The Power of the Notre Dame Network

Before Martijn Cremers, the Martin J. Gillen Dean of the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, pressed the button to ring the Opening Bell at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square in April, it was Sabrina Zaffiro, MBA ’22, who introduced him to the crowd, which included members of the Mendoza Business Advisory Council (BAC), the Notre Dame Institute for Global Investing, students, and alumni.

Sabrina Zaffiro, MBA ’22, and Martijn Cremers, the Martin J. Gillen Dean of the Mendoza College of Business, at the Nasdaq Opening Bell ceremony, April 26, 2024

Getting the opportunity to welcome members of the Notre Dame network to Nasdaq was a full-circle moment for Zaffiro; just two years earlier, the network played a pivotal role in her own path to Nasdaq, where she now serves as a senior analyst for corporate strategy in the office of the CEO.

“One of the biggest lessons I learned from my experience at Notre Dame is that its network is vast and unparalleled in its commitment to supporting those affiliated with the University,” Zaffiro said. “I’ve had complete strangers help me and lift me up and advocate for me, and it’s just a testament to the power of the Notre Dame brand.”

A Journey Fueled by the Notre Dame Network
Zaffiro’s path to Notre Dame wasn’t a traditional one. Originally planning a career in marketing, she amassed several media marketing internships as an undergrad at Bentley University, including stints with organizations such as The Wall Street Journal and AMC Networks.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic hit just before graduation, impacting her career aspirations. “There was a hiring freeze everywhere I applied,” Zaffiro said. Unsure where to turn next, she contemplated returning to school for an MBA. “Getting an MBA was always in the back of my mind because I’ve always had a strong interest in business,” she said.

While researching MBA programs, Zaffiro discovered that Notre Dame was extending its admissions deadlines to give students like Zaffiro, who’d been negatively impacted by the pandemic, more time to prepare their applications. “Notre Dame had always been a dream school of mine, and when I learned about the extra preparation time, I got excited. It made it the perfect time for me to pursue this opportunity,” she said.

Zaffiro prepared by taking graduate courses at Bentley University and studying for the GMAT and GRE. Her hard work paid off, and her scores earned her a spot in the Notre Dame MBA Class of 2022.

Expanding Horizons Through Education
Though she had a substantial background in marketing, Zaffiro entered the MBA program with a mind toward exploring other business areas. “I had just spent four years predominantly focused on marketing, and I wanted to take this opportunity to learn other things,” she said. “The general business courses I took in my first Mod were extremely helpful in broadening my horizon.”

One of those courses was Introduction to Finance, taught by Associate Finance Professor Katherine Spiess, academic director of the Master of Science in Finance program. “I learned so much from Professor Spiess, and I did really well in her class,” Zaffiro said. “Not only was her course impactful, but it inspired me to explore finance as a career. And her support didn’t stop there: I consulted with her throughout my job interview process. Her input was invaluable.”

One of Zaffiro’s favorite experiences in the program was her involvement with the Innovation for Impact Club with Wendy Angst, director of the Undergraduate Studies for the Consulting for Impact Minor and teaching professor. The club comprises 150 Mendoza undergraduate and graduate students working on entrepreneurial ideas to benefit Saint Bakhita’s Vocational Training Center, a school dedicated to helping young women in rural Uganda access education to empower them to build better futures. The school, located in Kalongo, Uganda, offers courses in tailoring, agriculture, hospitality, catering, and information technology.

Between her first and second years in the MBA program, Zaffiro accepted an internship conducting analytics for the New York Post. “I wanted to find a job that allowed me to activate the quantitative skills I was learning while holding on to the communications skills I gained from my marketing background,” Zaffiro said. (Zaffiro ultimately chose to double major in corporate finance and marketing analytics.)

After many conversations with peers, faculty, and Mendoza staff, Zaffiro became interested in the investor relations industry. “The more I talked about it with my network, the more I realized investor relations combined all the skills I’ve been developing – finance, quantitative analysis, and communications,” Zaffiro said. She then leveraged the Notre Dame network to learn everything she could about the field.

“I consulted with professors who put me in contact with Mendoza alumni in investor relations, and I reached out to all of them – not for job opportunities, but just to pick their brains,” Zaffiro said. “I just listened and learned. I created an Excel spreadsheet and made daily networking calls. All told, I made about 50 phone calls to learn everything I could about investor relations.”

From Networking to Success
Zaffiro’s networking efforts eventually led her to connect with Nasdaq employees who have ties to Notre Dame. “The more conversations I had with the people at Nasdaq, the more interested I became in the company,” she said. And when a position opened on Nasdaq’s investor relations advisory team, Zaffiro immediately applied.

“It was the perfect fit for me,” Zaffiro said. “It had a great quantitative slant and offered continued learning about capital markets and finance, along with strong communications elements – all things I loved.”

Zaffiro thrived in her new role at Nasdaq, and she quickly immersed herself in the culture, exploring new opportunities within the company. She transitioned to the corporate strategy team in the office of the CEO, where she engages in strategic planning and project management. “I’m very happy with this decision because it’s giving me so much exposure to other company areas. I feel like I’m learning something new every day,” she said.

The Unparalleled Notre Dame Network
Just as the Notre Dame network helped pave her path to Nasdaq, so, too, did it play a role in Dean Cremer’s visit in April. The visit came together after fellow Notre Dame alumna and BAC member Christina Glorioso (ND ’95, MBA ’99) reached out to Zaffiro.

“I met Christina through a Women in Business event at Notre Dame, and right away, I recognized what an amazing woman she was – she has been my mentor ever since,” Zaffiro said. “Now that we are both located in New York City (Glorioso is senior vice president of sales effectiveness and head of the Center of Excellence at NBCUniversal), we talk frequently.”

Glorioso had contacted Zaffiro about the fact that the BAC was having its annual meeting in New York City and inquired about a tour for the Opening Bell.

“I’m not responsible for anything bell-related, but I was able to loop in the appropriate team at Nasdaq to make it work,” Zaffiro said. “I’m very glad that it worked out so well. It was an exciting event.”

As Zaffiro looks to the future, she remains deeply connected to the Notre Dame community. She recently joined the BAC as a member – another example of how the Notre Dame network continues to create opportunities and foster connections that propel its members forward.

“Investing in education is never a wasted investment,” she said. “If you’re willing to invest in yourself and be open to exploring new opportunities, the MBA program can open exceptional doors. Networking is everything, both in education and in your professional life. It’s a life skill that extends far beyond the classroom.”

Watch the Nasdaq Opening Bell ceremony here.