A Seat at the Table: President Lundeen Launches Industry Insider Masterclass Series
At Stephens College, career preparation doesn’t just happen in classrooms. Sometimes, it happens around the President’s dining room table.
This semester marked the launch of the Industry Insider Masterclass Series, a new initiative created by President Dr. Shannon B. Lundeen to give students direct access to accomplished leaders while learning one of the most important and often overlooked career skills — how to engage.
The first masterclass, held at the President’s Home, welcomed students into an intimate setting designed not just for listening, but for practicing. The event was made possible through collaboration between the Stephens Career Center and alumna Wendy Manasse ’81, whose partnership helped bring this mentorship opportunity to life.
Before the featured guest ever began speaking, students were already learning.
They practiced asking thoughtful questions, refining how to network, connect, and confidently engage with professionals.
President Lundeen personally coached students on:
- How to ask meaningful questions
- How to build authentic relationships
- How curiosity can open career doors
The goal was simple but powerful: teach students how to show up.
The inaugural guest was Kaleigh Laurino, Senior Content Marketing Manager at Amazon, who works at the intersection of creators, content, and business strategy — turning internet culture into measurable impact.
But Laurino didn’t begin her career with a clear path.
She told students she originally chose business as a major before realizing it wasn’t the right fit. After switching to journalism, she reached out to a local publisher and began writing about the food truck scene in a column titled Keep on Food Truckin’.
Her first draft came back covered in edits.
She kept going anyway.
“Showing up mattered more than my skill level,” Laurino told students. “Be coachable and show enthusiasm.”
That persistence led to a paid internship at a small SEO company — an experience she credits with changing the trajectory of her career.
There, she discovered how creativity and strategy intersect. She brought those valuable skills as well as her can-do attitude into the workplace, where she built her content strategist resume at marketing agencies and startups, before landing her role at Amazon.
Her message to students was clear:
“Put yourself out there before you feel qualified. It’s okay if you don’t know everything. Be eager and show up.”
Laurino’s journey from unsure college student to a leadership role supporting Amazon’s Shop by Interest platform demonstrated how finding your niche can transform passion into profession.
She emphasized to the students that careers in today’s economy often grow from interests, creativity, and willingness to try — not just from traditional pathways.
After lunch and Laurino’s presentation, a Q&A session allowed students to apply the coaching they received earlier from President Lundeen.
For many, the experience was transformative.
“My key takeaway was if you want something, go and get it,” said Rilla Patterson, a second-year Fashion major. “It doesn’t matter if you think you’ll be any good, or if you’re nervous — your ambition is more valuable than your talent.”
