Northwestern University Alumni

Wildcat of the Week: Alexandra Pollack ’13

Alexandra Pollack ’13 credits the Northwestern Network with helping her break into the investment management industry. Via LinkedIn, Pollack connected with an alumnus from 1976 who played an important role in her most recent job search that concluded with securing a position at Northern Trust in Chicago. As an investment associate, she works on a team that manages portfolios for high-net-worth families. Now, she is sharing her own professional experiences with recent graduates and current students to help them navigate their careers.

A native of Great Neck, New York, Pollack enrolled at Northwestern because of its strong academic reputation, outstanding music program, and proximity to Chicago. Active in student life, she competed on the fencing team and played alto saxophone in the marching band. Pollack says that performing at the 2013 Gator Bowl and celebrating the win was the “the perfect way to end my last season of band and football.”

Since joining the Northwestern Network Mentorship Program—a network of more than 5,000 alumni and students—Pollack has mentored several students including Alice Zhu ’19, who is interested in a career in the financial industry. Every few months, Pollack and Zhu meet in person or online to talk about classes, resume preparation, summer internships, and interviewing strategies. Pollack has advised Zhu to take the time to get to know her professors and to start networking early—advice that would have been welcomed when she was a student.

For Pollack, being a mentor has also benefitted her personally. “By giving advice, I’m forced to think about it myself and reflect on my own career path and experiences.” And when the time is right, she hopes to have her own mentor from the program. “Mentoring is a full-circle program. By being in both roles, I can benefit from all aspects of the process.”