Profiles in Leadership: Kyle Lawless '12

When Kyle Lawless '12 gave Isenberg's graduation speech in 2012, he told his class: "When we leave these doors at 10:30 a.m., we're done. Classes are over. Umail accounts will go inactive. And our lives as undergraduates will be officially over."
 
Then he reminded the class: "But . . . the Isenberg spirit will live on."
 
And so it has for Lawless, who's remained a champion of Isenberg after he earned his BBA in accounting and moved to Boston. Lawless is now a member of the planning committee for the second annual Isenberg Business Leadership Awards (IBLA).
 
The event, which will be held on June 18 at Boston's Colonnade Hotel, will honor two outstanding Isenberg graduates: David Fubini '76, director emeritus at McKinsey & Company; and Christina Calvaneso '03, senior vice president of finance and business operations at Eyeview Digital.
 
Lawless says he wanted to stay connected to Isenberg because he's a "big believer in the school."
 
"There are so many exciting initiatives happening at Isenberg right now," he says. "Dean Fuller and his team are making a real effort to improve the school and increase the value of our degrees."
 
Lawless is an associate at Ernst & Young working in a rotational program. He spends a portion of his time in a merger and acquisition practice and a portion of time in an audit practice. He interacts with clients from all over the world and works with a team of people just as diverse.
 
"On a personal level and people level, to have an appreciation of different cultures and backgrounds is really huge," he says. "So much about business is about being able to connect and to form relationships of trust."
 
Although he's relatively new at his post, Lawless has already joined or is leading initiatives within his company. Last year, he planned an event for Ernst & Young's Diversity & Inclusiveness Initiative, which featured openly gay Boston Herald sportswriter Steve Buckley. He's participating in campus recruitment efforts with a particular focus on UMass Amherst. He's also involved in the Company's Entrepreneur of the Year program.
 
"I try to be a leader everyday on my teams," he says. "As a leader, I try to work inclusively and I try to support my colleagues."
 
Which comes back to Lawless' belief in the Isenberg experience. In particular, Lawless credits Professor Rogers for helping him define his leadership skills and blaze his own path.
 
"He had a real impact on me," Lawless says. "He taught me to challenge myself, yet do the important things first. He taught me to do what I love."