Junior and senior female students from William Floyd High School recently participated in a "Women in Business" workshop. The event was organized by Jacqueline Giacalone, chairperson of the William Floyd High School Business Department. The purpose was to inspire young women by introducing them to accomplished business professionals Holly Rae Felicetta and Marina Mentzel.
Holly Rae Felicetta holds a dual MBA in international business and marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University. With over 15 years of experience, she has worked with various startups and large organizations. Currently, she is a senior partner and general manager at Holding Company (Holdco) The Inflection, where she manages portfolio prioritization, incubations, strategic partnerships, and acquisitions.
Marina Mentzel is an alumna of the 2024 LBAN Business Scaling Program at Stanford University and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. She also holds degrees from The George Washington University and UNC Chapel Hill School of Law. As the Founder and CEO of urSwim, her company has delivered over 80,000 swimming lessons and gained national industry recognition. Inc. Magazine recognized urSwim as one of the fastest-growing companies in the northeast.
During the workshop, both speakers shared their experiences in business development and discussed their roles within their respective companies. Following an opening discussion, they answered questions from students on topics such as career advice, managing pressures, and succeeding in male-dominated fields. This led to conversations about self-confidence, risk-taking, networking, and support systems.
The workshop concluded with Holly Rae Felicetta and Marina Mentzel continuing discussions with students while providing contact information for future professional guidance.