Jenna (Hamelin) Carroll ’92

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1992

Academic experience at Saint Michael's College help prepare you for your career: I am a Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Vice President at Merrill Lynch.

In a few sentences, tell us about yourself: I live in Boston and am a proud mom of twin 10 year old boys that keep me very busy. I am the managing partner of “The Carroll Group,” a wealth management practice at Merrill Lynch. I am an avid skier and I’m learning to surf with my boys.

Please tell us about your Saint Michael’s experience: The camaraderie amongst my classmates was very strong, in fact I am still very close with my SMC roommates. I really benefited from the smaller class sizes and the individual attention from professors. I gained a lot of leadership and public speaking experience in these smaller classes which I really feel laid the groundwork for my career in finance.

What advice would you give to women students: Don’t try to be perfect, just try to be better everyday. Don’t hold onto your mistakes, let them go and learn from them.

What are some strategies that can help women achieve a more prominent role in their organizations: Don’t be afraid to speak your mind. Be resilient, have thick skin. Build your team wisely, know your strengths and hire your weaknesses. Don’t micro-manage. Always exude confidence, even in your weakest moments.

What keeps you motivated and driven on a daily basis: I wake up each day and it’s a fresh start, I try not to dwell on the past. I love my job, so it doesn’t seem like work to me. Aidan and Flynn are my “reason why” and my motivation for living my best life. It’s all about focusing on what is really important.

What woman most inspires you and why: My grandmother was the bread-winner/working mom with four kids in the 1940’s. She worked hard, but always had a smile on her face and never complained. I’m still amazed at how she managed to make sure we all gathered for every birthday and holiday. She lived to be 100 and taught me that family and friends are your true legacy.