Empowering women leaders through scholarship, mentorship and new experiences

For senior finance major Maria Rivera, this past year has been one of firsts. The Cicero native was among the inaugural nine recipients of the Joan Deutsch Herczeg Women Leaders Scholarship; she attended her first networking event sponsored by the council at the Art Institute of Chicago (it also was her first time visiting the renowned local treasure); and she received her first full-time job offer, which she’ll begin upon graduation in December.

Rivera’s year of firsts was made possible by Larissa Herczeg, cofounder of the University’s Women’s Leadership Council and staunch Roosevelt advocate.

A tribute to hardworking women

Empowering young women is a top priority for Herczeg, who grew up in north suburban Chicago with parents who instilled in her and her three brothers the value of hard work and education.

Herczeg said that her parents, Stephen, a psychologist, and Joan, a school social worker, supported anything she and her siblings wanted to do, regardless of how good they were at it.

“We were encouraged to work hard, give our best effort, be proud of our accomplishments and set realistic and aspirational goals,” she said from her home in the city. “That gave me the confidence to try new things without fear of failure, recognize what I was good at and acknowledge others when they did well, too.”

She added, “I also watched the important role my mother played in keeping our family on track. Not only did she manage all of us, but she also earned a graduate degree in social work at the same time.”

To honor that spirit of encouragement, she named the Joan Deutsch Herczeg Women Leaders Scholarship for her mother and made a point of including her mother’s maiden name in the award to pay tribute to both her grandmothers.

“Like in many households, my mom was the organizing force in our home,” she said. “This award is a tribute to her work ethic and determination and serves as a reminder of the essential and powerful role women play in society.”

The first class of Deutsch Herczeg Scholars

While the scholars program was initially created to provide funding and support to five students, the generosity of board members has expanded the program to 16 students in just one year. The increased support also makes the scholarship renewable until each scholar successfully graduates.

The diverse group of juniors and seniors represent academic programs from piano performance to finance. In addition to receiving $5,000 toward the cost of their education, the program matches them with a member of the Women’s Leadership Council for one-on-one mentoring.

For Rivera, who transferred from a community college her junior year, mentoring is one of the biggest pluses of the program. Over the past year, she and Vicki Fuller (BSBS ’79), a Roosevelt trustee, have been building a relationship via Zoom.

Fuller previously served as chief investment officer of the New York State Common Retirement Fund.

“As a single mother to a six-year-old, I’ve been sharing my background, hopes, fears and career goals with Vicki,” Rivera said. “We talk about our lives and explore ways of successfully navigating the demands of work, home and school.”

“I used to think mentors were intimidating,” Rivera continued. “I wasn’t sure how to connect with someone who is so well established and successful in her career. But getting to know Vicki and learning about her journey up the corporate ladder helps me to be determined to succeed. I’m grateful for her time, her wisdom and her advice. She’s counseled me to be more patient and go a little easier on myself.”

Rivera echoes what other scholars say about the program’s effect on their confidence levels.

“When I first transferred to Roosevelt in 2020, it was difficult, not only because of the pandemic, but also because I was in a totally new environment. I questioned my value and self-worth,” she said. “Today, I’m chair of the Women in Business Club and social media coordinator for the Investment Club. I feel so fortunate to be recognized with this prestigious scholarship.”

A community of women leaders

Herczeg recalled that there was a bit of serendipity in her own journey to Roosevelt. “When I moved from New York back to Chicago in 2012, I was looking for a way to broaden my network and horizons.” Her friend Juan Lopez Jr., a trustee at the time, invited her to learn more about the university’s students and mission. She was hooked.

“I was immediately taken by the students and the energy of the board,” she said. In 2013, the board of trustees invited her to join them.

A graduate of Notre Dame and Columbia University, Herczeg was accustomed to a smooth path to and lots of resources for college. Her involvement with Roosevelt’s board taught her that 41% of Roosevelt students were first generation, and 80% of them received a university scholarship or grant. She also observed the drive and passion students put into earning a degree and working toward a brighter future.

