Aly Steichen & Alex Park: Lessons in leadership and the power of reflection

Reflection, as any BC alum knows, is a pillar of our academic experience. There’s even a first-year course focused on it. 

Aly Steichen, Carroll School of Management ’24, and Alex Park, Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences ’24, practiced the power of reflection throughout their four years at BC, a practice that fueled their success not just as students but as board co-chairs of Start@Shea, the student executive board of the Edmund H. Shea Jr. Center for Entrepreneurship.

We talked with the pair about the lessons they’ve learned on how to innovate, navigate, pivot, and lead, as well as the importance of “failure, getting feedback, and iterating.” And about what they dream of doing post-BC, including “raising some future Eagles.”

You’ve both been involved with the Shea Center since you were freshmen and served as co-chairs for the student board. How did your time at the Shea Center shape you and prepare you for the career journey you're about to embark on?

Park: The people at Shea have been the catalyst for my growth both professionally and personally. Shea has also given me the experience and insight to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, whether it’s adapting when things don’t always go as planned or thinking outside the box and looking at a problem from a different angle.

Steichen: One of the most important things the Shea Center has taught me is how to be a leader. Leadership is not about the fancy title nor about your own power. It is about supporting and building your team members into leaders. I think there is great power in being a vulnerable leader. I have tried my best to show up as my authentic self and encourage others to do the same.

Let’s talk about your academic career paths. What were the pivotal moments? 

Park: I studied Computer Science and Marketing, which I felt blended well with my real-life applications and learnings from the Shea Center. One of the most pivotal moments for me was during my freshman year when I did not do as well as I had wanted in my introductory Computer Science class. After I talked to my professor about how to improve, she mentioned the importance of failure, getting feedback, and iterating. This mental framework was something that carried me for the rest of my four years.

Steichen: I studied Information Systems and Applied Psychology. In my sophomore year I took PULSE, one of the most pivotal experiences of my life. The pioneering service-learning program helps undergrads learn how to work for a just society. I volunteered on a suicide hotline and deepened my understanding of what it means to communicate, empathize, and actively listen – crucial skills for success in any path.  

What do you know now that you couldn’t have imagined when you started at BC?

Park: Coming into college, I always believed that success looked like working at a large firm and making a lot of money. I’ve come to learn that success is anything but linear, and it looks very different for everyone. The stories of the impressive entrepreneurs I’ve met through the Shea Center have helped me understand that success has a lot of ups, downs, and crazy times in between.

Steichen: Before starting at BC, I don’t know if I fully appreciated the power of reflection. BC is great at building reflection into our curriculum and student life. This time to reflect is helpful in considering the “why” behind your beliefs, goals, ideas, and behavior. It also gives you time to assess your learnings and identify how you can grow and evolve from them.

What’s special about Boston College, and what advice do you have for BC students interested in becoming entrepreneurs?

Park: Boston College has a way of making you stop and reflect, which is something many of us forget to do in today’s bustling day and age. For BC students who want to become entrepreneurs, I think it is important to be self-aware as one develops their ideas into a successful company.

Steichen: My biggest piece of advice is to get involved early and earn a spot on the leadership team of a club. Clubs at BC are one of the best ways to start gaining experience into what it’s like to manage a team working towards a common goal.

What do you dream of doing someday?

Park: My dream is to work on my own biomedical wearable technology company that allows patients with certain medical conditions to understand their biometrics in a better and more proactive manner. I’d also love to have the free time to have a family of my own while working on this, with a wonderful wife and kids.

Steichen: My dream is to one day start a company that positively impacts many lives – a startup that revolves around the intersection of technology, children, and education and a culmination of the things I am most passionate about. I also hope to raise a wonderful family of my own with a supportive partner. Hopefully, we’ll be raising some future Eagles. 

Any mentors who had a profound impact on your choices and experiences?

Park: Special thanks to the professors and mentors who have shaped my understanding of the world and helped push me to my true potential: Professor Maira Marques Samary, Kelsey Renda, Professor John Fisher, and Professor John Gallaugher.

Steichen: I would like to thank Kelsey Renda for believing in me and encouraging me at every turn in the road; Father Ken Himes for helping me challenge my beliefs to create conviction in my understanding of myself; Professor John Gallaugher for pushing me to bring my ideas to life. And lastly, to my fellow Start@Shea board members who remind me how cool it is to be passionate about what is important to you.

Editorial Note: This interview was edited for length.