Beyond the Award

Fairfield Dolan’s 30 Under 30 recognition has grown into a network of students and recent alumni opening doors for one another.

Often, the first step in a career begins with a simple act of outreach: a phone call, an email, an introduction at a networking event, or a thoughtfully crafted LinkedIn message. For students and alumni who have been recognized in Fairfield Dolan’s 30 Under 30 program, that common ground can help open the conversation.

What began as an annual recognition honoring exceptional undergraduate and graduate business students has grown into a peer-driven career network across the Fairfield Dolan community. The shared distinction gives past and present 30 Under 30 awardees an immediate connection—one that can turn introductions into conversations, and conversations into opportunity.

When Marina Chiaro ’26 came across Whitney McVeagh ’25 on LinkedIn, one detail stood out immediately: both had been named to Fairfield Dolan’s 30 Under 30.

With Commencement a few months away, Chiaro reached out to McVeagh to learn more about her transition from Fairfield to the professional world. McVeagh, a member of the inaugural 30 Under 30 cohort and now a business insights fellow at McKinsey in Boston, Mass., welcomed the opportunity to chat.

“It’s always nice to connect on LinkedIn beyond a simple ‘I’m interested in what you do,’” Chiaro said. “With so many students reaching out, shared background can make the connection more personal.”

McVeagh appreciated hearing from Chiaro on both a personal and professional level. “With so many students reaching out, shared background can make the connection more personal.” Chiaro said. “I’m admittedly an introvert and, to some degree, terrified of networking,” she added. “But I’ve found it becomes much less intimidating when you connect with people you genuinely relate to.”

That sense of familiarity is part of what gives the program value beyond the award itself. As new 30 Under 30 cohorts are recognized each year, students and alumni are finding one another through the shared experience—and using it as a starting point for mentorship, advice, and encouragement.

McVeagh said the mission-driven dimension of the recognition especially resonated with her. The award honors achievement, not only in academics and professional development but also in service and societal impact.

“I have always greatly valued giving back to the communities that I am a part of, and that is not always something people associate with a business degree,” she said. “I thought it was admirable for Fairfield to recognize students involved in meaningful social initiatives.”

Chiaro views her own recognition through a similar lens.

A first-generation college student, she said leadership means “showing up with purpose.” During her time at Fairfield, she worked to create opportunities for others while pursuing her own goals. Serving as a senior fellow in the Office of Undergraduate Admission, Chiaro helped prospective students envision their future at Fairfield. She also completed internships at Warner Bros. and CNN in marketing and public relations.

As her graduation approached, Chiaro said alumni connections made the next chapter feel more accessible. “You hear the word mentor a lot in college,” she added. “But a mentor is really just someone who is receptive—someone willing to give feedback and advice.”

Approachability, she noted, is a defining strength of the business school community. “Alumni from Fairfield Dolan are very willing to give back.”

Chiaro is continuing that legacy by encouraging other students to apply for the 30 Under 30 program. She also shares the advice McVeagh offered to her: “Stay true to your genuine self, both personally and professionally. It’s important to choose companies, people, and paths that truly align with your beliefs and goals.”

It’s a small but meaningful continuation of their exchange—one that helps lower the barrier for the next group of students navigating the same transition.

McVeagh and Chiaro’s experience is but one example of what a 2026 recipient of the 30 Under 30 Award called “a legacy of leaders” to describe the growing trend of student and alumni honorees connecting across class years. Interest in the program continues to grow: the most recent application cycle drew nearly twice as many applicants as the year prior.

As the Fairfield Dolan 30 Under 30 program enters its fourth year, its value continues to be measured not only by the students it recognizes, but by the relationships those honorees continue to build.

The Value of a Fairfield Dolan Education Is Reflected in Its Outcomes

99 percent of Dolan Class of 2025 undergraduates were employed or accepted into graduate school within six months—a testament to the school’s nationally ranked programs and the power of its alumni connections.

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