More recently, in 2019, Herczeg joined fellow trustee Ann Ford to become a cofounder of the Women’s Leadership Council, a group of 300+ alumni and friends who strive to close the gender-opportunity gap by hosting events that foster personal and professional connections and growth and encourage participants to give back. The council works with other community and university groups to identify critical issues facing women.

“As its name indicates, the WLC is really focused on helping empower women to recognize the leadership roles they play at work, home, school and in their overall lives,” Herczeg said. “Our goal is to help them become better, stronger leaders.”

Even though Herczeg’s work on the council began just before the pandemic took hold, it was enough time for her to witness the members’ energy for Roosevelt students identifying as women, as well as the staff’s seemingly endless ideas, effort and enthusiasm.

According to Herczeg, from the start, the staff and University President Ali Malekzadeh were deeply invested in the success of the council.

“My involvement in the Women’s Leadership Council has turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever done,” she added.

Shattering the glass ceiling

Herczeg knows firsthand some of the challenges women face professionally. With a background in finance and law, she has been privy to the upper echelons of business as well as male-dominated board rooms and executive suites. And while many of her best mentors have been men, she is intent on opening doors for women to serve at those higher levels in whatever career they choose.

“For the most part, women frequently have more to balance between home and work, less confidence in their abilities and don’t see someone who looks like them in the boardroom to focus on as a formal or informal mentor,” she said. “This scholarship is my way of recognizing that effort and giving young Roosevelt women the tools they’ll need to succeed at both home and work.”

Rivera already knows that having responsibility in the home on top of her school and work can be challenging. “The program offered workshops on time management, networking skills and stress reduction, among others,” she said.

As the council kicked off the program last fall, scholars were welcomed to a networking reception hosted by Women’s Leadership Council advisory board member Sarah Guernsey, Art Institute of Chicago deputy director and senior vice president for curatorial affairs, and given a tour of the Bisa Butler portraits exhibit.

In November, scholars attended a panel on Women’s Leadership and Gender Equity in Law and Medicine that was sponsored by the council. Prior to the panel, the scholars attended a meet-and-greet reception with panelist Andie Kramer, author and partner at McDermott Will & Emery, LLC, and Dr. Neelum Aggarwal, associate professor of neurological science at Rush Medical Center.

Rivera and fellow scholar Sariah Bolden led the opening remarks, which gave them an opportunity to practice their professional speaking skills. Attendees also received a copy of Kramer’s book Breaking through Bias: Communication Techniques for Women to Succeed at Work and joined a virtual book discussion with council members in April.

Last December, the Women’s Leadership Council invited scholars to its annual holiday luncheon, where students had the opportunity to network with a host of women and men, polish their professional etiquette skills in a formal setting and meet keynote speaker Mary Dillon, executive chair and former CEO of Ulta Beauty.

“I’m very grateful to have had these experiences this past year,” said Rivera, who, through the generosity of the WLC board, has been offered an extension of her scholarship through December, when she plans to graduate.

Rivera recently accepted a job upon graduation at Morningstar in Chicago. “I plan to use my new leadership skills and pass on what I’ve learned to others,” she said.

“Larissa has created opportunities for these young women where they didn’t exist before,” said Kristy Kotek, executive director of alumni engagement and career services. “The program is equally life-changing for the advisory board members, who freely offer their time and expertise. Together, we are working towards a better future for these students and, ultimately, all women.”

Herczeg’s hope for the young scholars is to take the training, mentorship, optional summer internship and financial support to equip themselves to become leaders in whatever way they choose and serve as mentors to future Deutsch Herczeg Scholars.

“Leadership doesn’t necessarily mean becoming a CEO,” said Herczeg. “To me, it means being challenged, engaged and happy with your life as a whole. We all want this scholarship opportunity to not only support the Deutsch Herczeg Scholars in their professional lives, but also encourage them to pay it forward to keep the momentum of the program going once they graduate.”