
Happy Holidays!