Laurie Rebholz '99MBA

Laurie Rebholz recently joined Citizens Bank as the Head of Talent, following a nearly 23-year career at Citi where she held various Learning & Development roles. She has developed deep expertise in Leadership, Executive, and Talent Development, focusing on building capabilities for leaders across all organizational levels. A highly energized leader of large global teams, she is passionate about innovations within the field of learning.

Why did you choose Iona to pursue your MBA?

I wanted to engage in a part-time MBA program while I was working, and I wanted a program that would provide me with real world insight and experiences that translated immediately to life on the job. I found that Iona's MBA program was extremely practical with research, projects and presentations that not only helped me learn the required content, but it also helped me build real world skills that increased my professional effectiveness.

How did it help you in your career?

Spending time with people in similar stages of their career, who wanted to work hard and learn, was extremely motivating. It's not easy to go to school at night while working full time, spending weekends completing projects and assignments -- but it was extremely fulfilling. I found it highly motivating to explore real world concepts and be able to immediately apply them at work and gaining an MBA (after an undergrad in Political Science) gave me an increased level of confidence that I deserved a seat "at the table." I can't say there was a direct correlation between securing my MBA and some level of job growth or promotion as an immediate result -- but the sense of accomplishment after gaining my degree was extremely motivating and certainly translated into higher levels of performance that ultimately drove greater long-term success.

What is your advice for current students?

You can't achieve the highest levels of performance and success without being actively supported by people who are vested in you (most importantly your family). Don't surround yourself with people who are only willing to tell you how wonderful you are -- seek out the people who will challenge you, tell you when you can do better, and help you see things in a different light. That's the secret sauce.

What is your proudest professional achievement?

Making Managing Director (generally the senior at most level in Financial Services) was a source of immense professional pride for me. The title of Managing Director is awarded to people after a rigorous nomination process and is separate from the job itself, so the acknowledgement of my leadership capabilities was the most meaningful accomplishment of my career. It wasn't the title; it was knowing that my reputation was deserving such unique recognition that drove the meaning behind the title.

What is your fondest memory/favorite faculty member at Iona?

We were the first class of the newly designed MBA program. The Dean at the time was able to engage American Express as a key partner, providing case studies, opportunities for research and exposure to executives who were willing to spend time illustrating what we were learning with real world stories and examples. Many of the faculty were also practitioners, so I had the pleasure of Ted Schwartz (an extremely successful executive coach) as a frequent professor and mentor. I still quote him to this day!

What is your favorite movie, book, TV show, or podcast?

Somebody Feed Phil (Netflix). It's a must watch, no matter what kind of day you're having, this show will bring a smile to your face!

What do you feel are your secrets to success?

My efforts in growing and maintaining my network. Having a group of people that you can rely upon for help, honest feedback and support is key to anyone's success. It also makes work a lot more enjoyable when you have so many wonderful people you can call friends!

Did you have a mentor/role model? If so, what impact did they have on your career?

I've been blessed with many mentors, which I think is key to making the most of mentoring. It's important to find people who you look up to, who are skilled in areas that you need/want to develop, and who are vested in your success. No one person can meet all of your needs as you grow your career, so find different people who can support your growth in different ways. Find a variety of people who can challenge you with diverse perspectives, styles, and skills. Observe people around you and seek someone out that you can relate to and who can challenge you with honest feedback. My mentors didn't always tell me what I wanted to hear -- but they told me what I needed to hear -- resulting in many opportunities for growth.