CAREER PROGRAMS

The Villanova Sports Business Conference is meant to give students the opportunity to create a foundational network that puts them on their personalized path within the sports business community. 

The conference caters to anyone interested in the sports industry with panels and keynote speakers feature some of the biggest names in sports, including leaders in sports media, sales, marketing, operations, and analytics who are willing to share their journeys and advice with the next generation. 

As an attendee, you will also have the chance to network with fellow attendees and industry professionals, making valuable connections that could lead to internships or job opportunities. 

Based on strong student interest, the O’Donnell Center leads TREKs each year to sports-related venues to expose students to a behind-the-scenes view of the business side of sports. Past TREK destinations have included Atlas, Citizens Bank Park/Phillies, Deutsche Bank, Lincoln Financial Field/Eagles, Madison Square Garden, MetLife Stadium, MLB Network, Prudential Center (NJ)/Devils, Subaru Park/Union, Washington Nationals Park, and Yankee Stadium.

Held every fall, this event offers students an opportunity to learn about alternatives to careers in public accounting and financial services.

Following a panel presentation, students have the chance to network with alumni and professionals who work in corporate finance and corporate accounting roles.

At this annual event, students will learn the ins and outs of the consulting industry from young alumni and seasoned professionals alike and can start building relationships with people who are working in many different areas within the consulting industry. Consultants from various management consulting organizations are represented on the panel each year.

This event is co-sponsored by the VSB O'Donnell Center for Professional Development, the Villanova Consulting Group and the University Career Center.

Finance TREKs provide students with exposure to the “front-line” of the financial services industry. Previous TREKs have included visits to Barclays, Blackstone, Blackrock, Bloomberg LP, BMO Capital Markets, Citi, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, MUFG, Nomura, and Point72.

There are many options for students with an interest in working in the Fashion industry. Fashion TREKS ARE designed to expose students to a wide range of business career opportunities in fashion marketing and help them develop contacts in the industry. Previous Fashion TREKS have included visits to Ann Taylor, Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman, DVF/Diane von Furstenberg, Estée Lauder, IMG, Lilly Pulitzer, Lord & Taylor, Michael Kors, Neiman Marcus, Net-a-Porter, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tommy Hilfiger, Tory Burch, Addison Bay, and URBN.

Additionally, students in the Business of Fashion Society work with O’Donnell Center to develop an annual fashion symposium and other on-campus programming to help students explore the many career options within the fashion industry. These events feature alumni and other professionals working at fashion, luxury, and health/beauty companies.

In Spring 2026, BoF hosted their annual symposium: Behind the Seams: The Business That Builds Fashion. This year’s theme emphasized the importance of diverse roles and cross-functional collaboration, an idea that came to life through roundtable discussions, and an open networking session.

The Villanova School of Business hosts Leadership Visits featuring senior business executives in an engaging fireside chat format. These conversations provide students with the opportunity to hear firsthand about leaders' career journeys, industry insights, and professional experiences while engaging in thoughtful discussion and Q&A. A few recent visits: 

▪  Deanna Byrne, PwC US Assurance Leader & Operating Committee member

▪  Derek Thomas, KPMG National Partner in Charge, University Talent Acquisition

▪  John Waldron, Goldman Sachs President & COO

▪  Ericka Leslie, Goldman Sachs Chief Administrative Officer

▪  Chris Gheysens '93, Wawa Chief Executive Officer & Chairman

▪  Rick Wurster '95, The Charles Schwab Corporation, Chief Executive Officers 

For students preparing for careers on Wall Street, each year a series of programs are offered focusing on the stages of successfully attaining a job in the financial services industry.

The O’Donnell Center collaborates with the Villanova Career Center to bring students the Wall Street Meetup series in the spring, with each session featuring three to four banks and highlighting their summer internship recruiting processes.

This annual fall conference brings together students, faculty, alumnae and distinguished business leaders to discuss challenges facing women in today’s business environment and provide an opportunity for networking.  

Caroline Manion '17, a distinguished Villanova graduate and Senior Vice President of Growth Marketing at Future Standard, was the keynote speaker for the Rooted in Community, United by Purpose 2025 conference.

Additionally, the event included a panel discussion with four professionals who shared their personal experiences and provided valuable advice on transitioning from college to the professional world. The panelists represent a variety of industries: Allie Brown ‘11, Senior Director of Product Management at Comcast, Caitlyn Duzy ‘19, Assurance Senior Associate at PwC, Jenna Stenger ‘13, Index Equity Portfolio Manager & Trader at Vanguard, Meghan Roddy ‘19, Analytics Manager at Nuuly and Jennifer McCollough Moor ‘17, ‘24, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications at QVC.

The Women in Business Society and the O’Donnell Center for Professional Development collaborate to host this program. All Villanova students are welcome to attend this annual event. 

Each year, The O’Donnell Center for Professional Development collaborates with the University Career Center to bring together employers with careers in Wealth Management. This event is a great opportunity for students to learn more about careers in Wealth Management and potential internships/jobs and paths available in this sector of financial services.