For many students, choosing a college is about finding the right academic fit. For Molloy Business student Lauren Kelly, it was about discovering a place that would turn ambition into action and ultimately help her land a role with one of the most recognized brands in the world.
Kelly, who is completing her Master of Business Administration in Marketing at Molloy University, first discovered the university earlier than most students. While taking a marketing class at Kellenberg High School, she was introduced to Molloy and to Professor Dawn DiStefano, whose mentorship helped spark her interest in business. What solidified her decision, however, was the five-year MBA pathway.
“I learned about Molloy’s five-year MBA program, which immediately stood out to me,” Kelly explains. “The opportunity to earn both my bachelor’s and MBA in a shorter period made the program incredibly economical and efficient. It felt like the perfect environment to build a strong academic foundation while preparing for a professional career!”
Mentorship and Hands-On Experience at Molloy
That foundation quickly extended beyond the classroom. Through her involvement in the Molloy Business Association, Kelly gained hands-on experience that helped her grow professionally and personally. Serving as PR Coordinator as a freshman, and eventually becoming President, gave her a real-world space to develop communication, branding, and leadership skills. She credits these experiences with building the confidence to pursue competitive internships later.
Her time at Molloy has also been shaped by mentorship. Professor Roseanne Lavelle encouraged Kelly to pursue ambitious goals and helped her navigate opportunities that once felt out of reach, including applying to the Disney College Program, a dream she had carried since childhood. Supported by faculty and a business school culture that emphasizes experiential learning and networking, she felt prepared to take that leap.
“Molloy does an excellent job of giving students opportunities to experience the real-world application of the theories we learn in class,” Kelly says. “Because of that environment, when the opportunity to work for Disney arose, it felt natural to apply.”
Applying Classroom Skills in the Disney College Program
That preparation proved invaluable once Kelly joined Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort as part of the Disney College Program. Working in merchandising, she collaborated with leadership across multiple retail locations, supported specialty product launches,
tracked revenue performance, and analyzed guest experience data. These responsibilities closely mirrored concepts she had studied at Molloy.
Her day-to-day role demanded adaptability, strategic thinking, and strong interpersonal skills. These were competencies she had already developed through her coursework and campus leadership.
“Molloy taught me to work hard, collaborate effectively, and pursue opportunities confidently,” she reflects. “The communication, leadership, and teamwork skills I developed translated directly into my internship experience at Disney.”
Balancing full-time work at Disney while continuing graduate coursework might have felt overwhelming elsewhere, but Kelly credits Molloy’s structure and faculty support with preparing her for that challenge. Professors offered flexibility and encouragement, reinforcing the university’s commitment to helping students succeed beyond the classroom.
Her experience at Disney ultimately reshaped her professional vision. Exposure to global marketing strategy, operational planning, and the company’s storytelling-driven approach to branding deepened her understanding of how businesses build meaningful connections with audiences.
Today, Kelly’s story reflects what the Molloy Business School strives to cultivate: graduates who leave not only with degrees, but with experience, mentorship, and the confidence to step into competitive industries.
At Molloy, preparation isn’t theoretical; it’s transformational. For Lauren Kelly, it turned an early interest in marketing into a professional path defined by opportunity, support, and purpose.
