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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
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School of Business Spotlight: Molly Varillas '26
“We all want to be successful and get jobs, but there's the barrier of the unknown, fear, imposter syndrome. Everything you want is on the other side of that.”
October 13, 2026
Molly Varillas enrolled at Lehman after an unsuccessful start at SUNY Binghamton left her feeling like she’d failed. As she found her footing through courses in financial analysis, marketing, and logic, the Business Administration major threw herself into Lehman’s chapter of ALPFA (the Association of Latino Professionals For America)—making connections on campus and in the business world, fine-tuning her professional skills, and rebuilding her confidence. After landing two summer corporate internships she worked full-time as a business analyst during her final year. She just began a new job at J.P. Morgan, her first step toward a career in business law.
How did you get involved with ALPFA?
My first semester, I just went to class, then home, or to babysit. When my friend invited me to an ALPFA meeting, I reluctantly came with her. I ended up coming to every ALPFA meeting, and later that semester attended their Northeast Regional Tech Summit, which is a professional development and networking conference. It was the most amazing three days that I’d ever experienced in a college setting. Eventually I ran for positions on the ALPFA leadership team.
How did that engagement impact your overall experience at Lehman?
ALPFA was critical. The other students encouraged and empowered me in a way that feels different than support from hometown friends and from loved ones. Then I just flew. I wanted to improve my public speaking skills, so I applied to interview The Kid Mero at the Lehman Lecture, and was selected. That reminded me how powerful it is when students have the opportunity to lead conversations.
How did ALPFA help you prepare for a professional career?
I learned how to dress like a professional, ask questions, and talk with people who have experience. I’m a natural networker, but after I handed out my resume at the Tech Summit, I showed it to a friend and she mutilated it—with love. She gave me an in-depth analysis and showed me how to create a master resume that could be tailored to each job opportunity, because companies use algorithms to screen resumes. Later I took that new resume to the ALPFA national convention, where I applied for jobs at different banks. I got an offer from every single company.
What advice do you have for current School of Business students?
Student organizations are critical to anyone’s progress, and the School of Business organizations are so rooted in student success. You need to understand financial literacy, and the Financial Learning Group is great for that. The Lehman Marketing Club, the Entrepreneurship Club, ALPFA, and Women in Finance, they all exist to encourage students. Above all, don’t be afraid to fail. If you don’t fail, you will never appreciate when you win. You miss 100% of the shots that you don't take.