St. John’s University alumna Amanda Belgrave credits her background as a student-athlete with her ability to succeed in the business world. Recently named an assistant vice president at Lloyds North America on March 29, Belgrave was honored by her alma mater’s university luncheon celebrating Women’s History Month.
“Being a student-athlete completely influenced my life. Every lesson and principle that I have today is because I was a track and field athlete,” said Belgrave, a four-year track and field standout who competed in the long jump and triple jump. While a student-athlete, she earned both a B.S. in finance and an MBA. She was honored for her achievements at St. John’s and after.
“You learn about time management, of course, because you have a busy schedule, but also the discipline to stick with something that may be hard in the moment but will pay off in the future,” Belgrave explained. Over the course of her time with the Red Storm, Belgrave tallied five career wins and had a top-five finish in the triple jump at the 2021 Outdoor Big East Championships.
Growing up on Long Island, she enjoyed racing the other kids, but by middle school realized she wasn’t the fastest. Sprinting provided an adrenaline rush, but she decided to try jumping and found she loved being in the air, noting that there is nothing like it. Being able to do that in college as a Division I athlete made her feel like she was living the dream. She had originally planned to go to SUNY Binghamton, but a visit to St. John’s and a meeting with an academic advisor made her see this was the place for her.
“I could have graduated and not gotten my MBA,” said Belgrave. “I had a full-time offer and internship interviews at investment banking companies, and I turned them down to come back to school to finish out my MBA. I did it because I was on task to do something really amazing and I was enjoying what I was doing so much with track and field as well. Going to school can be hard, but when you’re doing something you love as well as pursuing your degree, it makes it so much easier.”
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