Lillian Bertram ‘23, M’24 already has a job lined up after graduation, chasing her passion for education reform. Lillian, a 3+1 student at Barney, graduated with her bachelor’s in entrepreneurial studies last year and is now getting her MBA with a concentration in management this May. She says that her experience at UHart has been great, and that it has taught her a lot about herself. “The best part of my experience was getting my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in four years,” she says. “It's an amazing and challenging opportunity that I am glad I took advantage of.”
Lillian says that UHart has allowed her to explore her passions. Although she was a business student, she was encouraged by faculty and staff to pursue a career in education. These encouragements allowed her to foster her passion of serving young people. This began with an internship at ConnectiKids, a youth organization in the Hartford area. She was able to get experience in the non-profit sector and be mentored by their impactful staff.
Lillian’s passion for education reform and wish to inspire young people to overcome barriers has given her the desire to open an institution that helps young people experiencing trauma. After receiving her degree, she plans to further her knowledge in the advocacy, non-profit, organizational development, and policy reform spaces. She was recently promoted to coordinator of organizational capacity at Our Piece of the Pie, Inc., where she works to develop and support youth service workers to empower their young people through training, talent development, DEIJB initiatives, and more! She first started at Our Piece of the Pie, Inc. in June 2023, as a financial education specialist and has loved her time there. She is also considering pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership in the coming years.
Lillian says that UHart has helped her build a sense of professionalism. “Barney does an amazing job at facilitating a curriculum that addresses networking, marketing yourself, résumé building, interviewing, and more. Of course, the all-around course content has been great at UHart, but the material that resonated with me most was the content that taught me to be a better professional and human being.”
Several members of the UHart community have impacted her experience. She says that Brooke Penders has helped her develop professionally, and that Llonia Jackson in the Division of Student Success has been her “family away from home.” Additionally, Associate Professor Peter Oliver taught her to love life and never feel that it is too late to try something. “I will always be grateful that we crossed paths.”
In terms of extracurriculars, Lillian was an event planner for Strong Independent Sisters, a member of the Hartford Hawks Service Scholars, and president and event Planner of the Commuter Student Association. As a campus leader, she has assessed her leadership abilities and professionalism by reflecting on the education she received in numerous leadership courses here on campus.
Her favorite part about UHart is the freedom to create your college experience. “I spent my first three years on campus, involved in many opportunities, and in my last year, I was able to take a step back and pursue my studies completely online to focus on my career,” she says. “The flexibility has helped me kick-start my career before graduation.”
Lillian Bertram ‘23, M’24 , Barney School of BusinessMy advice to incoming students is to create and seek opportunities. Opportunities don't always come to you. Lean into your fears and face them head-on with courage. Intentionality is everything! Build intention into all that you do, and you will never be led astray. You got this, even when you feel that you don't!